Heat treating furnace Advice and Ideas

J

Jwgriesser

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Sep 20, 2015
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I want to buy a heat treating furnace. Does anyone have a recommendation on one. I heat treat mainly ABE-l. I was thinking of a larger one 24 or 36 inch. What features do you recommend.

Thanks for any current ideas you may have.

Jay
 
do you really need one that big? I have a Lindberg 51442, Interior Dimensions: 14" Deep by 7.5" Wide by 5.25" High, so I can do up to 16" blades. with a 24" furnace, you spending a lot of time and electricity just heating air if you are doing smaller blades. as far as features, an easy to open door that stays shut, a window, holes for extra thermocouples, a controller that will maintain setpoint +/-10F. if you don't want to monitor the process, a controller with multiple setpoints and timers would work. with AEB-L or 13C26, heat treat is pretty simple, oven to 1975F, equalize, soak for 5 to 10 minutes, quench. just some thoughts
scott
 
Stacy pretty much nailed it as far as brand choices. I went with Evenheat 23.5".

The main differences, if I can recall them all, are the Evenheat is a side opening door vs the oven style door on the Paragon. The EH has a wider chamber I believe and they are quite a bit cheaper, or were when I bought mine a couple years ago.

I probably would have gotten the 36" if the price jump from the 23" wasn't so steep. I always recommend the 23" over the 18" because its like a 100$ for the extra 5.5". Aside from that I think they are both great kilns.

If you go with the EH make sure you get the model (KF or KO) that tops out at the temp you may need. One is a little cheaper but tops out at 2000* or 2100* the other at 2300*. Also call whoever you buy it from and tell them you want the Bill Burke mod which is a thin layer of Kaowool between the metal housing and fire bricks that keeps the outside from getting too hot. Good luck!

-Clint
 
If you get an Evenheat, ask for the Bill Burke Upgrade. Bill has had them add additional insulation around the bricks, which makes a better oven. The upgrade is very little extra, and definitely worth it.

HT ovens get hot on the outside, and Bill's upgrade greatly lowers how hot it gets.

I warn everyone who asks me about getting a knife HT oven that they will burn you if you aren't careful. Some are worse than others, but none I ever saw were safe to place your skin on when they have been running for an hour or more.

I personally recommend that people wrap whatever oven they get n a layer of kaowool or other insulation blanket rated for at least 500F. The outside of many ovens can get to 300F in a long program for stainless or tool steel. Many of the fiberglass blankets with the foil exterior are suitable. Kaowool is really good, and you can wrap a second layer of a water heater wrap over it to make it look neater.
 
Or get someone to build one for you ;)

My kiln after 5h hardening (LOOT of blades) in 1050*C have 40*C outside...


Ps.: Ups... I need pay for subscription again xD ( Don't be mad Stacy :P )
 
If you want a barrel type for swords, JJ Simon and Sam Salvati are making them.
Just fyi.

You could use the big one for other stuff, too.
 
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