Thread: Heat treat oven shopping :<0)

I feel a heat treat oven is coming in my near future. I see top temperatures like 2300 in a paragon and 2,000 in an Evenheat. Both at Knife makers. I am stuck using a 120v for now but other than cost of operation and maybe some speed , it is what it is. I was thinking of getting something small just for razors but I have a feeling I would regret that. The coin is still in the air with that. The shallow ovens are tall inside and I was thinking that might be good for small foundry projects instead of longer pieces. Definitely going with a 12 key controller or ramp as some call it. I just think this would be great for experimenting or dialing in the best heat treat processes.

I guess my first concern is temperature. Do I need 2300 degrees or will 2,000 do all I need ? Thoughts on size and differences in cost to operate would help also. Other brands or suggestions outside my box are welcome also :<0)

Are you going to be doing stainless? I never go above 1500 with simple-ish carbon steels.

Charlie

What Charlie says.
For carbon steel you don't need higher than 800 something celsius.
Will you be stuck at 120 forever or do you plan to change this at some point?

I don't know the price points. However, A large oven takes longer to heat, and takes more money to heat (cost of electricity) so there is no reason at all that you need to buy one that can do it all. A small one for razors and a larger one for other things in the future is an option too.

And of course, you can always use the fire for anything that doesn't fit in the oven.

No plans for stainless. but? You know how it is when your new to something. You remember numbers and times and recipes but forget all the text that goes with it :<0) I just want an oven I can get the most out of in the beginning. I do want to learn the fire Bruno and your suggestion reminds me of that, thanks. This is what I am leaning towards buying.

Evenheat Artisan 688 Oven Rampmaster Control 6"H x 8"W x 8"D 120v - Evenheat Ovens and Kilns - Heat Treat Ovens and Accessories

A small crucible should fit in there or a rack of razors. The Ramp controller sounds like it will let me follow directions without watching the pot so to speak. It maybe fun to experiment with times and temps later.

There was another unit that had gas injection to cut back on scale instead of bags and such but, I thought that a bit much. For the price I think this oven has it all except for depth. If I want to play with making long knives I will have to learn to heat treat in the fire.

If 1500 covers most of the razor steel then 2,000 should be ample.

I was told to get the biggest and nicest I could afford as you will use it when I was looking at my gas forge. I have zero regrets after it arrived on my doorstep and started it up the first time. One day I will get a more precise system, but this year. I'll just go visit Charlie!

Originally Posted by shooter74743

I was told to get the biggest and nicest I could afford as you will use it when I was looking at my gas forge. I have zero regrets after it arrived on my doorstep and started it up the first time. One day I will get a more precise system, but this year. I'll just go visit Charlie!

I wish I would have done that. I'm going to need to upgrade my forge here soon and am now looking at the biggest and nicest, lol!

To the OP - are you sure you need an oven. One option is to send blades out for HT (costs around $15/blade) and work on others while they are out. Ovens are usually in the $1K plus range and you would need to HT a lot to get your moneys worth. Also electricity is not cheap to heat those up as well so you have to factor that in.

If doing just carbon you can get by with a forge and if you want to do stainless just send it out for HT - another option.

Well Joe I have thought about all that and appreciate the you bringing it up. The 1k translated into razors is about 8 or 10 in my purchase history and I have stopped buying long enough to afford more tools. When I started down this road I found out guys where making razors from scratch and it immediately became a goal of mine to do the same. I have a nice old Wilkinson anvil, built a forge, and a grinder. I made 1 RSO and it got to heat treating time and I stopped. My thinking is I could cut the learning curve down and eventually need the oven anyway. I plan on making a lot of razors and so far I can and love the process. Losing control of every step sort of takes the " I made it" out of the build. An oven seems to be the best/fastest way for me to start learning everything I will need to know in the end. While the old fashion way has it's allure and charm like a 1 stone hone, it's more a matter of why would I do it that way if I don't have to :<0)

Well, for the sake of arguing, there are things you need, and things that are nice to have.
You need a drill press. And you need a decent belt grinder if you want to make more than a couple of blades.
I paid 2000ish $ for my first grinder with all attachments, and I have paid 1600$ a couple of days ago for my second grinder.

However, heat treating carbon steels is really simple even with a fire and an iron pipe.

Personally I wasn't happy with heat treating razors that I was hoping to sell in a gas forge so I went for an Evenheat KF18 with the Rampmaster control and it's worth every penny. Yes it's a big financial investment but it saves me time (which is my biggest cost) and gives repeatable consistent results.

I have everything Bruno, except the oven. Some I will use until I die and some will be replaced as I grow. Like Mikew says, the heat treat method must be more accurate for me to repeat consistently or I won't be happy. This is one part of the quality control I can't see and want to make sure it is as close to perfect as I can get. After all, that is what really matters when the blade hits the hone and then your face. I am not saying I can't do it in the forge I would just rather have more control over the factors without the learning curve being so long. So basically your right. I just want it :<0)