Color case furnace/kiln choice

[45-110]

All the recent discussion on color case work has me again thinking about doing it. What new or used kiln/furnace would one recommend for lock size parts. I assume  accurate temp. control is critical.
thanks
kw

[Hank01]

Brownells used to sell the complete package. Don't know if they still do though.

Hank

[Bob Roller]

How did Colt,Sharps,Remington and Winchester control heat? Some of those guns were stunning with the colors achieved in the 1850's.
Bob Roller

[JPK]

When I bought my furnace it came with two controllers that are just numbered knobs. I also bought a pyrometer that is mounted to show the temperature. After a few times I know where to set the controls and must monitor it to maintain temperature. It’s worked out well for me and saves a lot of money rather than a controller that maintains temp.
Get a larger furnace for that job you didn’t think you’d be doing, you will in time.

[David Rase]

https://paragonweb.com

[T*O*F]

Kilns for ceramics are often found for sale used on Craigslist at reasonable prices.

[JPK]

Temperature isn’t so precise that you need to hold to the degree. This one varied by ten during the process. There is no warping and the color was what I was wanting.
AA0149F3-4E50-45BB-8CAC-B4D4D9909E96 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

[Long Ears]

I can't imagine bending over a ceramic kiln at full temperature to remove the crucible to quench!!!! They are made to cool BEFORE you open the lid. I have a paragon with the fully automatic fancy dancy controller. It is great for color case or knife tempering all the high tech metals used today. I can even flood it with argon to remove all of the oxygen from the chamber so there is no scaling. Cool tool... Bob

[Ameristahl]

I own a evenheat brand from brownells. It works well but i wouldnt really recommend them because its a very flimsy construction. Its a pile of firebrick wrapped in a layer of super thin sheet metal and the door latch is a pretty good joke. However its 6 years old now and have had no problems

[44-henry]

I have used both gas and electric ovens, gas ones are more durable, but both work fine. You want a front loading design, ceramic top loading kilns would be dangerous to open at the 1400+ degree temperature range. Aside from that the interior chamber size is the main concern, just needs to be big enough to hold your container.

[Jim Kibler]

We currently use a front loading furnace for pack hardening, but used a kiln for many years.  Opening it up and removing the crucible really isn't too bad.  I would wear a welding coat, a face shield and some good heat resistant gloves.  You also need some decent tongs to lift it out quickly.  These of course need to be long enough that your not down in the kiln.

The good thing about a kiln is they are dirt cheap if bought used.  Some may have a controller, but if not, this can be easily added as a unit that the kiln plugs into.  All this requires is a thermocouple be fed into the chamber.

Front load is certainly nicer, but generally quite a bit more expensive.

Jim

[Rwnblack]

I picked up an old muffle furnace used for ash testing of flour.  They were tossing it so the price was right.  It was front loading but it was too small to put a tall box for actions so I tipped it up and made it a top load.  After the elements burned out I rebuilt it with new firebrick that I cut slots in for element wire I bought from a ceramic supply store.  I can now case all types of actions.  I cut the door off, extended the chamber and stack firebrick on top instead. The temperature controller is from the 1970’s but it works.










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