Looking for Info. WTB: heat treat oven

Linus Knives

Linus Knives

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Hi everyone, not sure if this is the right place for this so maybe someone can move it if it’s not?
I’ve been making knives with cheap steel for a little while and now am looking to get into some higher quality steel. I know that I need a heat treat oven but I can’t find any used ones around me. My budget is pretty small and I only have a household outlet in my shed but I might be able to wire a 220 if I can find a good deal on an oven.
Looking for recommendations on a cheaper but good oven and maybe somebody on here has one for sale?
Thanks for your time, I appreciate any help I can get, Linus
 
We can't discuss sales in Shop Talk, but you will get some advice on where to find them and average pricing. You will need a 20-amp 220V outlet. The 120VAC ovens take forever to heat up.
You should also post in The Exchange Wanted to buy forum and keep an eye on The Exchange - Knifemaker Market, Knives and More for Sale - Knifemaking tools and Supplies

For Sale: Knifemaking Supplies & Tools

www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Anyone with an oven they want to sell should PM Linus.
 
Thanks for the info. I posted in the WTB and I’ve been watching the knifemakers for sale section for a while now. Linus
 
Hey Linus, what kind of budget are you working with? Commercial ovens are pretty spendy, but definitely the way to go if you've got more money than time... Paragon and Evenheat are the two I hear about the most, you can look them up on the Internet.

If you're looking at making your own, which is the way to go if you've got more time than money, there are a bunch of Work In Progress (WIP) threads in this forum on what to do and what not to do.

Either way be prepared to spend some money, cause either DIY or off the shelf it's gonna cost something in the neighborhood of 500-2k...
 
are you wanting to get into stainless steels or stick with basic carbons? When I made the jump into doing my own heat treat, I found used front loading pottery and jewelry kilns that got my foot in the door with some carbon steel (8670, O1, W2...). They are limiting in terms of how long it takes to get up to temp and the max sustainable temperature. But it was a great way to get into it and then upgrade as I knew more what I wanted/needed.
 
A.McPherson said:
Hey Linus, what kind of budget are you working with? Commercial ovens are pretty spendy, but definitely the way to go if you've got more money than time... Paragon and Evenheat are the two I hear about the most, you can look them up on the Internet.

If you're looking at making your own, which is the way to go if you've got more time than money, there are a bunch of Work In Progress (WIP) threads in this forum on what to do and what not to do.

Either way be prepared to spend some money, cause either DIY or off the shelf it's gonna cost something in the neighborhood of 500-2k...
Click to expand...
Hey, thanks for the information, I have maybe a 6 or 7 hundred dollar budget at the Moment. I’ve looked into every evenheat and paragon but they are a little too expensive for me at the time being! Unfortunately I doubt that I could make my own because I have no clue whatsoever in wiring but maybe someday that would be an option.
 
ashwinearl said:
are you wanting to get into stainless steels or stick with basic carbons? When I made the jump into doing my own heat treat, I found used front loading pottery and jewelry kilns that got my foot in the door with some carbon steel (8670, O1, W2...). They are limiting in terms of how long it takes to get up to temp and the max sustainable temperature. But it was a great way to get into it and then upgrade as I knew more what I wanted/needed.
Click to expand...
Good advice! I’m wanting to do especially AEB-L and 1095 and just have the option to do some other steels. I was wondering if the pottery kilns would work but didn’t think so…
 
I have also been searching locally for a used oven. They almost never come up and if they do they are still expensive.
What scares me is if I do AEB—L exclusively. I am looking at 2317 or so for oven with tap control. I can do that painfully. But then all the liquid nitrogen stuff comes in and God knows what that will cost
 
Happychicken said:
I have also been searching locally for a used oven. They almost never come up and if they do they are still expensive.
What scares me is if I do AEB—L exclusively. I am looking at 2317 or so for oven with tap control. I can do that painfully. But then all the liquid nitrogen stuff comes in and God knows what that will cost
Click to expand...
Yes it will be costly that’s why I’m looking for a good deal.
 
Linus, are you against sending them out to a professional? There's a handful of places that have been recommended here.
 
