Heat treating oven

[imagedude]

Can anybody point me towards a supplier of small (12" cubed max.) single phase programmable HT oven.

Thanks in advance
Bob.

[ANDYLASER]

Try Island Scientific,
www.island-scientific.co.uk
look under miscellaneous.

[shing]

They can get Paragon HT kilns from the US. HT kilns need to ne able to increase their temperature very quickly from pre heat temp to full HT temp. Ordinary ceramic kilns are very slow and would cause excessive grain growth and weaken the steel.

http://www.hobbyceramicraft.co.uk/

[narsil]

I contacted a supplier of industrial heat treating ovens a little while ago as it happens.
I nearly had a heart attack when I saw their price list. Suffice to say that I shall be geting a small toaster over from argos or somwhere like that which I suspect may do the same job for a tenth of the price. I don't know if these prices are typical.

Their web site is www.johngodrich.co.uk

[999]

How would you use a toaster oven for heat treating? I would love to know-are there any simple 'how-to' guides on the web? Couldn't find any...

[Dave Budd]

I had the same heart failing experience when I looked into getting a HT oven. So now I harden in the forge and temper in an argos toaster oven. The oven does the job, BUT you need a seperate thermometer and watch teh temperature inside because the thermostat (on mine at least) is crap. If I set it to 200C it sometimes sits at 200, but it often gets above 230C and then drops back down. -no constant temperature. so now I set it low and spend 40 mins turning it up gradually.

Can anybody suggest a way of replacing the thermostat or making it more stable?

[Tantalus]

hmmmmmmm 200c

my parents have an oil fired aga oven

huge cast iron thing that is permanently on and heats water for the house as well as keeping the kitchen warm

i will need to have a peek at what temperature the oven is

im not suggesting you go out and buy one, raeburn and a few other make similar ovens, they cost the earth but last several lifetimes

but perhaps if you could find someone that has one it would be an ideal place to do your heat treating

Tant

[Kevin]

I think that if your heat treating simple carbon steels, then you only need a method to heat to critical and quench and use an electric kitchen oven for the tempering stage.


If you are going down the path of steels which require a more complex process of heat treatment and soak times (ie stainless), then a more professional and expensive type of oven is needed (like a paragon).

If you are just going to work with carbon steels commonly used in knife making.....then why not keep it simple.

I cant comment on oil fired Aga ovens...but of your thinking of using it for soaking steel over a time/temperature curve..then can you be so precise on the temperature control?.

[MushiSushi]

here's a couple for you bob

http://www.cooperheat.co.uk/
http://www.elitefurnaces.com/index.html

[narsil]

How would you use a toaster oven for heat treating? I would love to know-are there any simple 'how-to' guides on the web? Couldn't find any...

Check out this thread: 'Accurate tempring of blades using a secondary heat source' in this forum.

I have found that the oven i have at home does not get hot enough for my needs, so I am going to get one of those mini toaster ovens. Theyre about the size of a microwave, and appear to be able to reach higher temperatures. You can get them from lots of domestic appliance makers, they seem to range in price from £40 to £100.

I use an oven thermometer that I bought from Lakeland ltd to check the temperature, a proper industrial high temp thermocouple thermometer would be more accurate but they are expensive.