kevin - the professor
Well-Known Member
Hello Everyone,
I am just posting to let y'all know that this product is great. I got it through Tim Zowada, who evidently had a lot to do with working with Evenheat to get them to make this. It is usually used for salt pots. However, I put a 32"x6.5" inner diameter x .5" cast iron pipe in mine to even the heat (evenheat, ha). Sorry. So, this works really well. It takes all of 15 minutes to come up to 1475F. With the retort in it (fancy word for pipe/heat sink I learned from Tim), it is solid on temp. This kiln will stay within 3F above and 5F below the set temp when I am working between 1400F and 1600F. It takes a while to get "flat" so there are some oscillations at first. But, once the temp regulates itself, the readout will often stay at exactly the same temp for 30 sec at a time.
It does take longer than you would think to bring a knife up to temp. The air in the kiln returns to temp fast, but the blade inside still rises a little slowly. I have to wait about 3 to 5 minutes before i start my, "soak" time.
I have treated 2 w2's, 1 1095 and one low manganese 1075. The w2 and 1095 were the real tests, and all seems well. I broke part off of one, and I have a nice grain as seen by naked eye. Great hamon, etc. I don't have any microscopes or anything, but it seems good. I can't wait to use it for a sword. The heat appears to be even from top to bottom, at least there is no visual difference in the dark in the color of the retort at different heights.
just thought y'all may be interested.
I think this is one of the best purchase I have made for knifemaking.
Kevin
I am just posting to let y'all know that this product is great. I got it through Tim Zowada, who evidently had a lot to do with working with Evenheat to get them to make this. It is usually used for salt pots. However, I put a 32"x6.5" inner diameter x .5" cast iron pipe in mine to even the heat (evenheat, ha). Sorry. So, this works really well. It takes all of 15 minutes to come up to 1475F. With the retort in it (fancy word for pipe/heat sink I learned from Tim), it is solid on temp. This kiln will stay within 3F above and 5F below the set temp when I am working between 1400F and 1600F. It takes a while to get "flat" so there are some oscillations at first. But, once the temp regulates itself, the readout will often stay at exactly the same temp for 30 sec at a time.
It does take longer than you would think to bring a knife up to temp. The air in the kiln returns to temp fast, but the blade inside still rises a little slowly. I have to wait about 3 to 5 minutes before i start my, "soak" time.
I have treated 2 w2's, 1 1095 and one low manganese 1075. The w2 and 1095 were the real tests, and all seems well. I broke part off of one, and I have a nice grain as seen by naked eye. Great hamon, etc. I don't have any microscopes or anything, but it seems good. I can't wait to use it for a sword. The heat appears to be even from top to bottom, at least there is no visual difference in the dark in the color of the retort at different heights.
just thought y'all may be interested.
I think this is one of the best purchase I have made for knifemaking.
Kevin