GRapp said:
Linus, are you against sending them out to a professional? There's a handful of places that have been recommended here.
Click to expand...
I’m not against sending them out but I’d still love to own one someday so don’t want to spend to much on sending them out when I know that I am going to buy one sometime.
 
Unless you get to where you make (and sell) 50-100 knives a year you won't recoup the costs. The oven, NL, dewar, stainless foil, anti-scale, electric bill, ... and your time will all add up. When you get to making that many knives you will generate the income to buy the HT equipment.

Set 25% of the price you get for every knife you sell in a cigar box or bank account. Don't touch it until you are ready to buy the oven and other items. It will add up fast and encourage you to make more and better knives.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Unless you get to where you make (and sell) 50-100 knives a year you won't recoup the costs. The oven, NL, dewar, stainless foil, anti-scale, electric bill, ... and your time will all add up. When you get to making that many knives you will generate the income to buy the HT equipment.

Set 25% of the price you get for every knife you sell in a cigar box or bank account. Don't touch it until you are ready to buy the oven and other items. It will add up fast and encourage you to make more and better knives.
Click to expand...
Great info! Thanks! The only thing is that I can’t really make good quality (at least steel) knives that sell for a good amount without an oven. Is it still profitable to send them out? Or is it better to make knives out of a cheap steel and not sell them for as much.
 
Quality has very little to do with steel type, at least in my opinion.
Simple carbon steels 1084, 1075, etc. can make beautiful, functional and great cutting knives.

The more complex steels need more complex heat treatment, precise temp control, hold times and cryo treatment. Really this just adds more opportunity to screw things up.

There quite a few pro level makers that send their blades off for heat treat, so yes, this can be a viable way to get your ht done
 
A.McPherson said:
Quality has very little to do with steel type, at least in my opinion.
Simple carbon steels 1084, 1075, etc. can make beautiful, functional and great cutting knives.

The more complex steels need more complex heat treatment, precise temp control, hold times and cryo treatment. Really this just adds more opportunity to screw things up.

There quite a few pro level makers that send their blades off for heat treat, so yes, this can be a viable way to get your ht done
Click to expand...
Thanks I totally agree. Right now all I’ve done is leaf spring (5160) which is easy to heat treat. Are there any good steels that are easy to heat treat with a forge?
 
Yes, there are several. 1084/1080, 15n20, 80crv2 are ones that are often listed as "easy" to HT in a forge.
There's definitely an art to getting a good HT in a forge. Some folks will tell you you can't get a good HT in a forge. I would not necessarily agree with that. I would definitely say that it's far easier to get a superior HT with an oven.
Our local metallurgist Larrin Larrin has a great YouTube video on getting a reasonable HT in a forge. His YouTube channel is knifesteelnerds, check it out.
 
A.McPherson said:
Yes, there are several. 1084/1080, 15n20, 80crv2 are ones that are often listed as "easy" to HT in a forge.
There's definitely an art to getting a good HT in a forge. Some folks will tell you you can't get a good HT in a forge. I would not necessarily agree with that. I would definitely say that it's far easier to get a superior HT with an oven.
Our local metallurgist Larrin Larrin has a great YouTube video on getting a reasonable HT in a forge. His YouTube channel is knifesteelnerds, check it out.
Click to expand...
Yes, I’ve seen his channel. Great videos! I’ll look into getting some of those steels you mentioned. Thanks for you advice!
 
Look for a used pottery kiln that can reach temps for stainless? I used one, but it only went to 1700, so I sent my stainless out and did most of the plain carbons myself. Just built a HT oven in July that is 27" long and went to 2000 so far! What is the biggest OAL size you want to do? Jarod Todd is back doing heat treat and Bos at Buck Knives does a good job as well.
 
Taz said:
Look for a used pottery kiln that can reach temps for stainless? I used one, but it only went to 1700, so I sent my stainless out and did most of the plain carbons myself. Just built a HT oven in July that is 27" long and went to 2000 so far! What is the biggest OAL size you want to do? Jarod Todd is back doing heat treat and Bos at Buck Knives does a good job as well.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the Info! I’m not looking to make anything huge at the moment. Maybe 12 inches max? I will look into a pottery kiln, Linus
 
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