International Iron Working Festival in Stara Fužina, 7th-12th June 2016, Bohinj, Slovenia

Smelting and smithing process

Guests from Shropshire and also from other parts and countries who visited my private collection of ancient smelting products from Bohinj know that »there were ghosts of ancient smelters«. When we touch the ancient slag or bloom, we touch their time. That sensation encouraged me to search their tracks and make experiments of smelting.

I have never believed that I will see mass presentation of these ancient and precious skills at home. It was also very interesting for all visitors of Iron Working Festival in Bohinj.

Ivo J.Cundrič

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  The Poster of the Bohinj Iron Working Event with the monument of the first climbers to Triglav, the highest peak in the Slovenian Julian Alps
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  The slag-pit furnace with forced flow of the air before final step
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  The furnace is taken down from the top
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  A trial to move the bloom with wooden bar
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  The furnace is thrown down, the bloom is still held inside
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  The glowing bloom on wooden block, treasure for ancient smelters, prepared for hammering
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  Further smithing on iron anvil
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  The smithed bloom, the billet, prepared for another heating and smithing
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  The hearth is made from the rest of smelting furnace
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  Smithing to the bar and to the final product
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  For one kg of iron in bar shape one day of work at least for four man. How many days and men for thousands of kg !
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  Masters begin with final smithing
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  Out of bar comes the final shape
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  Final shaping
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  The leaf of iron, artistic smith Georg Petau from Germany
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  Smelting furnace from Bohinj, blower's tempo is given by accordion
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  The pressure of air was finally reached
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  Opening of furnace, inside the bloom, that was the time for final shaping
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  Three blooms were created because of troubles with air inlets
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  One piece of bloom inside tongs, Georg Petau and Ivo J. Cundrič