In the latest issue of ABANA's publication "The Anvil's Ring" (Volume
39/Number 3/Spring 2011, pages 32-35) a fellow by the name of Lee Sauder wrote an article titled 'Journey Into Medieval Ironmaking'.Being a novice at blacksmithing, I'd never heard of bloomeries but the thought of trying to make my own iron had crossed my mind over the years I spent thinking about instead of starting blacksmithing. Sauder's article was a real eye opener for me.
This isn't an ad, but it may read a bit like one. I know other folks are doing this kind of thing, but Sauder is the first I'd run into.
Obviously I checked out his web site, which is at:
...and I wound up purchasing a 1/8 slice of one of his blooms a week or so ago.
Yesterday I finally got around to trying it out in the forge and on the anvil.
I won't drag this out too long, but man, what incredible material. Compared to the small amount of actual wrought iron I've worked with it's far more malleable, far easier to work. Compared to any steel - shoot, there's almost no comparison.
Is anyone on this group making bloom iron? I'm thinking seriously of getting to one of Sauder's two day teaching sessions.
Bert