"Richard" wrote in message
m...
JoanD'arcRoast wrote:
Snipped to demnstrate the technology

More like under a six-foot diameter bonfire in the coals for two hours.
No earthly notion of the temperature, but it was glowing orange-red.



Actually, red-orange IS the temperature.

But unless it was protected from the coals, you got waaaay too much
carbon.

Not likely. The opposite is more likely. If you have enough draft *without
forcing the draft* to get the coals up to that temperature, you have enough
open exposure to air to decarb the steel. And you shouldn't have to worry
about over-carburizing O1. I think the carbon content is around 0.9%, so
it's not going to have a strong tendency to absorb more.

Using solid fuel for this is a balancing act. The best thing is to find a
blacksmith who really knows steel metallurgy, and ask him. He'll at least
know the story with coke or pea coal, if not with wood.

--
Ed Huntress