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The Folding Knife (& Switchblade) Forum The materials, techniques and the designing of folding knives. |
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#16
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Hi Guys, Just trying to keep something going here...
Yesterday I got my Andy-inspired heat treat furnace finished. Well, OK, not finished - it still needs paint and a cover for the electricals but otherwise it's done. It gets very hot inside Thanks Andy! -Ben M. |
#17
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Ben, how's about some pics?
Trenton |
#18
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Quote:
-Ben |
#19
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Quote:
I'd like to see the furnace too. |
#20
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OK Guys, here are the pictures of my Andy-inspired furnace. For the chassis I cut up an old bed-frame and the skin is sheet-metal from a two-drawer file cabinet. Both came from the steel recycler for about $3 total. Electricals were removed for painting. I'm into it $213 + time (that includes the controller and electricals not pictured). Thanks Andy!
-Ben M. |
#21
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Well Done !!!
That looks awesome Ben You're going to have some fun doing your own HT with it.
Might I suggest that you wire some kind of safety interlock switch on the door. The elements are live and dangerous. It's so easy to forget to power off the furnace when your concentrating on getting your blade out and quenching. Andy.. |
#22
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Ben, that is a professional job. Looks like my Paragon except mine has a bottom hinged door. And the door does have a safety switch.
Andy, Ben, are the elements fairly easy to bend and place in the cavities? What kind of elements are they? Thanks. |
#23
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Don, the elements I used were made from kanthal wire. They come tight wound and have to be stretched so that they have none of the windings touching each other or you will burn the elements out.
I would highly recomend using gloves when stretching the elements or you will end up losing skin from your hands..don't ask how I found out . The elements fit easily into the grooves but sometimes they want to pop out so I just bend a piece of kanthal wire to a horse shoe and pin the element into the soft fire brick. Andy.. |
#24
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We used to use kanthal elements in our commercial heat treating furnaces. IIRC, once brought up to temperature, the elements become brittle like glass.
That's why I wondered if they could be manipulated and bent by hand. Guess so, huh? Can you buy the wire in whatever length you want? |
#25
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Don,
Your right about the elements, they are very brittle after the first fireing. They are easy to work prior to the first fireing. I got my element ready wound from Budget Casting Supplies, very reasonably priced IMO. http://www.budgetcastingsupply.com/H...ntrollers.html The web site has lots of usefull info on heating elements and how to size them for your power supply. Andy.. |
#26
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My elements came from Budget Casting Supplies also. Thanks for the safety interupt recommendation. I hadn't thought about that!
-Ben M. |
#27
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Ben , nice job, thanks for sharing. Andy, that's a great tutorial you put together, I've had it for quite some time
Trenton |
#28
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Hey guys, just a followup on the furnace. Andy, you are THE MAN. As of my last post I had just tested it out at some low temps (tempering temps). Tonight I fired it up for it's first REAL job. WOW! The thing got to 1,470F in less than 15 minutes! Right now it's got a blade in it and it's holding temps within 5 degrees. I'm loving this thing. Later guys, time to go quench that blade...
-Ben M. |
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blade, folding knife, forge, knife, knives |
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