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[Align]

speaking of which, how the hell do the dwarves smelt steel(and apparently iron)?

[0x517A5D]

quote:Originally posted by Align:
<STRONG>speaking of which, how the hell do the dwarves smelt steel(and apparently iron)?</STRONG>

Quite.  And given that they have some way to generate temperatures hotter than magma, why can't they smelt titanium?

0x517A5D

[RubberDuckofDoom]

If I remember correctly, magma's temperature was toned down to a rather low 1300-1400 Fahrenheit because it would otherwise vaporize a person sitting at a magma forge.

Which is realistic, but would be kind of annoying.

[Shadowlord]

Blast furnaces, perhaps?

[0x517A5D]

A blast furnace wouldn't heat magma.  Forcing air through magma would quickly cool it into, probably, basalt.  (Definately not obsidian.)

Edit: as we are blowing air through the magma, we probably would foam the resulting rock, resulting in pumice.

[ November 22, 2007: Message edited by: 0x517A5D ]

[Bien]

A hot plate? Magma flows under a sheet of metal (Presumably steel) and the magma/lava makes the sheet hot enough to be able to smelt ore and forge weapons.

[Core Xii]

I never even dreamed of using iron. Thanks for the heads-up!

[Align]

quote:Originally posted by Bien:
<STRONG>A hot plate? Magma flows under a sheet of metal (Presumably steel) and the magma/lava makes the sheet hot enough to be able to smelt ore and forge weapons.</STRONG>

Sounds like the sheet couldn't get any hotter than the magma or else it'd pass the heat back and forth until the sheet melted or the world ended because you generated more energy out of nothing.

[Arkose]

Interestingly enough, Platinum seems to have an even higher melting point than Steel or Iron; since Native Platinum is more common than Bauxite and isn't useful for weapons and armor as Steel, Native Platinum Mechanisms might currently be the most sensible choice for operating magma floodgates.

(I would imagine they would also fetch quite a decent price in trades, although Native Platinum Goblets still probably make a more sensible trade good.)

[Alfador]

quote:Originally posted by Arkose:
<STRONG>(I would imagine they would also fetch quite a decent price in trades, although Native Platinum Goblets still probably make a more sensible trade good.)</STRONG>

Not sure quite why; as far as I know goblet = 3 from one bar/stone, and 10 base value. Mechanisms = 1 from one stone, and 30 base value. Same base value, except a mechanism only needs to be hauled once. Three goblets need three hauling tasks to get it to the trade depot.

[Sean Mirrsen]

How many mechanisms can you fit into one bin?  

[ParrotPatrol]

Yes, but the goblets weigh a fraction of the mechs. You could fit dozens more goblets. And if you are hauling goblets that aren't in a bin, you are doing something wrong.
Mechs don't go in bins.

[ November 24, 2007: Message edited by: ParrotPatrol ]

[Nil Eyeglazed]

Well, unfortunately, you can't make iron mechanisms either, and hematite/magnetite have default boiling points-- ie, they'll melt just as fast as rock salt.

Fun to look through the raws though.  Did you know that the cluster-forming magnetite has both a relatively low density and a good value?  I'll consider using it once I mine out a few more clusters.  Or that mica has an extremely low density?  Good for generic doors, floodgates, and mechanisms-- easier to haul.

[N35t0r]

lol mica tables LOL

[axus]

since this got bumped, bauxite mechanisms will resist magma