Hey folks, hopefully this doesn't get buried in the shuffle but I had a couple questions about things that I have access to and if anyone has any input. Firstly I can get my hands on ferric oxide powder. I did a few searches without any results as most what came up was about scale. This is a very fine and dry red powder. Also on hand are blanks that go in piping. They are anywhere from 1/4 inch to half inch thick and various sizes. The only marking I see on then is the size. Ex: 2" 150 . Not sure what they're made of and if they could be any good. Thanks in advance! 

How pure is the ferric oxide?  Are you interested in Smelting Iron?

By blanks do you mean disks like are used to weld pipe ends closed?  If so, mild steel, and can be quite useful to forge stuff from or even to make various bending jigs with.

It's pretty much pure ferric oxide. I don't know anything about smelting iron I doubt my gas forge will get hot enough. I can smelt copper but that's it. And yeah the blanks are  disks with a handle on one side. Thanks for the input!

Are you confusing melting with smelting?  In general artisanal iron smelting iron is done with a bloomery.

How are you smelting Copper?

I guess I'm confused exactly what smelting is.

1 hour ago, ThomasPowers said:

Are you confusing melting with smelting?  In general artisanal iron smelting iron is done with a bloomery.

I am indeed confused

Smelting is making metal from ore.

Melting is making solid metal liquid.

Smelting is taking a metal ore and making metal from it; so Ferric Oxide can be smelted into iron/steel. Malachite, Cu2(CO3)(OH)2, can be smelted into copper, etc.

Melting is foundry work, taking metal and liquefying it and casting it into molds.

We have folks that do both these things participating here. 

Thanks for the clarification. It wasn't something I was considering. But I might look into it.

 

Klatchianmist: I MUST compliment you on your AVATAR. 

Frosty The Lucky.

Thanks Frosty! It's a nice kitty.

Is he a munchkin cat?   I thought I heard grumpy cat went off to use the great litter box in the sky.

Pnut

Nah pnut it's from the show trailer park boys. Bubbles really likes cats. But indeed grumpy cat has left us. A sad day for the internet.

I don't have a reliable enough WiFi connection to stream movies and TV shows but I have seen a few episodes of trailer park boys. Funny, and I'm from KY and have lived in trailer parks and Know people like that. 

Pnut

Jewelers rouge is made from iron oxide.  The powder you have could be useful as polishing media.

Thanks gazz! This is an excellent idea. Researching jewelers rouge now.