golden ear

Chapter 323 Rare Metals

"You see, one of the interesting things about the iron pot is its sound." Liu Huasheng filled the iron pot with water and demonstrated: "You have noticed that the iron pot has sounds, some are like the sound of wind blowing loose, and some are turbulent waves. There are different effects depending on the craftsman's processing.

"My iron pot is equipped with clickers at the bottom. There are about three pieces of iron, which may be a little rusty. This is the clicker carefully made by the kettle master. Because of this kind of clicker, the iron pot has a pleasant sound. .”

"There is another kind of depression on the bottom. The traditional foundry or the iron pot made by the kettle master will deliberately leave some depressions on the bottom. Because of this depression, different sounds will be produced according to the size of the fire, which is very interesting. .”

Sure enough, Wu Tianyuan could hear the iron kettle making various sounds during the process of boiling water. It was very interesting. In the quiet teahouse, listening to the sound of boiling water was also a joy!
"One point is the same as the purple sand pot. The iron pot needs to be opened for the first time. Before opening the pot, the inside needs to be carefully cleaned with a toothbrush or soft cloth, especially the spout, and the outside with a soft cloth. Scrub with a material or a soft-bristled brush, and rinse with clean water after making sure the dirt has been dealt with."

"Insist on using the iron pot every day, so that scale and tannin iron can adhere quickly. As time goes by, the inside of the pot will turn red. As long as the water quality is not turbid, there is no need to clean it. Cleaning will destroy the protective layer of iron. Use a sponge or a soft washcloth to dab the incompletely fused protector."

Wu Tianyuan had an idea and asked: "Uncle Liu, do you think the pig iron in iron pots in southern Japan is also a special mineral deposit?"

"That's right. I've been to Tiehutangkou several times. Apart from the fact that the method of smelting and purifying the pig iron ore is kept secret, the pig iron is also a local ore. It seems that most of it is salvaged from the shallow sea, and it can be formed after being soaked and washed by sea water. A special material, making iron pots of the best quality!"

"Pig iron refers to an alloy of iron with a carbon content of 2 to 4.3%, also known as cast iron. In addition to carbon, pig iron also contains silicon, manganese, and a small amount of sulfur, phosphorus and other elements; pig iron contains a lot of carbon, hard and brittle, almost No plasticity."

"Sure enough!" Wu Tianyuan had a plan in mind. It seems that Japanese iron pots also need special iron ore, so it will be easy to handle. This is a breakthrough.

"Due to the material advantages of the iron pot itself, the boiled water has a "mountain spring water effect", so it can be used to make tea to better exert the characteristics and charm of various teas. After the water is boiled, it can be brewed according to different tea types. According to the temperature requirements, wait for the water temperature in the iron pot to drop to a suitable temperature before brewing.”

"It can be mainly used to cook some re-fermented or post-fermented teas, such as black tea, aged Tieguanyin, aged rock tea, old Pu'er, etc., as well as herbal teas."

"Now I have a lot of preparation procedures and materials for every tea ceremony, from charcoal fire, iron pot, purple sand, tea set, tea leaves, to tea room, environment, calligraphy and painting, flower art, and incense. Everything is carefully prepared. According to the status of different guests, their preferences and occupations , aesthetic level, a formal tea party can only be held after comprehensive consideration.”

"This is the status symbol of a tea ceremony master!" Wu Tianyuan joked: "Otherwise, how can it show how precious Uncle Liu is?"

"The charcoal fire must use good rosin charcoal, the temperature is right, there is no smoke, and there is a trace of rosin when it burns."

"Moisture tap water, mountain spring water, well water, purified water, mineral water. The iron pot is made of pig iron, and the material determines that it will produce scale when it is used for boiling water. The results of cooking different water sources are also different."

"Tap water, pure water and mineral water are common sources of water in daily life, while mountain spring water and well water are the two best sources of water. Generally, mountain spring water has a high iron content and tastes sweeter. The scale boiled with it is white. , most conducive to improving the water quality of the iron pot boiling water, I specially hired people to deliver good mountain spring water from the nearby mountains every day for use.”

