[Moo] Iron smelting/tamahagane workshop June 9 Virginia

[Doug Ayen]

Ok, I'm going to be doing this year's iron smelting on July 9th, 2005. 
Due to the long-term nature of this kind of work, we'll be starting at 
10am, and going until we run out of charcoal.
 
Speaking of which, while there is no entrance fee for this event, I ask         
that you bring a bag of lump (not briquette) charcoal! I've got the ore         
and the smelter, and if we get enough people and charcoal we may be able        
to do two batches. 
 
For the Japanese sword/knifemaking crowd, this is the same process as 
the Japanese use to make their tamahagane, which they also smelt out in         
small batches from iron sand. If you're interested in how the traditional       
sword is made, this is an important step, and the only true way to make         
a traditional sword is to make or buy this kind of iron and steel.

This is a very traditional method of primitive ironmaking, quite in period
even for the early medieval period. 
 
Please RSVP for this event, I'll need to know how much hamburger to thaw        
out for lunch :)
 
All are welcome to attend, even if you can't find lump charcoal.

Workshop is at my forge in Berryville, VA.
 
--doug
~