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Posted by ravensworth2674 on January 16, 2008, 5:54 pm
Please log in for more thread options > Tony Jeffree wrote:
> > On Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:01:03 -0800 (PST), ravensworth2674
>
> >> It's nice to keep things things in neat pigeon holes. Especially
> >> pigeons and the like!
>
> > I guess it helps keep the guano in one place...
>
> Guano-plus-charcoal would make a good case hardener for today's mild
> steels - guano contains nitrogen, charcoal contains carbon.
>
> That's all that's needed - the case hardening process involves the
> dissolving of carbon and nitrogen in low carbon/nitrogen steel. The
> extra carbon and nitrogen make the outside layer of the steel harder
> (but more brittle and/or harder to machine - which is why steel isn't
> all sold that way in the first place).
>
> Problem #2 is that that carbon and nitrogen form cyanide when they are
> in contact at highish temperature. That still happens, but if you don't
> use cyanide itself as a starting material, and take some simple
> precautions, there isn't really all that much danger - but note that if
> you do it recklessly, and without knowing what you are doing, you may die.=
>
> For eg the Japanese/Chinese swordmaker the precise control of the amount
> of carbon (and nitrogen) in the iron was problem #1 - but nowadays it's
> well known how to solve that.
>
> -- Peter Fairbrother
Of course, Peter, guano is the basis for explosives! Wish that the
bloody pigeons would go off pop but that forms another report.
I was heading off to the Sword Makers of Shotley Bridge and came
across the German origin of one family. The English is Fox!
Err Cheers or whatever in German
Norm
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>pigeons and the like!