Coat of Arms of Bloom Smith´s

[Prospector]

Metal Artist (goldsmith & smith) Jouni Jäppinen has done ancient experimental methods of manufacturing iron. It was taking place at Struka. I was there as apprentice and tried to learn something . Obviously these bloomery processes has inspirated Mr. Jäppinen to create Coat of Arms of Bloom Smith´s.

struka_iron_smelting_2004-2.pdf

Jouni Jäppinen homepage very interesting

This Coat of Arms of Bloom Smith´s is very expressive.

• coal (black color)

• bloomery furnace basement at bottom (iron particles are fire welded to a ''bloom'')

• Ore reduction iron signs 3+2+3

Everybody in core team will get pin badge of Coat of Arms of Bloom Smith´s. Guess who will wear it with great proud .

What do you think about this Coat of Arms of Bloom Smith´s?

With black shield iron signs 3+2+3 and at base sea of fire; all gold.

[Ed Thomas]

I'm thinking any women on the core team will want somewhat different symbols escaping the fire.

[ThomasPowers]

Prospector I've been a bloomery Thrall for over 15 years now with a group that smelts using short stack scandanavian bloomeries. We used to dig clay from the creek to build them but over the years experimentation has shown us that cob (3 shovelsfull silty dirt : 2 head sized bunches of chopped straw : 1 shovelfull of dried powdered clay with the absolute minimum of water to mix it by hand---looks like muddy straw when you apply it) worked a lot better.

We used hand powered air, sometimes single action bellows, most of the time a large handcrank blacksmith's blower.

And charcoal of course

Our favorite ore is Magneitite of fairly fine size

Last run I participated in before I moved 1500 miles away produced 15# blooms---not bad for Y1K work by amateurs!

I think the coat of arms should have a dirty arm holding a handfull of clay on it!

Thomas

[ApprenticeMan]

Cooooooooooooooool

[Prospector]

Originally Posted by Ed Thomas

I'm thinking any women on the core team will want somewhat different symbols escaping the fire.

(iron symbols are falling juts like in the furnace)

I know what you mean. Like I wrote the Coat of Arms of Bloom Smith´s is very expressive. It's symbol of male sex and it's also symbol of iron. Tricky symbol and I like it.

ThomasPowers:
15 years of experience of bloomery...WOW, respect on my side. You must know something of iron making. Thanks for the formula. Did you make the furnace of that? Shopped straws sounds like its doing the furnace structure very hollow.
I have to try that some day "soon".

We did some iron experimentation we had good team and we learned a lot. Jouni designed this coat of arms to the core team and this is good remembrance.

I hope that when I wear this Coat of Arms of Bloom Smith´s will create some discussion, specially among LADIES .

I join ApprenticeMan Cooooooooooooooool

[ThomasPowers]

I'm not nearly as knowledgable as our "iron mistress" who bosses the runs.

Yes cob is what we build the furnace from any straw that burns out makes the refractory more insulative. We do smooth a layer of clay over the inside to make it smoother---done by hand so it's not very thick. It's a problem when the charge wants to bridge so smooth and tapered is what we go for.