Towers of Fire: Iron Production in the Pine Barrens

[Ben Ruset]

I just posted an article that I started working on before my daughter was born, detailing the process of creating and refining bog iron ore.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/content/view/62/40/

Hopefully you all will like it, and perhaps it may make things a bit clearer. Forges and furnaces are pretty confusing!

 

[bobpbx]

Well done Ben. All the info thats fit to print. I often wonder though, why is it the molten iron does not smother the fire?

 

[ebsi2001]

Pinelands Forges and Furnaces

That's a great article, Ben!

ebsi

 

[Ariadne]

Ben,

You have proved yourself to be a gentleman and a scholar. :v:

 

[piker56]

furnace slag

Thanks for the article. It is really interesting. I wonder what the difference in slag is between a furnace and a forge. I'm out at Martha Furnace a lot and the slag is all different colors. Did it depend on where the ore came from?

 

[Ariadne]

There are distinct differences between furnace and forge slag, and further, there are distinct differences between the slag from hot-blast furnaces and the slag from cold-blast furnaces. There's a large literature on the subject, and if you're really interested in researching it further, I'd search the Histarch archives. It has been a much discussed topic

http://lists.asu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=histarch&D=0&T=0

 

[Ben Ruset]

Slag is a very interesting thing. Furnace slag will vary greatly depending on the quality of the ore, how good the charge is, how skilled the ironmakers are, etc. I have seen furnace slag that is highly metallic, with pieces of charcoal still embedded within. The slag at Martha is very glass like. Slag that I have seen at Howell Furnace is almost cement like.

Forge slag looks like molten iron that has cooled. There is a decent amount visible at Mary Ann Forge.

Bob, regarding why the fire wasn't smothered by the molten iron -- the iron melted very slowly, and the charge was constantly stoked with air from the bellows. It would be pretty hard for that fire to smother itself out.

 

[ebsi2001]

Furnaces and Forges

There are distinct differences between furnace and forge slag, and further, there are distinct differences between the slag from hot-blast furnaces and the slag from cold-blast furnaces.

Can anyone list the names of all of the furnaces and forges that were in operation between ca. 1820 and 1860 in what is today's Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Burlington and Camden Counties?

ebsi

 

[woodjin]

Very nice article, Ben.

Jeff

 

[piker56]

The slag at Martha is very glass like. Slag that I have seen at Howell Furnace is almost cement like.

There is a lot of the dark green glassy slag at Martha, but I've also seen something that's a very light shade of green with white spots. You can see what looks like air bubbles in it. It almost had a spongy look to it. Maybe it wasn't slag but some other waste byproduct from the furnace?

 

[Tom]

I enjoyed the article Ben. Nicely written.

 

[Ben Ruset]

There is a lot of the dark green glassy slag at Martha, but I've also seen something that's a very light shade of green with white spots. You can see what looks like air bubbles in it. It almost had a spongy look to it. Maybe it wasn't slag but some other waste byproduct from the furnace?

Sounds like slag to me.

Thanks Tom and everyone else for your kind words.

 

[bobpbx]

Can anyone list the names of all of the furnaces and forges that were in operation between ca. 1820 and 1860 in what is today's Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Burlington and Camden Counties?

ebsi

If I was retired and had a bunch of time on my hands, I would pull out that map that has 'em all and give it a go.

Trivia Question: Where was Pheonix Furnace located?

 

[ebsi2001]

Forges and Furnaces

If I was retired and had a bunch of time on my hands, I would pull out that map that has 'em all and give it a go.

Trivia Question: Where was Pheonix Furnace located?

Bob,

I'm retired --- and disabled, but, curiously, I don't have all that much time on my hands. This summer, I have a lot of painting to do. Normally, the job might take 2 or 3 weeks part--time: It will take me 'til November, and I shall consider myself "lucky," if I get my "pensum" finished by then...

Tell me what map I should get, and I'll do my best to have a "looksee."

I am researching the family history of a collier who supplied many of the forges and furnaces in that time period. I have been interviewing the g-g-gd-daughter of that person, and she maintains that he suppied one furnace or forge, in particular, but, so far, I have been unable to provide the correct name... She maintains that it began either with an "M" or an "N," but "mnemonics" have their own "special" ways of playing "tricks" with our "supposed knowledge" --- especially as we grow older...

I didn't mention "Phoenix Furnace," but, then, I do not recollect ever hearing of it 'til now...

ebsi

 

[Ben Ruset]

If I was retired and had a bunch of time on my hands, I would pull out that map that has 'em all and give it a go.

Trivia Question: Where was Pheonix Furnace located?

Phoenix Furnace or Phoenix Forge?

 

[Teegate]

Ben,

I have not read it yet since I have been busy with my car and work. I want to be relaxed and have pleanty of time to read it so I will wait until the weekend.

Guy

 

[bobpbx]

Bob,Tell me what map I should get, and I'll do my best to have a "looksee." ebsi

This map, a great source of information.

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=250&pos=14

Ben; I think I meant Pheonix Furnace (but I am not sure), and it is on the map, but not identified as to a furnace or forge.

 

[Ben Ruset]

This map, a great source of information.

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=250&pos=14

Ben; I think I meant Pheonix Furnace (but I am not sure), and it is on the map, but not identified as to a furnace or forge.

If it's the one I think you're thinking of, it was a forge.

 

[bobpbx]

I think I may know where it was. Why not meet me at Luigi's Italian place tonite at 6:30 in the center of Lakehurst. We'll have pizza and a beer, then we'll take a walk to the lake from there, passing some great home architecture on the way. We'll go to the cedar grove at the end of the lake too. Its a very nice spot if the bugs are not too bad.

 

[Ben Ruset]

I think I may know where it was. Why not meet me at Luigi's Italian place tonite at 6:30 in the center of Lakehurst. We'll have pizza and a beer, then we'll take a walk to the lake from there, passing some great home architecture on the way. We'll go to the cedar grove at the end of the lake too. Its a very nice spot if the bugs are not too bad.

Bob, I'm having people over tonight, otherwise I would take you up on this. By the way, if you (or anyone else from the site) wants to come over and kick back with a few beers (Pabst Blue Ribbon, although I have some Heinekins as well) you're more than welcome.

Give me a ring if you're interested.

732-451-0495.