[TheForge] fire steels

[Peter Hirst]

Didn't mean to suggest that wire was used in period, jus that I was able to 
duplicate it that way.  It wasn't just general scarcity of steel in the 
period, it was the particular circumstances of the colony in 1627.   Way 
before the period of Williamsburg.  Essentially subsistence conditions.  The 
amount of steel required for a single striker could steel a  large axe or 
dozens of  strikers, at a time when labor was a lot more plentiful than 
materials. The smith did not make his living at it.  Was literally dirt poor 
like everyone else. It was a huge deal that the colony received its first 
two head of cattle that year.  Imagine what a bit of steel was worth.

Keziah


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David E. Smucker" <davesmucker at hotmail.com>
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 5:50 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] fire steels


> While it is true that "steel" was valuable and somewhat scarce in the 1600 
> and 1700 even harder to come by would be any form of high carbon wire.  So 
> if "fire steels" in that time frame were steeled -- then the high carbon 
> steel was drawn down to a small form by hammer forging.
>
> The invention of the slitting mill was I believe in 1752 and was the 
> precursor to the rolling mill.  It was first used on heave hammer iron 
> plate to produce iron bars.  Later used to produce iron nail rod from 
> hammer or rolled sheet.  Drawing of wire followed, but when Eli Whitney 
> was working on his invention of the cotton gin 1793 he had to make his own 
> draw bench to draw high carbon wire because he could not purchase it.  (At 
> least in the then USA).
>
> All of this is to say is that getting "small" section steel was a labor of 
> love in the 1600's and first half of the 1700's.  High carbon "blister" 
> steel had been around for some time at this point and files made from this 
> tool steel were very important in the manufacture of all types of 
> equipment. Spring steel for clock making also drove technology in this 
> time frame.
>
> One of the most interesting parts about talking to the Williamsburg 
> Blacksmiths at the BAM conference was the discussion about the pay and 
> role of craft workers in the colonial time period and early USA.  By world 
> standards they were highly paid.  They did mostly repair and special work 
> that earned them this high pay.  Production work was imported from England 
> and the continent were labor costs were much lower.  Why the high pay --  
> because in the Americas they could own land, and owning land was the route 
> to wealth.  In England there was no land for them to own, no route to 
> wealth, a good supply of craftsman's so their earning were lower.
>
> Lesson to be learned -- blacksmiths should charge as much for their work 
> today as plumbers and electricians.  It is the story of supply and demand.
>
> Dave
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "osan" <osan at netlabs.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 4:16 PM
> To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] fire steels
>
>> Peter Hirst wrote:
>>> Sorry , thought the reason was clear:  steel was extremely scarce, using 
>>> the wire was a conservation measure.
>>
>>    OK, I could see this... at least in circumstances anyhow.
>>
>>    -Andy
>>
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