Your instructor, Darrell Markewitz, is well known as a specialist in the Viking Age. He consulted on the Smithsonian's 'Vikings - North Atlantic Saga' and the Newfoundland Museum's 'Full Circle - First Contact'. He designed and produced the exhibit 'World of the Norse' for the Cranbrook Institute of Science and the 'Norse Encampment' living history program for Parks Canada. In 2001, he was part of a special research team at L'Anse aux Meadows NHSC working on presenting Viking Age iron smelting at the site. Since then he has lead a series of experimental iron smelts, attempting to discover lost techniques as they might have been used by the Norse undertaken by the Dark Ages Re-creation Company. He is one of the core group of demonstrators and team leaders behind the highly successful 'Early Iron Symposium' - an annual event held at the Farmers Museum in Cooperstown NY. Up to the start of 2006, he has worked on over twenty smelts using a range of equipment,.

Introduction to Smelting Iron is an intensive hands on program, roughly 14 hours in duration. Students will prepare materials, build a smelter, then fire it to produce a workable iron bloom. The 'Econo Norse' smelter that will be used was designed to be quickly constructed of easily obtained materials. It is fired with charcoal and uses an electric blower for air supply. A bloom weighing roughly 15 lbs is expected from use of about 40 lbs of ore.
A number of video segments showing past smelts can be found on Darrell's YouTube channel	Smelter Plan	Smelter Constructed

Starting at 7 pm Friday, the evening will be spent constructing the smelter itself , roasting ore and starting to prepare the charcoal. (The smelt normally requires about 80 - 100 KG of charcoal to be smashed to size and sorted.) A lecture segment will cover the technical aspects of a smelt, and provide an overview of various small scale experimental smelters.

A LONG day Saturday will start at 9 AM with the pre-heating the furnace. Any more charcoal required will be prepared. The now cool ore will be crushed (about 20 - 40 KG required) The initial charge of charcoal is scheduled for roughly 10 am. The actual process of the smelt takes roughly 6 - 7 more hours. Participants will learn the effective managing of an operating smelter, including adding fuel and ore, controlling air flow, and taping slags. Valuable experience will be gained in how to interpret the sounds of a correctly operating furnace.
	Pre-heat Phase	Adding Charcoal	Tapping Slag

After this, the resulting iron bloom will be extracted from the furnace - while the mass is still white hot!. It then is given a primary consolidation, compacting the surface using sledge hammers. The iron produced will be cut to sections and shared between the participants.
	Cutting Bloom	A Finished Bloom

This program does not require any previous metalworking experience, and is of interest to students of history as well as blacksmiths.

The course fee includes ongoing coffee and juice, Students should bring  a simple lunch and dinner (something that can be  grabbed while managing the smelt!). There will be a handout provided with and overview of technique, equipment and material sources. All required safety equipment will be provided. Students are recommended to wear old clothes, which must be all natural fabrics (cotton ideal) and work boots. A long sleeved shirt and cap is recommended. 

Book your course  via the electronic payment system.

ENSURE YOUR COURSE REGISTRATION! Please include your requested date under 'instructions from sender'. I will respond via e-mail with further instructions.

$100.00 CDN DEPOSIT on 'Introduction to Smelting Iron'

Course fees and deposits can be made with your credit card. Contact me for further details

Interested in adding the drama of an Iron Smelting Demonstration to your Special Event or Educational Program?
Darrell has been a featured demonstrator at a number of past events, including :
2003 / 2004 / 2005 - Early Iron Symposiums
2005 - CANIRON V (Annapolis Royal NS)
2008 - Quad State Roundup (Troy OH)

For availablity and rates, please contact me.

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