"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
I was just Wiki-walking instead of working, and while reading the
Wikipedia page on steel, came across the statement:

"Though steel had been produced by various inefficient methods long
before the Renaissance, its use became more common after
more-efficient
production methods were devised in the 17th century. "

And it made me wonder -- do any of these _efficient_ methods apply
to the
small-scale workshop (i.e., one or two people, or at most a dozen),
or if
one were inclined to do a spot of home steel-making would one be
reduced
to using methods from the 1600s?

Not that I'm going to go digging for iron ore on my property or
anything;
I'm just curious.

Tim Wescott

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucible_steel

I've seen a reference somewhere on making carbon steel from wrought
iron in a horizontal-draft forge. As it absorbs carbon the melting
point decreases, so the smith continually removes the molten droplets.
http://www.corrosionist.com/iron%20c...%20diagram.jpg

jsw