Wootz or not?

S.Al-Anizi · 15th December 2016, 05:29 PM

Not wanting to sidetrack the conversation,

But can anyone explain to me (or maybe through a link) what how bloomery steel was produced (tamahagane?)

And when did Mediterranean nations forfeit this method for newer methods and what are they?

I know how wootz is produced btw through a couple of youtube clips...

Cheers!

ariel · 16th December 2016, 05:00 AM

Yes, bloomery steel is essentially tamahagane. In the original variant, furnaces were built with an air-supplying orifice situated on the windward side.
That was further improved by hearth refining, shaft furnaces with bellows and then by puddling furnaces at the end of 18 century.
After that, the tempo of progress accelerated: Bessemer and Siemens -Martin processes allowed rapid production of large quantities of steel; the end of 19 century.

15th December 2016, 05:29 PM	#1
S.Al-Anizi Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arabia Posts: 278	Not wanting to sidetrack the conversation, But can anyone explain to me (or maybe through a link) what how bloomery steel was produced (tamahagane?) And when did Mediterranean nations forfeit this method for newer methods and what are they? I know how wootz is produced btw through a couple of youtube clips... Cheers!

16th December 2016, 05:00 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Yes, bloomery steel is essentially tamahagane. In the original variant, furnaces were built with an air-supplying orifice situated on the windward side. That was further improved by hearth refining, shaft furnaces with bellows and then by puddling furnaces at the end of 18 century. After that, the tempo of progress accelerated: Bessemer and Siemens -Martin processes allowed rapid production of large quantities of steel; the end of 19 century.