[TheForge] Fwd: bog iron/pig iron to wrought iron

[Saint Phlip]

Danr-

Wrought iron by itself wouldn't make a very good knife. at least if
she intends to use it for anything. They did actually know what steel
was in period, and did use it, inset into edges. If you made her one
like that, it would be both useful and functional. Talk to Oso, on
EKMetalsmiths- he can help quite a bit- he's Rocky's brother.

On Dec 30, 2007 3:40 PM, Daniel Kretchmar <dan at irontreeworks.com> wrote:
> Andy and Bruce,
>
> Both were very helpful! Thank you!
>
> Now another few questions:  I would like to make a knife for my wife.
> My wife is in the SCA (like me) and protrays the part of a woman
> living in Viking Dublin (890 AD).  I know she should be carrying a
> wrought iron knife.   I know how to make steel knives and carving
> tools and have made a few in medium and high carbon steel as well as
> with pattern welding, but I have never made one from wrought
> iron....How do you harden and temper it?  Does normalizing work on
> wrought iron in the same way as steel?  Should I quench in water or
> oil? or wax?  Should I do a full straight down quench (like I do for
> my pattern welded blades) or do an edge quench like I do for my
> carving tools..
>
> Inquireing reenactors want to know  :)
>
> Daniel Kretchmar
> who plays the part of Danr Ketilsidr ("small cooking pot" craftsman in
> old norse)

-- 
Saint Phlip

Heat it up
Hit it hard
Repent as necessary.

Priorities:

It's the smith who makes the tools, not the tools which make the smith.

.I never wanted to see anybody die, but there are a few obituary
notices I have read with pleasure. -Clarence Darrow