Tax Return in! New toy arrived. Paragon KM14...pics

David Schott

David Schott

Joined
Sep 27, 2004
Messages
3,041
Just got here.....built pretty tank-like, but this one is light enough that I can easilly carry it wherever I need, or transport it. 14.5" internal chamber, runs on standard 120v, too!

Controller was a snap, learned in about 2 mins....first blade is already cookin'!

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Cool! Congratulations! So, are you going to get a Rockwell tester next? :D
 
Congratulations, Dave!

Though the case is made a bit differently from my 1984 model, it appears as if they still build 'em like a brick outhouse.

Where is the thermocouple positioned nowadays, please? It used to be at the top of the right wall near the front, about an inch from the top and sticking into the chamber about 1-1.5".

Thanks. Have fun!!
 
Nice thing about the small one is its 110 so you can use it just about anywhere. I had to think twice about moving my 22". Once my shop is up and running I may lean more towards the Evenheat mainly because of the cost. Can't say anything bad about the Paragon I use to have.
 
The thermocouple is right about where you described! I thought this was going to be far harder to program....

First two blades are done! They're tempering now...im a happy camper!
 
David, I have a few questions please.. Where did you get that and how much? 120v, Can this be plugged in to a standard electrical outlet? How many amps does the breaker need to be? Thanks much.
-Ray
 
I got it made by paragon(www.paragonweb.com) ...cost me a good hunk...1145$. They quoted a 4 week build time but then I got them to commit to a 1 week build! I was very happy with the serice over at paragon!

Yeah the 120V was a big deal for me since I currently rent and can't rewire anything. The specs sheet says it draws only 13.5 amps and recommends a 20A breaker, which is normal in most houses. I tested it on a 15 amp breaker and it popped it once in about an hour of firing....so i'd go with 20. Its small enough that have it on 6 cinder blocks in a tower. Im a small guy and can just pick it up and carry it, so I can store it somewhere dry and safe. Plugs right into a normal plug, no assebly required!

Even with 120, it doesnt take forever to get up to temp. I bet its longer than a 220, but the chamber is nice and fitted, so not much wasted heat. I can measure the times next time i fire it up. Nice, nice construction. The firebrick is so tight you can hardly see the seams,which are still sealed. The counterweighed door is really nice, too. I can have tongs in my right hand and flip the door with my left quickly for fast quenches.

I'll keep this posted with my review as I play with it more. Im excited to start keeping journals and working on hamons...

**Update** I went to the corner store to get some butts and bought a scratch ticket and won 400$! Took the bite off this purchase! Today is a good day! The knife gods are rewarding me!
 
I'm gonna have to save up for one of those. I was going for one of those evenheat ovens but they use 220v and I'd have to get an electrician to come an wire things up for me. I already have a 20amp breaker in my garage so it should be good to go there. Now I just need the money to buy one. Maybe I'll go get a lottery scratcher!!:D
 
That KM14 is a real nice unit. I do all my Damascus high carbon blades in mine. You may be much more memory efficient than I am, but I keep a copy of the step by step instructions by mine and follow it to achieve the desired results,... if you loose your instructions (personal experience), you can print a copy online at the Paragon website.....
By the way, the fellow who owns Paragon has been at the BLADE Show for the past number of years...He is a real nice fellow and does know his stuff about his product. I shouldn't mention it right now as you just made what I consider a hefty outlay of $'s to get your KM14, but they also have available a unit that you can attach to your oven to remove the oxygen or inject a gas to make it an oxygen-free environment.
Paragon is also very good at getting you repalcement parts like the heat coils if/when you need to replace them.
Also a number of guys who do heat treat themselves feel that if you cool down the furnace with the door closed, you will prolong the life of the heat coils as compared to leaving the door open to cool the furnace faster....but it does take quite some time to cool down from as much as 2300 degrees with the door closed, so patience in planning to use your oven is a virtue.
Apologize to your Better Half if I planted an idea to spend more $'s. I don't have one of the gas injection add-ons as I have probably a lifetime supply of foil for HT.
and still use the services of Paul Bos for all of my S30V, ATS34, 154CM....the deep freeze (Cryo) treatable steels....and for slipjoint springs at 50 Rc.
 
Ive had mine for many years! I can't say enough good about it, It is as yu say, built like a tank, but try to hold down the moves, or at leas det it down very gingerly. the fire brick is very fragile. No the fault of Para. Just the nature of the beast. As John said, try to cool down, door closed, at least to below 1200F, this will prolong the coils. Mike
 
If I said YOU SUCK! you would of course be mature enough to realize that I really don't have anything against you, but that I'm totally Green with Envy right?

Congratulations:D The tool I want most for my shop is a HT oven, but every time I think I'm close to purchasing one, something else gets in my way. Like eight months ago when I was ready to pop for one and an As New KMG popped up just a few miles from me priced well below market and I couldn't resist.

Then there was just a few weeks ago when I was about ready to order an oven and I blew up the VFD on my VS KMG which led me to understand that NEMA 1 drive controllers have no place in a knife shop, so I had to order a pair of NEMA4 rated VFDs to powr my grinders. They just arrived a couple days ago and I hope to install them this weekend.

There's certainly other stuff in my shop I'd like to upgrade like my antique Bridgeport that's got no DRO or power feeds, but the one tool that always makes me envious when I see one is an oven. That's at the top of my MUST HAVE SOON list.

Congrats, Enjoy:)
 
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