On the 21st day of October in 2017, I attended an “iron melt” at Andres Institute of Art in Brookline, NH. I went as an observer because I expected there would be several opportunities for some unique photos.

The iron is melted in a Copula furnace a technology that dates back to ancient China. The team that actually pours the molten iron wear all manner of safety equipment, leather chaps, safety helmets and thick leather gloves. There is some danger involved which makes me appreciate having a telephoto lens which allows me to stand at a safe distance.

Aluminum Melt

When I was a teenager, I created my own blast furnace using our Electrolux vacuum cleaner. I discovered that I could get a really hot fire by blowing air into a charcoal fire. My dad had an iron pourer that he used to make lead sinkers and that worked great to melt odd pieces of aluminum tubing from cut up lawn chairs. I made one mold of a stylized “JP” which is around somewhere. However most of my “artistic” work was pouring molten aluminum into a pail of water. It made an impressive sizzle and would form rounded globs of aluminum. Sadly I don’t have photos of that to share. Thankfully I never managed to burn myself and had no mishaps.