'Konasamudram' Process

[Jan Ysselstein]

The pit is sill full of charcoal, rain is coming our way...I would like to exit the iron making process by using up all remnants of ore and charcoal. If the rain is robust. I may give steel making a shot. Making steel is a bit trickier than cast iron as steel making requires slag management. 
 

 

 

This run is not to be due to other priorities.

 

Edited May 31, 2020 by Jan Ysselstein

[Alan Longmire]

I found this article the other day, and this seemed to be the most appropriate thread in which to put it, as it is about Konasamudram. The short version is, in 2018 a guy found 60 ingots and a bunch of crucible fragments. 

 

 

A_journey_of_over_200_years_early_studie.pdf

[Charles dP]

On 12/8/2021 at 6:11 PM, Alan Longmire said:

I found this article the other day, and this seemed to be the most appropriate thread in which to put it, as it is about Konasamudram. The short version is, in 2018 a guy found 60 ingots and a bunch of crucible fragments. 

 

 

A_journey_of_over_200_years_early_studie.pdf 1.85 MB · 6 downloads

So is KeAi related to Covid?

[Jan Ysselstein]

Thank you Alan , I am waiting to get to a device with a larger screen. Looks like a good read.

[Jan Ysselstein]

Unless I did not see the complete article above ...I would love to have seen some data on the microstructure and the composition of those ingots. This topic is very much alive for me. I am currently melting with a taller crucible the flatter lens crucibles are on the way. I will post some pictures as soon as this computer allows me to.

 

Below are some recent microstructures, using a narrower taller crucible

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[Jan Ysselstein]

I had the opportunity to forge out some steel recently made…indirectly related to the topic here. 

 

 

 

 

18 minutes ago, Jan Ysselstein said:

I had the opportunity to forge out some steel recently made…indirectly related to the topic here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 9, 2022 by Jan Ysselstein

[Alan Longmire]

Looking good!

[Jan Ysselstein]

The two photos added are a look at a reduction of thickness by a factor of 10. If the bar had still been in one piece it would be 40” long. I am not too exited about the pattern as the dendritic look has been lost. ….I am happy to have avoided a "stretched out" look.

 

Edited July 4, 2022 by Jan Ysselstein

[Jan Ysselstein]

I do not have too many options left to change the resulting pattern …the main variable I can still tweak is the cooling rate. That is where I will start….should be resuming melting in 2 weeks.

[Alan Longmire]

You may have lost the dendrites, but the watering is lovely. 

[Jan Ysselstein]

Thank you Alan.   This steel was cast iron ( bloomery cast iron ) and wrought iron ( no alloys). The next sequence will be 100% bloomery material made with local magnetite ore. That will be "Sole Steel" made in the Paramecium Forge.

 

[Joshua States]

On 7/4/2022 at 11:02 AM, Jan Ysselstein said:

I am not too exited about the pattern as the dendritic look has been lost.

All I can say, is if I had made that, I would be ecstatic.