1) Got an Evenheat Perfect Fire Kiln that is showing signs of dementia or it is posessed. Or, I think the controller is on the fritz. For about the past year I have had the kiln just forget its program whenever I turn it on to ht the next batch. I am ht'ing 154CM et al, @ 1900 for 25 min, or 1925 for 20 min...gives me about an Rc of 62 prior to tempering. Next time I crank her up, the display may read 1400 degrees as a max, 2 hours soak time...you get the idea. Try to reprogram by the "enter" and "select" buttons to no avail...it won't let me go up to 1900, say, maybe only 1600 for example. Yep, I know the controller must now be re-programed by 1) turning it off and then 2) holding down the "select" key while simultaneously turning it back on. My problem is I am having to re-program every time I turn it on now...and it is becoming more difficult to get the program to "take" when re-programming. The kiln is not worn out, so to speak, as I am a hobby knifemaker, not a full time guy. Maybe 400 blades ht'd so far from this kiln.
Should I try a new controller? Am I fixin' to get into some serious bucks if I do? If I go to the trouble to get a new controller I might as well get some new elements too. Are they a pain to put in? I got the 22.5" model and I think my arms are too big and short to put the little buggers in there.
Suggestions sincerely appreciated!
Now, question #2: I quit working with ATS-34 because of the trash and impurities in the finished product. Went to 154CM and have not had a single problem now. Great stuff! Well, now that CPM154CM is out I have bought some up and tried it out as well, thinking I now have the ultimate stainless steel.To put it bluntly, I have been way way disappointed in it. I have finished a few blades in it, and every blade I have finished has had something I have never seen before: horizontal pitting stuff on each blade that is running in the same direction as the cutting edge. I don't really know if you could call it pits, per se, but it looks like cracks, but they don't go all the way through the blade, so I just call them elongated pits. I know I don't have my terminology correct, but one thing I do know: I don't get it with 154CM and it ain't supposed to be there. I ht the CPM the same way as 154CM.
What's going on? Any ideas? Most of the cracks/pitting are about 1/4" above the cutting edge and have not affected the overall performance of the blade, but I sure ain't selling 'em like that!
Thanks in advance for all your help! Have a great Labor Day weekend.
Hank
Should I try a new controller? Am I fixin' to get into some serious bucks if I do? If I go to the trouble to get a new controller I might as well get some new elements too. Are they a pain to put in? I got the 22.5" model and I think my arms are too big and short to put the little buggers in there.
Suggestions sincerely appreciated!
Now, question #2: I quit working with ATS-34 because of the trash and impurities in the finished product. Went to 154CM and have not had a single problem now. Great stuff! Well, now that CPM154CM is out I have bought some up and tried it out as well, thinking I now have the ultimate stainless steel.To put it bluntly, I have been way way disappointed in it. I have finished a few blades in it, and every blade I have finished has had something I have never seen before: horizontal pitting stuff on each blade that is running in the same direction as the cutting edge. I don't really know if you could call it pits, per se, but it looks like cracks, but they don't go all the way through the blade, so I just call them elongated pits. I know I don't have my terminology correct, but one thing I do know: I don't get it with 154CM and it ain't supposed to be there. I ht the CPM the same way as 154CM.
What's going on? Any ideas? Most of the cracks/pitting are about 1/4" above the cutting edge and have not affected the overall performance of the blade, but I sure ain't selling 'em like that!
Thanks in advance for all your help! Have a great Labor Day weekend.
Hank