Hello all,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/randyda...093416/detail/

This is a link to some pics of a smelt of Tamahagane steel. This was run by one of our guys, Mike Blue, and friends of his, Randall Graham and Mariah Clark. They allowed me to watch and ask questions so I was a happy camper!

The smelter was built saturday morning and run the same day until 6PM when we ran out of charcoal. About 6 of the 55 gallon drums of charcoal was consumed and about 70-80 lbs of iron.

Wood charcoal was used as fuel and as a source of carbon. The iron is in the blue pails. It is 96% pure iron that Mike Blue obtained from one of the taconite pellet making companies here in Minnesota. Ask any questions.

This is one very dirty process! charcoal and cinders flying around all day!

The smelt was done at the Tunnel Mill Blacksmiths annual meeting just south of Rochester, Minnesota.
It was hosted by John and Carol Adams. Really good people.