Can a IR Temp Reader be used with a Forge?

[Hankins]

Looking into getting a forge to HT simple Carbon steel blades. 5160 O1 maybe D2
Can a IR Temp Reader be used to check the temp?
Pyrometric Cones maybe?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

No, it won't work for several reasons. They are really only good on solid dark things and below 900°F/480°C. I have a vr=ery expensive lab IR pyrometer and never could get a reliable reading in the forge or on red hot steel.

A TC and simple reader/PID will work fine. Use an 8 to10 gauge type K TC in a ceramic tube sheath. Any cheap PID will work as the reader. Make sure you use type K wires and hook them up with matching polarity.

 

[Hankins]

Wish I knew what the heck that is ... I will do my homework
Sage advice as always Thanks Stacy!

 

[3fifty7]

Just type those keywords into amazon.

It’s basically a homemade instant read digital thermometer, like a meat thermometer just in pieces.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Hankins, send me an email and I'll send you the things you need. I've got plenty of that stuff around.

 

[sickpuppy1]

When I googled it , came up with this......Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The search words for the parts needed would be:

PID controller
type K kiln thermocouple 8-gauge
ceramic thermocouple sheath tube
type K thermocouple connection block
type K thermocouple wire

Check the items you find in these searches for price. Some come up ridiculous. The total for all should be around $100 max. For example, the TC block will show at $100 on one site and $8 on another. Amazon and eBay are good sources. Often the parts can be bought as a kit for as low as $80. The kits unsulky include the SSR and heat sink, which you don't need to use as a read-only pyrometer, but they may become useful if you set the PID up to control the forge temperature.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Or, you can get a pyrometer setup with the parts for reading temperature and add the TC sheath. A sheath is not needed in an electric kiln or tempering oven but is necessary in a forge because of the flames.
Try this search :

Full Range High Temperature K-Type Thermocouple Sensor Ceramic Kiln Furnace 2498F 1370C CR-14​

For almost nothing you can get a 4-channel basic reader and add the TC probes and keep track of the forge, quench oil, temper oven, and room temp by adding the TCs . Except for the forge, the other ones can be the cheap type K TCs. Search this:

PerfectPrime TC41, 4-Channel K-Type Digital Thermometer Thermocouple Sensor -200~1372°C/2501°F​