which heat treat oven?

Will52100

Will52100

Joined
Dec 4, 2001
Messages
3,824
Been thinking about finaly getting an oven and doing my own stainless heat treat.

The thing is about 90% of my blades are forged, not stainless. When I do do stainless it's normaly small blades and folders.

Would a small oven be better for me or would it realy help thermal cycling carbon steels instead of doing it with the forge?

What's the pro's and cons? Is a bigger that much of an electricty hog over a smaller one?

Opinions?

Thanks
 
I have an Evenheat which is 27" long that runs off 220volt that is 3600 watts and another Evenheat which is 18" long that runs off 110volt that is 1440 watts. To do a cycle with the 27" long one takes about 2 hours and 4 minutes vs the 18" one doing the same cycle takes 3 hours 41 minutes. So i'd definitely go with a 220volt one as it gets to temps much faster no matter who makes it because of the dual element coils. As for the rest of what you asked, i'm sure someone will chime in!
 
Thanks, I've got a spot picked out and when I built my shop I put in 220 figuring they were all pretty much 220volt.

What about controllers? From what I've seen there's basicly the pargon and the evenheat. Which is better?

Would also mention a lot of times it'll only be 2 or 3 blades at a time. Don't do much batching.

Thanks
 
Will,

I have the evenheat 27.5" and really like it, very easy to program. As far as normalizing goes I don't like it, I use the three heats in decreasing temps method. I have much more control using the forge and watching my colors. With the oven the tip gets to hot. In the forge I can stick the tip out the back to prevent overheating. But I do use the oven for Austenitizing, punch in the temp let it ramp up, soak the blade and quench, no guessing. I like it.
 
Thanks. Most of my plain carbon steels are 52100, been getting excellent results with just heating the edge and quenching. Wouldn't mind doing some experiments though and see what differances I could get in edge holding.

Primarily it'll be for small stainless blades, and mainly because I hate having to send blades out for heat treat. Not that they do a bad job, but because I generaly have to batch them and it take a while for turnaround.

But if I've got an oven I figure I'll find uses for it with carbon steels and damascus.

Thanks.
 
I use a Paragon and would not be without it, great for your forged blades as well as heat treating your own stainless. The beauty is that you can experiment and check the results immediately instead of waiting for the blades to make the trip to heat treatand back.

My Paragon has been trouble free for over 25 years.
 
I have an Evenheat 22.5" with the upgraded controller. I paid the little bit extra for the nicer controller simply for the convenience of a number pad which is a nice addition, if you ask me. Tracy had some good prices on Evenheats, and he's running a special if you're going to blade so you can pick up there and save on shipping (or at least he was...don't know if it's too late).

Edit: Just checked...5% off of any listed price for Evenheats and no shipping if you are attending Blade.

--nathan
 
I would spend the extra i dunno, $100 bucks? and get the Rampmaster 3 controller if you're going to purchase the Evenheat. The set pro will work, but again, with the Rampmaster 3 you just type in what you want temperature and time wise instead of pushing the up or down button. I have the Set Pro on my 27" 220 volt and the Rampmaster 3 with my smaller 18" 110 volt KH-18
 
So go with the programable controller, sounds good.

What about the size? Does the smaller ones realy run that more efficently? I won't be using it that much, not an everyday affair for sure. Would love to have something along the lines of 20" or so for the ocasional large bowie knife. Though nearly all of them are carbon steel and I cycle in the forge.

Thanks.
 
I went with the SugarCreek big knife kiln with the PID controller. 220 volts. I have only used it three times but so far I am pleased. The controller is easy to use which is a benefit for me. It took 1 Hour 47 min to get to 1850 degrees. 24" chamber so it's plenty large enough but takes a little longer to heat. After I weighed all the +and- I went with this kiln over the evenheat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top