What Oven To Buy?

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mike_758905

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May 13, 2009
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Hey guys, still new to this and trying to finish setting up my shop. I have almost everything I need to get started making knives, but the last thing I need is a heat treating oven. Any suggestions? What do you have? Pros? Cons? Thing of a Paragon or Even-heat. Thanks for the help.
 
I think people are probably about evenly divided between the two. I have an Even Heat and like it a great deal. Learning to program it was ... a bit slow but I got there. My only recommendation would be to buy one long enough to HT the longest blade you can imagine wanting to make. I've never used the full 24" depth of mine - but I've come close, and had I bought a "normal" sized oven I would either have been constrained in what I could make or have had to send the blades off for HT - both conditions anathema to me. ;) Having the extra depth is very liberating for me creatively. Just a thought.
 
I also have an Evenheat, and like it very much, I'll second the advice about the length, wish I had bought the 24" model.
 
I chose the evenheat because the door opens to the side instead of down, easier to get hot parts out with out burning your self. and the elements for the evenheat seem to be a little less costly than the paragon.
 
Even heats are decent ovens. I personally don't like how hot the outside gets when austenitizing. I have owned and used a Paragon for the last eleven years and never had a problem with it. never had to replace anything and have never burt myself on the door or anything else, even when taking a stainless packet out at 1950 degrees. The cost of the paragon is a little more but the more ridgid shell better door hinge with a counter balance and ease of programing make it worth while.
 
Mike,
I'm considering the same options for a few months down the road so I talked to the Paragon guy at the blade show. I asked him straight up "Why should I buy a Paragon over an Evenheat ?"

His reply was- Evenheat folks are very fine people and friends of his who make an exellent product. The main difference is in the oven controls, Paragon being the industry leader with a "better controller" . Better programming ?? he didn't specify exactly why it was better but gave the impression that Paragon was set it and forget it while you will have to watch over an evenheat.

I believe that with the rampmaster controller they are about on an even playing field unless I don't fully understand What I've read on these ovens.

I'd love to hear folks who are in the know about this topic explian the difference between Rampmaster and Paragon controllers.

-Josh
 
I've been considering the Even Heat 22" oven with Rampmaster controller. It seems like a great deal overall. I'd probably recommend getting the door interrupt switch as an add-on option for the 220V ovens for convenience and safety. I know guys here who are running Sugar Creek kilns and like 'em just fine as well, though I'd recommend upgrading to a digital control. Paragons and EvenHeats tend to be the leaders among knife guys, and I don't think you could go wrong with either one.

--nathan
 
I can't comment on the Paragon, because I have seen, but not used them. The evenheat RM controller holds 12 programs - each with more steps and control than you will ever use in knife making. I agree the power interrupt door switch is a must - and cheap insurance for about $40 when you are picking up foil envelopes beside live 220V coils. Evenheats cheapest controller even holds 4 programs. I'm not sure where the "have to watch over it" suggestion comes from.

The Evenheat hinges and latch were a problem in the past. Both have been nicely redesigned.

I will say that the Paragon would likely offer better protection from small arms fire. (for a leprechaun) :D

Watching closely some comment from someone with current information on the Paragon and others.

Good topic

Rob!
 
Thanks for the feedback I am going to keep checking in on this before committing over the next couple of days.
 
I have used both and here is my take of course I am somewhat biased toward the paragon but will try to be fair.

The sentry control on the paragons only holds six or eight programs with up to twelve segments. It is however very easy to program and operate. The paragon oven comes with an interrupt switch on the door and a counter weight to hold the door open and closed so no latches to mess with. the outer shell stays much cooler than the evenheat's, so my deduction from this is that it is better insulated.

the evenheat controller will hold four programs or I think eight with the rampmaster II control. but the rampmaster costs extra. Also the interrupt swith for the door costs extra. the evenheats controllers are a little bit confusing to program at first, but if that is your only oven I am sure you can get used to it. I have a little trouble everytime I use the rampmaster control and I may be doing something wrong but I have to reprogram every time I use the oven. As I mentioned the outside of the evenheat gets hot enough to burn you at austenitizing temps.
 
i think the difference really being width and height between the paragon and evenheat models. The evenheat has a much larger space inside being 10" wide and 6.5" tall and however long you order it in up to 49.5" long for those massive broadswords !

In the several years I have used my evenheat kiln, I have never once brushed up against it to even worry about getting burned. Sure the jacket is made of stainless steel, but you're using fire at high temps, so caution goes without saying. Personally I find the power interupt switch option a bit unnecessary...wear some high temp gloves and you'll be fine.
 
I'm a novice knifemaker....at best.
I only make a few knives for friends and family.
I see some folks that use a regular toaster oven or the oven in their house...how does this compare?
Sorry for the hijack, its just questions I have.
Thanks
 
Fair question. They're using their home oven for tempering - after hardening; the ovens under discussion here heat the steel to hardening temps.
 
I highly recomend paragon. Easy to program, built solid and the door has the best hinges I have seen even on large Cress ovens. Most of the time in this business you get what you pay for.
Jason B Stout
 
Well, I bit the bullet today! Bought a KMD14? In english a 14" paragon should be here in two weeks! So I better get my work benches built and finish wiring so I can start grinding and heat treating.
 
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