[TheForge] Bronze casting

[Ries Niemi]

I second Petes suggestion- forge it instead of casting. Quicker, 
easier, and more authentic. I assure you that no bronze age archer had 
a quiver of arrowheads all exactly alike.
I would suggest actually buying bronze new, so you can be sure to get a 
nice forgeable alloy, as there are hundreds of different bronzes, and 
some are NOT forgeable. I would suggest a silicon bronze, 655, or a 
naval bronze, 465, both are pretty easily forged provided you do not 
get them too hot or work them too cold. Just like the three bears, you 
have to work bronze at the "just right" heat. But when you do, it is 
like forging butter. Bronze is best forged in a semi-dark room, and be 
sure to allow a little extra for mistakes along the learning curve. 
Arrowheads could be forged quite nicely from 1/2" round, and you could 
work your way down a piece- ie start forging a point at one end, then 
cut it off after you have it sharpened to your satisfaction, and do the 
next. That way you dont even need tongs as long as you get a piece of 
bronze 2- 3 feet long.

ries