Hackaday · Creativity & design

Medieval Blast Furnace Smelts Bog Ore Successfully

A recent video showcases the successful smelting of Irish bog ore using a medieval blast furnace, offering a contrast to a previous Dutch attempt.

Alec Steele participated in a weekend event with Irish Bloomery Iron, demonstrating bog ore smelting in a medieval blast furnace. This follows a 2019 Hackaday expedition.

A 2019 Dutch hacking attempt in Arnhem used a firebrick furnace but resulted in mixed slag and minimal iron. The Irish furnace's success may be attributed to its construction.

Key features of the Irish furnace include air injection via a perforated clay sheet and a venturi-shaped air blast, along with its overall design.

The resulting iron bloom is removed from the top of the furnace, not tapped as molten iron. It is then worked into a usable bar.

The author's own experience with a similar process yielded only scraps of iron, highlighting the impressive results achieved by the Irish smelters.

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