Paragon Industries, L.P. W14

Paragon Xpress-KM-18 Knife Maker’s Heat Treating Furnace Great knives are more than steel and ornament. They contain a spirit that makes them feel alive to the touch. As the knife ages, its spirit remains as vibrant as the day the maker gave the knife to the world. The spirit in their knives lives on long after the master craftsmen who made them. In 1986 we introduced the KM-14D, our first knifemaking kiln. We are proud to announce the Xpress-KM-18, with an 18” long interior. It should be the perfect size furnace for those who need one that is between the 14 1/2” long KM-14D and the 24” long KM-24D. In addition, the Xpress-KM-18 features the economical 3-key Sentry Xpress temperature controller instead of the full 12-key Sentry. Save on the price of the furnace and still get the same digital accuracy knife makers have come to expect from Paragon. Test exotic heat treating formulas When you own a Paragon Xpress-KM-18 furnace, you can live the knife making adventure to the fullest. You will actually witness the birth of your knives in the bright red heat of the furnace. The soul is born in the furnace, because the heat treating brings out the highest qualities of the steel. Many knifemakers enjoy owning a furnace, because they can revel in testing. They put blades through tests more severe than any knife owner would dare. Yes, they test for Rockwell hardness, but they don’t stop there. The serious knifemaker tests the knife against hemp rope and 2x4s. They bend the blade to 45° or even 90°. Then they straighten the blade, slap on a handle and test it in the real world. The knife maker with an Xpress-KM-series furnace can try exotic heat treating methods at his leisure. Does quenching in dry ice improve blade performance? What happens when 52100 steel is triple-quenched with a one-day wait between each quench? After this treatment, will a 52100 blade bend to 90° without chipping? With a Paragon furnace in your shop, all questions about heat treating formulas are settled. Heat treating is no longer theory. You find out for yourself what works. Testing and heat treating is at the heart of the knife making adventure. Here is where your confidence as a knife maker takes root. Through heat treating, you can master a tool steel and make it your own. Experiment with differential hardening, an ancient bladesmith technique. Try out the newest tool steels. Are they really as good as the tried and true D2 and A2? New higher furnace temperatures