Tempering in Kiln

[stubbornforge]

Recently bought new Evenheat KH kiln for heat treating but I was curious about using it for tempering. Given the cool down time, I was wondering if people are using them for tempering or if it makes more sense to get them into an regular oven immediately? Even with the door open it seems like it is taking a half-hour + to cool down to 400 degrees.

 

[Seedy Lot]

I tempered in the kiln for a while. My issues were inconsistent temperatures with kiln at low settings so had to get an oven thermometer to dial in temperature and unless you set ramp temperature really low over shooting of target temperate happens easily.

Now I use oven in house which has more precise temperature control. Only issue is oil hardening steels need to be cleaned really well or house will smell bad like burnt quench oil.

 

[JamesBro]

I use my kiln but I checked my low temps with a good thermometer and have to go up 10 percent at 500.
A cold treatment while your kiln is cooling works for me. I just want to use all that stored heat and stay out of the kitchen.
A toaster oven is very inaccurate when tested. Just have to be carefull of overshooting temps if going in too soon.

 

[Hubert S.]

I use a toaster oven with a PID controller.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

A countertop convection oven works well for tempering. Many are digitally controlled, but a TC and readout is always a good idea to check on temps.