Difference in Even Heat ovens, KF vs. KO vs. KH

Self Made Knives

Self Made Knives

Well-Known Member
Hey, any of you guys got a strong opinion one way or the other which options are the most important on these Evenheat ovens?

The KH series seems to be 120v model.

The KF series seems to be 240v model with 2200 deg. max.

The KO series seems to be 240v model with 2400 deg. max.

I don't really want the KH series, too low of a wattage, don't want to wait around on it. So, is the only real difference in the other two the max temp? When would I need the extra 200 degrees on the KO series? Are there any blade steels need more than 2200? Is there something more to the KO series I'm not seeing?

Then, next up, do any of you have a strong argument for or against either the Setpro or the Rampmaster option? Either will be a GIANT leap forward over the manually controlled kiln I'm using now. I've finally got so sick of the kiln I'm using, I ordering one of these in the next week or two. What I'm doing now works, but it's sucking the fun out of it!
 
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You have the differences essentially correct. To get the higher temperature rating, the KO uses thicker walls - (better insulated) - and high temperature coils which should last longer. Right now, there is very little need for anything over 2200F for knives - but they could come in the future. The difference in price is not really all that much

As for controllers, for sure the Rampmaster III is far superior. It has a full numeric keypad as opposed to the setpro that requires you to hold down an arrow key and scroll to the numbers you want. The RM III also holds more programs and (though you'd never need it) - more steps per program. You will not regret getting the RM III.

Lastly consider getting the safety door switch. Those coils are live otherwise and you are reaching in there with metal tongs to get blades out. There is enough power there to really blow the wax out of your ears - and there will be "Oh Spit" moments in your HT endeavors
 
If you have more than one blade in, you are killing power to the coils with the safety, and will have to wait longer for the heat to re-stabilize. Maybe no harm, but certainly not good with a soaking heat. I've had my Ramp Master 8 or 9 years now, and have never even come close to touching a coil. They are on the sides. You would almost have to touch them on purpose. It just requires some common sense and a little care.
 
KO 18 with Rampmaster is $1039, with Setpro it's $975
KF 18 with Rampmaster is $975, with Setpro it's $915

Since that's only a $124 spread, guess that pretty much sends me to the KO with Rampmaster. Agree? Anybody know how much Boss charges to ship these?
 
One more thing to consider is length. I know you are never planning to make a knife longer than 18", but if you are doing stainless, you have to account for the length of the envelope - and in any event, you don't want the tip of the blade too close to the coils at the rear. Again, the price difference isn't much - mostly a few firebricks and a piece of stainless. Also, there is a power jump - the 18" at 3000W and the 22.5" at 3600W. Did you know you can also get a high volume alarm for these now too? :)

I'm waiting for the one that takes Keurig cups. :44:
 
I'm already thinking about the 22.5" model. It's a never ending battle though, you start saying "Well, this option is only $124 more, and then this option is only another $89 and then ....". :1:

The longest blade I've got to date is 16" tip to tail, probably my top end for length, but who knows. I'm really leaning towards the 22.5", you never know when you might need a Damascus machete! I hope to get an oven ordered next week sometime. I'm getting giddy about the thought, like a little kid before Christmas!
 
Everything so far looks dead on here.
I'd add heat up time is different for each. It's not the coils that do most of the work, it's the bricks that get hot and radiate the heat. The more mass you have (longer the oven) the longer time to get to temp. Also, the lower volts/amps, the longer time to get to temp.

If you only have 120v available, get that, otherwise step up to 220v even if you have to add a 208v/30amp outlet.

Both Evenheat and Paragon put out a high temp model (they both watch each other closely, which is good for us all). BG42 and a couple others like 2150F but a "standard" oven will eventually chug up there.. Both Evenheat and Paragon also sell the glass/ceramic people and they need the higher temps....so the heavy duty models are good for knife guys too. Heavier coils, a little slower heat time but more mass, more heat retention if you are doing sequential heats.

