What did medieval blacksmiths use for fuel?

Charcoal remained the most prevalent fuel throughout the Middle Ages due to its cost and wide-spread availability. Throughout the middle ages, blacksmiths used charcoal as their main source of fuel for their forges.

What did blacksmiths before coal?

Charcoal was the primary fuel for an iron furnace. Beginning in the 18th century, ironworks began converting coal to coke. In addition to charcoal and iron ore, a flux agent (limestone or dolomite) is also needed to smelt iron ore.

Did medieval blacksmiths use coal?

However most modern smiths use either stone coal or coke, which is stone coal without the impurities, we are mostly taking about sulphur. For the simple reason that stone coal or coke is much cheaper than good charcoal. In the middle ages charcoal was used to fire a forge as well.

What did blacksmiths use to quench?

Blacksmiths generally use water, oil, or compressed air to quench. These substances vary in environmental impact, cost, and effects on the metal, but the best quenching medium is usually water or quenching oil.

What did blacksmiths use for fuel?

Coal and propane are the most typical fuels used in blacksmith forges.

What Was Used as Fuel in the Middle Ages? [Medieval Professions: Fueller]

Why do blacksmiths use coke?

Blacksmiths tend to prefer coke from bituminous coal because it is mid-grade and burns very clean. It also has a lower sulfur content, which is important because sulfur is not only a pollutant, but it can also contaminate the metal.

What is forge Coke?

Premium Coke for Blacksmiths and Farriers

A clean burn and high heat output make this the fuel of choice when used on a traditional forge. Anvil Forge Coke is consistent and very clean, producing a hard compact clinker with very little ash residue.

What oil will harden steel?

Mineral oil quenchants are excellent for oil-hardened steels and steels that require a fast quench rate. They tend to be on the expensive side, but they're highly efficient and have greater cooling capacities for steel alloys.

Were medieval swords heat treated?

They were heat-treated to give a typical hardness of 400- 600 VPH at the edge.

What liquid is used for quenching?

Water is one of the most efficient quenching media where maximum hardness is desired, but there is a small chance that it may cause distortion and tiny cracking. When hardness can be sacrificed, mineral oils are often used.

How did medieval blacksmiths heat metal?

Blacksmiths cook the coal until most of the impurities are burned off. The result is coke, a fuel that is almost entirely carbon allowing us to reach temperature of 3,000 to 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit at the core of the fire! Fire this hot can quickly get the metal up to welding temperatures at about 2,500 degrees.

Do blacksmiths use charcoal?

Charcoal is considered the least desirable fuel when blacksmithing. While readily available, charcoal may not even reach the necessary temperature to soften iron and steel without a lot of fuel and constant airflow. You can burn through a lot of charcoal quickly and still not achieve the proper temperatures.

How did medieval blacksmiths melt metal?

Most early iron smelting processes meant the use of a bloomery or a low prolonged heat that would not melt the metal, only soften until it could be pounded with a hammer. The bloomery was replaced by a blast furnace, a further tool in the process to create workable bar iron.

What is blacksmith furnace?

A forge is a furnace or hearth where metals are heated prior to hammering them into shape. The act of forging is heating and hammering metal into a shape.

What burns hotter coal or charcoal?

With this said, charcoal is said to produce an even more energy efficient fire which burns hotter and longer than coal ever could. Although carbon monoxide can be created during the incomplete combustion of coal, it is released in high levels when charcoal is burned.

What does a medieval blacksmith eat?

The Blacksmiths of the Medieval ages wore Roman-style woolen tunic, with a long leather apron over their clothes to stop any sparks from passing onto their clothes and preventing the clothes from catching on fire. Blacksmith's diets consisted of mainly porridge, bread, soups and occasionally chicken or beef.

How did they grind swords?

The primary techniques are forging and stock removal. Forging uses heat to bring the material to a malleable state. The material is then hammered to shape, typically using hammer and anvil together with specialized set and fuller tools depending on the particular technique.

How long did it take to make a sword in medieval times?

In medieval Europe it took a standard blacksmith about a week to make a decent average steel longsword. If they where making something for their lord or king they would often spend as much as 6 months ensuring they had the ornate design perfect, but that's about it.

How did they sharpen swords in medieval times?

The whetstone, sometimes referred to as a honestone, was a common object in medieval London, and it was used primarily for sharpening knives and other blades. This particular whetstone is made of stone that is 145 millimeters in length and 11 millimeters wide.

Can you quench a blade in used motor oil?

Motor oils are a common type of quenching oil used in both blacksmithing and bladesmithing applications. New and used motor oils can be used for quenching and are both widely available. New motor oil is typically cheaper to use than commercial quenching oils.

Can you harden steel with motor oil?

Hardening steel with motor oil is a way of performing what is called the case hardening of steel. Pure steel is actually too soft for many applications. In order to put a hard layer on the steel, carbon must be fused at the molecular level into the top centimeter or so of the steel.

Why do they dip hot metal in oil?

Hot Oils. Hot oils are always used at high temperatures and prevents temperature variations during the quenching process, which protects the metal against defects, cracks, and distortions.

Does coke burn hotter than coal?

Coal is a lustrous, black fossil fuel that includes impurities, generates smoke, and generates less heat than coke when burned. Coke is a dingy, black coal waste that burns hotter and cleaner.

What is blacksmith coal?

Bituminous is the coal-of-choice for the blacksmith. It is a soft, mid-grade, black coal. Mined from deeper mines than lignite, it burns much more cleanly. When burning coal in the forge, we keep a “stock pile” of wet coal on the sides of the fire.

Can you buy coal coke?

Centaur Forge offers a wide selection of bagged smithing coal and coke, including in bulk. Find blacksmith coal for sale at low prices, with shipping included in the cost.