"Purified water and mineral water are the next best. At present, most of them are sold in supermarkets. It takes a long time to boil tap water to form scale. The scale is yellowish white, and due to the influence of modern industry, it cannot be used."

"Now that I have the Master Purple Clay Teapot you gave me, I can get twice the result with half the effort. As for the tea..."

"Don't worry, in a few months I will be able to pick the best tea I selected. They are all planted on the land I personally selected. The output is very small, and it is only for you, Uncle Liu."

Everything was ready, and Wu Tianyuan, who was able to prepare for the tea ceremony, helped Liu Huasheng make plans, and asked him to hold the first tea ceremony as soon as the tea came out.Invite several long-established tea ceremony masters to comment on their skills. After winning recognition, they officially become the youngest tea ceremony masters in Japan.

"It is really necessary to take out the treasures in the museum! Use the official kiln of the Southern Song Dynasty to insert flowers, hang a pair of flowers and birds of Song Huizong on the wall, the top iron pot of Longwentang, the purple sand pot of Gu Jingzhou, and finally the tea cup of Ru kiln. Jian kiln Tianmu, how is it?"

Liu Huasheng quickly waved his hand and said: "Forget it, I dare not use it if you are willing! Any one is a priceless treasure. If the emperor sees us drinking tea with Tianmuyao change? Then don't vomit blood and feel distressed to death!"

The two laughed loudly, looking for a chance to try if they had nothing to do, and enjoy the feeling of Song Huizong back then!
After sending Liu Huasheng away, Wu Tianyuan came back to study the materials of Japanese iron pots. Celadon and Jianyao had already entered the Japanese market, and the response was very good.The seal stone will soon be mined successfully, and it is another must-kill weapon.The next step is the purple clay teapot. With the three famous types of mud and the products produced by master Xu Hanting, it will once again enter the Japanese market.

"Longwentang is indeed controlled by the Mitsui family!"

Wu Tianyuan has some headaches. The opponent of porcelain is Yushan Longquantang, and now the teapot is Longwentang. They are all controlled by the Mitsui family. It seems that a direct confrontation is inevitable.

"There are about 68 processes in the production process of an iron pot, and it usually takes nearly two months from the initial design to the completion of the finished product. A delicate iron pot requires a craftsman who makes the body and a craftsman who makes the handle. Accomplished with superb skills?"

Wu Tianyuan really did not expect that the production process of an iron pot is so complicated, which is more time-consuming and labor-intensive than a purple clay pot.First draw a sample of the iron pot, then calculate the cross-sectional view of the pot according to the drawing, and create the wooden mold required for the casting according to the cross-section.

Take the wooden model and rotate it back and forth, adding the prepared clay at the same time as each revolution, and repeat this dozens of times until the craftsman is satisfied.

When the mold is not completely dry, press the texture, and use a special pen to outline the texture of the pot wall inside the mold.

Mix fine sand, good soil and clay, and press it into a solid neutron shape with a cloth.Then put the neutron into the previously made mold.

Inject boiling hot molten iron through the small hole on the cover of the outer mold and wait for about 2 hours.Pour out the molten iron, peel off the outer mold, and take out the pot.

Then put the pot into an ancient carbon furnace with a height of 3 meters. The fuels in it include coal, pig iron, crushed iron and limestone. The temperature in the furnace is as high as 1300 degrees.

The formed iron pot is grilled with a carbon fire at 800-1000 degrees, so that the pot forms a layer of magnetized and acidified surface film, which can prevent the pot body from rusting.

The completed iron pot is heated on a charcoal fire at 200 degrees, and the surface of the pot is painted with lacquer mixed with acetic acid and tea juice.It must be applied with a brush while heating, and the high temperature is used to make the paint firmly adhere to the surface of the pot.

The last process, the pot handle, is made by a special craftsman, who beats the iron plate into a round iron rod shape. This technique is very difficult, and few craftsmen know how to do it.After forming, paint and connect with the pot.A complete iron pot can be officially produced.

(End of this chapter)