www.ulsterclans.com

how iron was made in pre-industrial times:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q23kEZA7sOM

Aoife il watch this tomoro im ready for my bed after travelling

smelting copper - not too authentic as some of the tools used obviously are modern, nevertheless showing the principles how it could have been done back then:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uHc4Hirexc

Amazing to watch how it was all done by simple but effective techniques

the ancient art of making wootz steel was totally lost - in fact the famous welded damascene steel was nothing more than a medieval attempt to imitate at least the looks of wootz, falling way behind its properties.

Meanwhile the principles of its production have been rediscovered and archaeological finds give us some ideas how exactly it was made back then, however I've never seen it being made the old way - the following videos show the ancient principles applied in modern surroundings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgW7cdvXBqw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnbWyAKd9Wc

Thanx aoife very interesting indeed

how steel and wrought iron were welded before gas and electronic welding had been invented:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9wL2M153HY

And cheaper

considering the cost of coal, electronic welding would be cheaper methinks

most of those techniques I've seen myself as my dad is a blacksmith - among other professions, so he run his forge as a sideline only and didn't invest in modern equipment ... I have just to remember what I've seen and find a youtube to share it with you ... if anyone finds other interesting ancient technologies please share them here, this thread ain't meant as a steel and metal thread only

Oh didnt know your dad was a blacksmith aoife very interesting
If i come across any il post

Recently I watched a video showing how a modern glass artist works - so I got nosey how the ancient ones might have done it and found this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ycvXxysz4c

As I don't know much about this subject I can't say anything about the truth of the contents, but found it very interesting.

Maybe more interesting for those who are into ancient technologies :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RaWUbnOF1o

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5BIjwv2WxE

as well as

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlrI6TFO-DI

Amazing stuff aoife

Interesting article on the Lurgan Canoe, a bronze age boat from Galway:

http://irisharchaeology.ie/2014/10/the- ... om-galway/

Thanx Aoife very interesting

When using carbon steel for tool making you are faced with the decision whether to use high carbon steel that can be hardened properly and will keep an edge for a long time, but is quite brittle after hardening, or better use low carbon steel that can't be hardened and will get blunt very soon, but is more flexible so it doesn't break either.

Any compromise in carbon content will be a compromise in performance also, medium carbon steel will be better than high carbon steel re flexibility but worse re edge holding properties.

One way to work around this problem is to compose your tool from different steels, the high carbon steel used for the parts that will provide the cutting edge and low carbon steel to coat it and give it strength and flexibility.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjlcqQVN6io

Very interesting aoife im learning all the time

A Roman 'Swiss Army Knife'. Fashioned out of silver, this folding implement contains a three-pronged fork, a spoon, a spatula, a pick, a spike and a knife. It dates from c. 200-300 AD and now forms part of the Fitzwilliam Museum's collections in Cambridge, England.


(photo by the Fitzwilliam Museum)

Fairlie » Mon Mar 09, 2015 2:02 pm wrote:A Roman 'Swiss Army Knife'.

Most interesting item Fairlie - wonder whether the top part near the spoon/fork hinge has some function too? Nowadays you could use it as a bottle opener

That is some gadget fairlie and great you posted it up .. Amazing really as it goes way back

not purely "ancient" technology in the sense of 'millennia old', nevertheless an interesting mix of metal and wood working techniques.

Even if this was filmed in the mid 20th century, no one in his right mind could call the product a "replica", it's no less an original than the ones made in the 18th century.

"Colonial Gunsmith" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lui6uNPcRPA

Amazing all the same you are right

one of the most basic technologies is that of making fire ... without it neither metal working nor having a nice barbecue would be possible

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W7n92XKn1M

Perfect ..get the barbie on

Making a flint striker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfryaDMRWYs

Some more modern tools in his forge, however not used in the demonstration (except electric bellows)

And here some remarks on good style regarding flint strikers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ-Sxl8cntU

Great post aoife