gotta kiln... opinions?

[Scott Roush]

Hi folks....

My in-laws have a small electric Aim kiln. It has a thermocouple that indicates a max temp of 2500 F.  

So... the few knives I've worked on, I've used the woodfire/magnet technique. I've been doing stock removal.

Just wondering what folks opinions are on using a kiln like this for annealing/hardening etc on things like saw blades, farriers files, etc?

I can take this thing home with me and am wondering if its worth it....

[Scott Roush]

It indicates 20amps and 120 Volts on the label btw.

[Lin Rhea]

It should work if you can control the tempertaures, get it opened and get into action quick enough. You'll have to think it out ahead of time so you dont lose your heat going to the quench. Lin

[Scott Roush]

Thanks.... It has a controller and a thermometer (thermocoupler).... but they are old and not digital.

[Wampus]

You tend to get a lot more scale with an electric kiln because the oxygen isn't being burned up like in a gas or coal forge so it attacks the steel.  You can put some small pieces of charcoal inside to use up some of the osygen, or coat the blade with a thin coat of satanite or wrap it in stainless foil...or just live with the scale.  I bought a used ceramic kiln and use it to spheroidize old saw blades and such and for heat treating stainless.  The best thing about it is holding a steady temp for a couple hours if needed.  
Soak an old saw blade or file at about 1250* for a couple of hours and it will soften up really nice without growing the grain size.

[Scott Roush]

Thanks a lot... so if I soak at 1250, then how do you cool? Just let it sit in the kiln for several hours after turning off?  In the past, I've dunked it in an ash bucket with some coals....

I appreciate the tip on the scale issue....

[Wampus]

Yep, just turn it off and leave the door closed and it cools very slowly.

[OconeeDan]

Is the door on the side or top loader?  top loader will burn the hair off your arms, side loader is the best to work with and easier to withdraw the blades quickly.
Dan

[Scott Roush]

It is a side loader.

Thanks again... sounds like I'm getting a good tool.