The single most important consideration should be temperature control. Can you have confidence in its accuracy is of utmost importance. I see no real problem getting the steel out of a top loader quick enough so long as properly protected for that. In fact, for quick to quench, a top loader would automatically put the blade into vertical, just right for the quench. Temperature control and temperature confidence is the real deal. You can do the timing manually but close temperature is of most importance, especially in cooking high alloys..
Roger
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Roger
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