[TheForge] fire steels

Wed May 14 03:29:55 EDT 2008

Predictability in a striker seems less than critical.
They could have soaked a thin pieces of iron in a reducing fire for a 
while to make steel on the cheap i'd guess...pf

Grant Marcoux wrote:
> It would hav ebeen the less-predictable blister steel as well!
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Peter Hirst
> Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 4:42 PM
> To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] fire steels
> 
> 
> 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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