StuNY, I think I can offer you a chance to recoop some of your labor investment. If you would be willing to build me one just like that, and your parts cost is $500 bucks I would pay for one and pay the freight my way. I can't seem to send you a PM, but if that is something you would consider, drop me a PM or e-mail. I think you have done a wonderful job!
Congrats!!
Thanks Fish 30114,
Yes, would love to find a way to make this worthwhile for me to build for others, but the hours involved make it more of a one off. Besides, my wife would kill me if I spent three more Saturdays making an oven for someone else haha! Nothing but respect for the commercial guys that can make these ovens and sell them at the prices they do for knifemakers and still make a living doing it- probably more love of the craft than business sense for them too! Getting back to learning to make knives again now...
Stuart