Atlas knife forge PID question

[Robert L Sr]

Has anyone tried using a PID on their Atlas forge for heat treating? I am thinking of getting one and would like to be able to HT steels such as 1084, 1095, and 0-1.
Any information would be great, thanks.

 

[Kevin Powers]

temp controlled by the PID or just digital read out? If just digital readout, purchase a thermocouple and PID from Auber and its very easy to connect.

 

[Robert L Sr]

I would assume I would have to buy some crazy regulator to have it PID controlled. Sounds fun but expensive. Just having a readout would be great. I could manually adjust it from there as the steels I use at the moment have fairly simple HT regimes.
Is there a certain combination TC and PID that would work best? I have no experience with high temp tcs or controls.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

In my opinion, a PID control for an Atlas forge won't work well. There isn't enough thermal mass to keep the regulation needed for HT by PID. You will be better off doing the HT by eye and keeping the blade moving and rotating. A PID and a TC used as a read-only device will give you an idea of the forge temperature, but it should only be a guide, as the blade almost surely will not be the same temperature.

 

[Robert L Sr]

Thanks Stacy. I think having an idea of the internal temps might be helpful as a reference. I have been doing HT by eye up to this point but have no way to check as I don't have a hardness tester.