What should I get? Evenheat/Jen Kiln

Linus Knives

Linus Knives

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jul 13, 2023
Messages
609
Hey everyone,
I'm looking at a couple heat treat ovens for sale and i'm wondering which one you guys would get if you were in my situation.
I have the opportunity to get a Jen-Ken Kiln - Vertical Air Bath 21 locally for $850 from a knife maker I know. Seems like a good machine from what i've read about them
Or, I can get an Evenheat STP KF22.5 from a guy on craigslist that is not local to me. I would need to pay about $300 to get it shipped to me but the machine is only $400

Which do you guys recommend out of the two? I'm kind of leaning towards the Jen-Ken because of it being local, and I know its been treated right even though the even heat is supposedly new...
I think the value of the even heat is a better deal but I don't really like the thought of getting it shipped-
Thanks in advance for your time,
Linus
 
Linus Knives said:
Hey everyone,
I'm looking at a couple heat treat ovens for sale and i'm wondering which one you guys would get if you were in my situation.
I have the opportunity to get a Jen-Ken Kiln - Vertical Air Bath 21 locally for $850 from a knife maker I know. Seems like a good machine from what i've read about them
Or, I can get an Evenheat STP KF22.5 from a guy on craigslist that is not local to me. I would need to pay about $300 to get it shipped to me but the machine is only $400

Which do you guys recommend out of the two? I'm kind of leaning towards the Jen-Ken because of it being local, and I know its been treated right even though the even heat is supposedly new...
I think the value of the even heat is a better deal but I don't really like the thought of getting it shipped-
Thanks in advance for your time,
Linus
Click to expand...
Linus,
I don't think you can go wrong either way as both are nice units. I use an Evenheat...and likely always will as they have great customer service. I considered that vertical as well but I didn't like the way that the blades attach and hang in there. Maybe that's just a hang up for me (no pun intended 😂 . If you don't buy that Evenheat for $400 and $300 shipped, please hook me up with the info. That's an insane deal as that unit new is over $2k (havent shopped in quite a while so maybe much more) and they have a long lead time.

Best,
John
 
JV Knives said:
Linus,
I don't think you can go wrong either way as both are nice units. I use an Evenheat...and likely always will as they have great customer service. I considered that vertical as well but I didn't like the way that the blades attach and hang in there. Maybe that's just a hang up for me (no pun intended 😂 . If you don't buy that Evenheat for $400 and $300 shipped, please hook me up with the info. That's an insane deal as that unit new is over $2k (havent shopped in quite a while so maybe much more) and they have a long lead time.

Best,
John
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. Evenheat doesn't sell this model anymore but the similar model is like $4,000 or something crazy like that. I maybe should jump on the opportunity...
 
Yea, if its in good shape, that's a really good deal. Mine is a KF 22.5 model. Run s like a champ.IMG_1517.JPGIMG_1518.JPG
 
That’s an amazing deal for $700!

I have the 120v version of the one JV posted. New it was ~$1,300 with 1 month wait time. This was back in 2018 I believe.
 
Yes, I actually got him down to $650 for everything... :thumbsup:
I should be actually paying him and buying this within the next couple of days. (Hope all goes well)
 
Due to my concerns about shipping, I think I'd go with the local Jen-Ken, plus I've always wanted one of them. I saw them a few months after I purchased my EvenHeat oven. It's given me good service and have no complaints at all, but do think I "sorta" like the vertical. I looked at them at Blade a few yrs ago and was very impressed. You'll be VERY happy with either one.
 
Well, I bought the Evenheat this morning. He said he'll send me tracking later tonight. We'll see what happens.
Thanks everyone for the advice and if anyone's interested in that Jen Kiln, I can hook you up! I doubt he'd want to ship but it's in savannah ga.
Linus
 
Good luck with shipping unless professionally packed and strapped on a pallet.

My K-24 was a great deal.
A friend ordered it from a major supplier ... and arrived damaged. It was just in a heavy cardboard box. One corner was clearly crushed. The controller mounting screws had been torn from the shell and the door latch was bent. Nothing major and all easy to repair, but that's not what a new oven should be. A claim was made and a new one sent. The new one came on a small pallet, and the driver had orders to unpack it, have us inspect it for damage, and put the old one in the pallet. We helped him take it to the shop where there was a big table and tools. The driver was a nice young guy and excited to visit the forge and see swords and knives. I asked him about the damaged oven and he said he was supposed to take the old one and smash it with a hammer, then dispose of it in the trash. I said that was crazy, and he agreed. So, he borrowed a hammer, put a little dent in the door, and set it in the trash bin. I gave my friend half of the price for the oven and it was a win-win for both of us. Took about 10 minutes to make the repairs.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Good luck with shipping unless professionally packed and strapped on a pallet.

My K-24 was a great deal.
A friend ordered it from a major supplier ... and arrived damaged. It was just in a heavy cardboard box. One corner was clearly crushed. The controller mounting screws had been torn from the shell and the door latch was bent. Nothing major and all easy to repair, but that's not what a new oven should be. A claim was made and a new one sent. The new one came on a small pallet, and the driver had orders to unpack it, have us inspect it for damage, and put the old one in the pallet. We helped him take it to the shop where there was a big table and tools. The driver was a nice young guy and excited to visit the forge and see swords and knives. I asked him about the damaged oven and he said he was supposed to take the old one and smash it with a hammer, then dispose of it in the trash. I said that was crazy, and he agreed. So, he borrowed a hammer, put a little dent in the door, and set it in the trash bin. I gave my friend half of the price for the oven and it was a win-win for both of us. Took about 10 minutes to make the repairs.
Click to expand...
Great story! I reminded him that it needed to be packed very carefully and he said he knows and that he's going to have it professionally crated so hopefully all will be good!
 
Ken H> said:
There you go - bragging and making us mere mortals feel bad for not finding deals like that. Again, congrats
Click to expand...
Ha, I'll stay quiet now cause you'll probably get the last laugh when it arrives destroyed and not working :(:thumbsdown:
Anyway, I just happened to have been searching for a heat treat oven on craigslist because mine had JUST broken and It had posted 6 min ago-kinda crazy actually.
I'll update this when it arrives. Supposed to be here Thursday I think!
 
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