Thermocouple question

redeagle66

redeagle66

Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
152
I know they are used a lot in HT ovens but I want to get a better idea of the temps in my forge. I want to get a thermocouple but have some questions about using one. I researched the forum and found various recommendations on the right type, gauge, hookups so I think I'm fine on that front (K, 8g, 2340F).

I don't plan to install it permanently but if I want to place one into the forge, how long does it need to be to come up to an accurate reading? I am thinking of using a small clamp to hold it in place coming in through the back port. However, it if reads quickly, could I just hold one in tongs for a reading and then take it out? Eventually, i guess I will drill a port into the side of the forge but not sure where the best placement should be.

Any recommendations are appreciated.
 
If you want it to last a while, put it in a ceramic TC tube, called a sheath. They will extend the life many times. It takes longer to get a reading, but the reading is more accurate with a sheath.
 
i use a handheld one, will that work for you?
Omega website - KHIN-14U-RSC-24

reader used off ebay - Omega HH-26K Digital

8EF45A1E-5BF5-457D-8DB0-420E284F5B61_zpsebsrfeng.jpg
 
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Stacy, Thanks. I saw that info about the sheath. Do you know what is the useful life of these thermocouples? I mean is it replace the K-type every few months or few years? To get a reading are we taking about 10 second in the heat or a 5 minute soak? These are the details I have not found in my reading.

HSC. Thanks for the reply and the pics! That looks just like what I want. According to the website it also seems to be a K thermocouple on a stick/handle. Any inputs to my question to Stacy here regarding your use of that model? Do you let it sit there during the whole forging session?
 
I have had an exposed TC in my verticle for along time, years and years. Seamed to read just fine then I compared it to another TC and it was quite a bit off. So was it bad, no, was it good, no, but it was close enough for a forge. A TC in a forge is just measuring right where the TC is and a few inches away could be quite a bit hotter. What I do use it for is for an eye reference. I set the forge to be at say 2100° it cycles the forge on and off and keeps the TC at 2100° I then look at the TC and compar its color to the steel color. Works great this way because your eye can pick up minute color differences as long as it has a reference color as a gage.
 
redeagle66 said:
HSC. Thanks for the reply and the pics! That looks just like what I want. According to the website it also seems to be a K thermocouple on a stick/handle. Any inputs to my question to Stacy here regarding your use of that model? Do you let it sit there during the whole forging session?
Click to expand...

I've had mine for about a year, I've made maybe 30 knives using it,
It registers temp immediately and you can see the readout going up or down right away.
It's just a guide for me and I'm relying on it less and less as I gain experience.
Sometimes I let it sit the whole session and just check the reading occasionally.
 
I have the same unit as HSC//
A sheat will provide more reliability for longer, but using it as a visual reference has its advantage as well.
Anyway you are doing the right thing getting a TC for your forge, it will be also of great help tuning your furnace to make an even heat chamber out of it.
If you bite the bullet and buy 2 TC you could spare the safequeen one just to check every now and then and follow the natural degradation of the one in use over time
 
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