Table/Location for Heat Treat Oven

bobbywett

bobbywett

Joined
Jul 23, 2006
Messages
1,231
Hello Everyone,

Last April, I purchased a heat treat oven for my shop/garage. I will be setting it up this April. First my father-in-law and I must build a wall between my half of the double wide garage and Cindy's half. We are going to insulate the walls with plywood, t 111, or some other material? suggestions are welcome. It is to be a temporary fix until we can afford to either move to a better suited location or double the size of our 23' x 23' structure.

Every piece of equipment I use to forge, grind, cut, chop, etc....will be located in my half of this Garage, 11.5' x 11.5'. The truck has been relegated to the driveway for the past 2 years now.

My Anvil and propane forge are located at the entrance to the overhead door, just in case!!! I have a fire extinguisher there as well. The forge is on wheels and can be moved to the driveway quickly if need be. I am very concerned about the Table and the Location of my heat treat oven. My father-n-law is getting on in years and thinks that plywood and 2" x 4"s will suffice, I disagree. Anybody have suggestions on a suitably safe Table and Location for my Kiln? I'd like to keep it toward the over head door with the forge. Would plywood covered with heavy gauge metal work to prevent heat transfer from the Pargon? Should I buy a rolling metal service cart? I'd like the Table to be relatively high, so I don't have to do much bending while working with it. I's got to be sturdy too.

Should I be looking to install a fire rated type of wall in the whole shop? Heat treat area? I know these questions may sound stupid, but I don't want to take any unnecessary chances and I am willing to spend a few extra bucks to make her as safe as I can reasonably afford.

My shop is in town, smack in the middle of Chocolate Town USA, Hershy, PA.....so banging on an Anvil outdoors is not an option.

Thanks Guys,

Bobby

http://www.usaknifemaker.com/images/Xpress-KM-18_May2011_OpenW1.jpg
 
Bobby
My H/T kiln sits on a wooden formica covered table,the back of the oven is 6" away from a chip board wall behind it.When the kiln is at 1950 F the table and the wall are not even warm,you can place your hand on the kiln and it is hot but not to the point of getting burnt.
My forge is ouside under a lean to roof.
Stan
 
Even though my oven doesn't get that hot as Stan pointed out, I had very similar concerns when I bought it. I ended up getting getting a metal welding table from Northern Freight to put my kiln on (it was under $100). It may not be necessary, but I feel better about having the kiln on a metal table.
 
I would also consider plywood walls with a layer of drywall and - or a layer of sheet steel

Plywood allows you to still screw stuff to the wall.
Drywall gives some fire protection, but gets scuffed easily.
Steel is really easy to clean, durable and spark resistant.

Drywall prevents the heat conduction & is an electrical code requirement behind a fuse box, breaker panel.
The steel would reduce radiated heat.


You have to balance cost, work and peace of mind.
 
I use the same cart set up as the others. Mine fits perfectly. The cord on the kiln is long enough to get it away from anything. Works great.
 
Mine is just up on 2x4s on my plywood bench. It never gets hot enough that I've ever worried about it even one bit. I'd be more concerned that it be near where you'll have good ventilation so you can quench close to the kiln and vent out the smoke.
 
I have the same basic set-up as Stan and also observe the same. Me being a nervous Nelly did go ahead and lean a piece of 18 gauge mild steel sheet metal against the wall behind the oven. This acts as a reflector and dead air space (after all a new shop is expensive).
 
You might consider the cement board they have at building supply stores. I use it under my forge and it stopped the scorched wood problem. My Soft brick oven doesn't get that hot. Put 4 bricks under it for dead air space anyway.
 
Mine is on a rolling metal toolbox. I use the toolbox a lot and just pull the oven away from
the wall when using it.
 
Stacey, that's a nice cart, I like the mobility factor. I'm looking for something higher though, don't like bending over if I don't have to. My back isn't what it used to be. I suppose I could just raise it a bit with 2" x 4" and move the wheels down. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Bobby
 
Fire barrier walls are typically constructed of gypsum board partitions. In New Mexico, commercial construction may require (1 or 2) 5/8 layers of sheet rock (gypsum board) depending the fire risk level. This counts as both fire barrier (not fire proof) and sound deadening. If you plan to hang items from the wall then 3/4 playwood in back of either one or two sheets of 5/8 sheetrock should do. The sheet metal in the area right around the oven sounds like a good idea.
Greg
 
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