>>> [log in to unmask] 06/27/03 5:53 PM >>>
unfortunately due to other commitments and time management, not just
down
to my own fault, the clock is ticking and i only have until the end of
august for this project. i am about three months behind because i have
been unable to get hold of one ore two specific people until the last
couple of weeks. nevermind, i shall do the best i can in the time i
have
left. it does mean that i may not be able to get access to(or afford)
the
analytical kit that i would like. i have an optical microscope that
has
been used for metallographic examination in the past, but i dont know
what
its specs are at the moment; i may also be able to get some SEM done,
but
it is by no means certain. my supervisor has assured my that optical
will
be sufficient and to be honest i have lost the will to argue. i am
meeting
with the engineering dept at the uni on monday and hopefully i shall
be
able to find a metallurgist. the engineering dept is also going to lend
me
thermal-couples to place in the fire (at the point where my metal is to
be
heated) and or to measure the approximate surface temp of the metal,
anvil, etc.

I chose the figure 800C because it is below the temperature where
alpha-
iron converts to gamma-iron (900C?) yet is high enough, i hope, to be
a
realistic carborisation temperature. i dont have access to my books
this
week, so i have come up with these facts from memory (i have never
tusted
my memory too far). a reason for looking at hammerscale as an indicator
of
fuel type could be that hammerscale is often found stuck to artefacts,
in
bad welds or tight folds. since it is less prone to corrosion i hope
that
it may be present in iron objects where the metal is too badly
corroded
for proper analysis. i could be talking rubbish here, but nobody has
pointed it out to me yet, the best and most constructive feedback has
come
from the internet. don't worry i am trying to confirm any info that
doesn't sound quite right.

i am meeting with Hector cole on tuesday, hopefully he will be able to
offer me some practical help. he is one of the people i wanted to
contact
some time ago but was unable to. also, as has been mentioned, most
artist-
blacksmiths only work with mild steel and often at very low
temperatures.
i have deliberately sought out the advice of tool makers, primarily
so-
called neo-tribal blacksmiths. many carry out the same kinds of work
and
research as Hector, but they are generally to be found in the USA.
thank
goodness for the internet!

i realise that i cant do this project justice, but i am going to try
my
best to find something with teh time and resources i have.