Does anyone have experience with a Paragon furnace< I am ready to purchace the KM14. The argon port is an option I am interested in. Locally, in Mesquite, Tx, Argon is $140/cly and $40 for 125 cf. I have heard N2 is cheaper, but may contain H20, therefore argon would be the way to go for heat treating, thus avoiding the use of stainless steel foil.

Bill: Argon is one method of protecting your blades from scale and decarb during HT. Another is SS wrap. If you're going to be heat treating SS blades, I'd highly recommend trying the SS foil wrap and press quenching. This offers the benefit of being able to heat treat multiple blades in one packet, and, only having to open the furnace door once.

The Paragon KM14HT is a good furnace, BTW.