Ben,

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--Megan Springate.


> Hi All:
>
> I'm in the process of writing an article on the bog iron industry in the
> New Jersey Pine Barrens for my website, and had a few generic questions
> related to blast furnaces, forges, and slag. If someone can point me to
> some good source material, or even answer my questions, I'd be much
> indebted.
>
> Firstly, there is definitely a difference in the type of slag that is
> produced by a blast furnace and a forge. Within the scope of furnace
> slag, it appears that the slag is different depending on whether the
> furnace used the cold blast method, or the hot blast method. From my
> understanding, cold blast furnaces tended to produce very rocky,
> metallic slag that in some ways resembled pyrite in texture and form.
> Hot blast furnaces produced slag that is almost glass-like. Is my
> assumption correct?
>
> Forge slag seems to look just like you would expect a pool of cooled
> iron to look like. It is smooth in texture, without a lot of visible
> impurities (ie: no unburnt charcoal, etc.) Are there other ways of
> telling if forge slag is in fact forge slag?
>
> I have seen varieties of cold blast slag and forge slag, and what I
> assume to be hot blast slag, although it was at a site that I was
> unaware used hot blast technology.
>
> Secondly, when it comes to forges, it seems that many had both a
> stamping mill as well as a tilt hammer. The thing that I am unclear on
> is what the main difference in the finished product of both were. I have
> scoured "Early Forges and Furnaces in New Jersey" but it is pretty
> unclear to me what the main differences are. If anybody can shed some
> light on the subject, I'd really appreciate it.
>
> Thanks!
> Ben Ruset
>