HT Oven Element Sourcing and Coating

okzj

okzj

Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
222
Guys,

I just had my first burnout on a set of coils. I have 2 questions:

Where do you guys get Kanthal elements? I get mine from budgetcastingsupply.com, but they're $50 for a set of two. I was wondering if they are cheaper anywhere else. Tracy, do you carry stuff like this?

Next, I have aquestion about coatings. I know you can use ITC213 to coat the wires to extend their life, but furnace cement should do just the same, right?

I'm really trying to keep this from turning into a $100 rebuild. It's going to be really close on whether or not I get my example done for the show next week. :mad:

Thanks,
Taylor
 
Any idea if these elements would work in a smoker??? I was thinking:eek::eek:, to inlay the elements in some firebricks on the bottom of a gutted out fridge.:confused::confused::D
 
Hello Taylor,

When building my HT oven I got my wire from www.resistancewire.com. Click on inventory the search for AWG 16 KANTHAL A-1. They have a minimum order of $50 but, $50 worth of wire will give you many replacement coils. I've got 4 58" coils from my spool and still have at least one coil worth left. Just wind your own coils around a 1/2" metal rod chucked up in a drill press or lathe. CAUTION --- winding in a drill press or lathe must be done by hand and NOT with power to the machine. It is very easy to wind by hand. Machine power would be way too fast and potentially suck you into the windings.

Here's a link with some pics of winding --> http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5008952&postcount=24

Hope this helps...

Eric
 
indian george said:
Any idea if these elements would work in a smoker??? I was thinking:eek::eek:, to inlay the elements in some firebricks on the bottom of a gutted out fridge.:confused::confused::D
Click to expand...

My boss smokes a lot of meat, he just uses a tiger torch set in the bottom of the smoker and sets the wood around the flame. I'm sure any number of the propane forge burner designs would work equally well.
 
69_knives said:
My boss smokes a lot of meat, he just uses a tiger torch set in the bottom of the smoker and sets the wood around the flame. I'm sure any number of the propane forge burner designs would work equally well.
Click to expand...

I want to use electric. I use a a electric charcoal starter sitting in a cast iron pan. I go through a starter every 6 to 8 months.:D
 
Thanks guys. I'll look into these other options. Anyone know about the coating?

IG, they should work fine in a smoker, as long as you coat them with something. I think that's what caused mine to burn out. I threw in a piece of wood to control the atmosphere, and it fell up against the coils. I never thought twice about it, but when the coil burned out it was where the wood was touching.
 
Update:

Burning of carbonaceous materials in the furnace will attack the aluminum oxide film on the coils, which is then replaced with more aluminum leaching out of the alloy. Eventually there is no aluminum left, and the iron starts to oxidize, and BAM! Burnout. This is a common problem with the coils in a reducing atmosphere. Who'dathunkit? ITC 213 will prtect the coils to a certain extent, but I'm not too sure I want to chance it again.


Apparently I need to control the atmosphere some other way. I have to do something... I was literally getting SHEETS of scale on my O-1 and 1095 blades when soaking.

Maybe I'm going to have to break down and get some anti-scale.
 
I wind my own kiln elements with wire from http://www.euclids.com/

they have wire, elements and an elements winding service. If you have the specs they can wind anything you want.

I made a rig to wind elements on a 1/4 rod on my lathe under power. (hands free for safety)

I figured it out so it couldn't be that difficult.

Ben
 
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