As for length, by far the 18" outsells all the other lengths combined.

There was some rumors of some super steels being developed that would need 2200F to 2250F heat treating a few years ago. I haven't seen any new stuff come out that needed those temps yet but I could have missed it too.
 
Everyone gave good info - Shipping on the oven is going to be in the $100 range. I think they all ship by truck which runs the expense up a good bit. Boss doesn't ship any ovens you're looking at - I think they all are drop shipped from factory. Boss is correct, don't even consider 120vac - 240 VAC all the way.

I've got the setpro and just can't seem to find any reason that justifies the Rampmaster..... but it is "only" $100 or so extra {g}

Ken H>
 
There are big reasons to prefer the rampmaster III. Look at the evenheat controller programming videos at http://www.evenheat-kiln.com/?pg=video-demos&c=3 . The video only shows scrolling a few numbers, but imagine the scrolling changing a program from 400F to 2000F!

The setpro has only 4 programs. Think 440C at 1875 and tempering at 325 or 375. Only one program left.....

The Rampmaster has 12 programs - think 440C at 1875, 154CM at 1950, D2 at 1875, 1084 at 1475 and BG42 at 2150 - tempering programs at 325, 350, 400, 450, 500, 900 and 1000.

The rampmaster also has the ability to add time or temperature mid cycle and to control alarms.
 
I should have qualified my response with how many times per day/week will the oven be used? Myself, a few times/mo, and the scrolling goes pretty fast. If I'm a full time maker using several different steels, then rampmaster by all means. For myself using mostly 1 or 2 different steels regular, and a separate tempering oven, then the setpro just fine. I do temper backsprings in heat treat oven since 1,000ºF + is required.

No more often than I use different steels, I'd forget which steel was in which program. Again, for a full time maker, or a serious part time maker using oven several times each week, then RampMaster for sure.

Ken H>
 
I went through the same deal last year I went with the KF 22.5 Im happy as hell. I do think the switch was a good choice, these things are dangerous enough.
 
When I was looking for a heat treat furnace I had a few requirements that I wanted it to meet.

1. I wanted to get a quick heat up time so it seems 110v was out of the question.
2. I wanted a great interface with a lot of control.
3. Most importantly was the ability to heat treat a variety of stainless steels from 440c to the new more exotic steels.

I ended up going with the following furnace. Though the only thing I would have done different was not getting one 24" deep. But I guess I have quite a bit of wiggle room if I decide to make machetes or other long blades.


Paragon KM24D Furnace W5.5"xD24"xH4.25" Sentry Digital 12key

Max. Temperature


2350F
1287C

Amps 8


Phase 1


Watts 3600


Nema 6-20P


Breaker Size 20


Circuit Wire Size 12 gauge

Voltage 240



John
 
Self Made Knives said:
John, was there anything in particular that made you go with Paragon vs. Evenheat?
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I searched Google for heat treating furnaces/ovens and read everything I could find. It seemed to me by the research I did that the majority seemed to think the paragon units were a little better built, and a small step up in quality over the Evenheat. This was in no way an exhaustive analysis of the two, but only what I gathered from all my reading.

To be fair, many people spoke of how they loved their Evenheat furnaces. So in the end I think it really comes down to preference. Kind of Chevy vs Ford I think.

John
 
Self Made Knives said:
Well, then I have to ask, are you a Chevy or a Ford?
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I used to be a Chevy man through and through. Now I'm more open minded after owning a 94 Ford Escort as a beater that I bought for $500. I owned that car for ten years and it just wouldn't die. sold it to a single mom who got her only car totaled and needed one badly. Still miss that car.


Regarding the furnaces. You will probably be happy with either one from what I've read.

John
 
Well, I don't know about the 120vac, but the 240vac version of 18" oven takes a bit over an hour to reach 1900F, but 1600F is...... 30 to 40 minutes? 45 minutes? What watts is 120vac version vs watts for 240vac version.

Ken H>
 
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