Will This Furnace Work For Heat Treating?

Ok, I am way out of my comfort zone here. I know nothing about heat treating, but would like to learn. So, would this Paragon furnace be suitable for things like heat treating DIY taps and dies? Also, would it work for treating things like DIY 1-2-3 blocks before surface grinding? It looks like the Max Temp is 2000 degF and the interior dimensions are 8" x 7.75" x 5.75" Thanks for your help!

Bob

Furnace for sale on Craigslist: http://fairbanks.craigslist.org/art/4638110649.html

Furnace info at Paragon WebSite: http://www.paragonweb.com/SC2.cfm

All of my heat treating experience is with a oxy-fuel torch and all I can say is that I would love to have that furnace in my shop.

Looks like a winner to me.

Remembering way back, I think that the highest temp required for most heat treating is 1850 F, so I would say that would work just fine. I don't know about the price, but given the location, and yours, it is probably a deal.

I've recently been doing some reading on DIY heat treating furnaces because the prices are crazy, and several articles listed kilns as good alternative to a heat treating furnace because there reasonably priced and good used ones are readily available, this is only what I've read I have no personal experience with them.

I use an old pottery kiln (top load) when I need to heat treat a bigger part. Kilns work great if the size is compatible with your work. I don't bother with the kiln when hardening taps or reamers. I just break out the oxy torch and heat away.

rmack898 said:

All of my heat treating experience is with a oxy-fuel torch and all I can say is that I would love to have that furnace in my shop.

Looks like a winner to me.

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Thanks Mac. I just got home with the new to me furnace/kiln. Not sure what the difference is? Anyway, the seller accepted my $400 offer so I guess it is time to learn all about heat treatment. I know, I have a LOT to learn!

Bob

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JimDawson said:

Remembering way back, I think that the highest temp required for most heat treating is 1850 F, so I would say that would work just fine. I don't know about the price, but given the location, and yours, it is probably a deal.

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Hi Jim. So I did a quick test with the furnace. I set it to ramp up to 1900 degF at full power to see how long it would take. After 22 minutes it was up to 1900 deg. The initial overshoot was to 1910 deg, then down to 1884 deg. It then settled into a range of 1892 to 1902 degrees. I don't yet know how critical constant temperature is but I'm thinking this looks pretty good. Some pics below.

Bob





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Don B said:

I've recently been doing some reading on DIY heat treating furnaces because the prices are crazy, and several articles listed kilns as good alternative to a heat treating furnace because there reasonably priced and good used ones are readily available, this is only what I've read I have no personal experience with them.

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Thanks Don B. I too was looking at the DIY route when I saw the kiln on Craigslist. I figured, at a minimum, $300 for Insulated Fire Brick, a Temperature Controller, Theromcouple, Nichrome Wire, and shipping. Then I would have to build it AND actually complete it! Knowing me, for $400 I am money ahead.

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Rick Leslie said:

I use an old pottery kiln (top load) when I need to heat treat a bigger part. Kilns work great if the size is compatible with your work. I don't bother with the kiln when hardening taps or reamers. I just break out the oxy torch and heat away.

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I hear ya Rick. I am such a noob that I wouldn't even know how to properly heat treat with a torch. Hopefully the new purchase will be good incentive to learn multiple methods.

Bob

Good for you! And I do not have personal experience, only from reading and I could be all full of it. But, I recall reading where if you use that kind of electric furnace at its high temp range all the time you shorten the life of the heating element (nichrome wire I believe). Maybe someone else can chime in, because I for one would like to know.

That's a nice looking little furnace, Congratulations......!

I see that Paragon advertises in HSM magazine but looking at their website they don't seem to differentiate between kilns and heat treating furnaces.

Looks like you got a good deal Bob, enjoy it and keep us updated on how its working out for you.

Yep, that's a nice oven for heat treating and Paragon is a good brand. It should serve you well.

As someone else mentioned, it achieves temperatures high enough for virtually all carbon steel heat treating. Unless you get into some of the more esoteric tool steels, most steels and various alloys only need temps around 1575F for Austentizing. Occasionally (rarely?), you might want to normalize something and that usually requires a 1700-1750F temp.

As far as the heating element is concerned, do your best to not dribble any contaminants on it. Doing so will put a quick end to the coils. Eventually, they will burn out but hopefully Paragon can sell new ones at a reasonable cost or, better yet, tell you precisely what type of wire to use, how long, loop diameter and number of loops for a given length. There are two kinds of wires (Kanthal and Nichrome) and they're rated by gauge and resistance per unit length (usually by the foot).

I have lot's of posts here about heat treating and if you look them up, I gave fairly detailed information and recipes for many of the common metals (mainly 1045 and 4140). Those are my favorite metals...


Ray