[Zapzoo]

Anybody use one of the Keen KT-50 rod ovens for long term storage of 7018? I'm wondering how they hold up.

Thanks

 

[Stick-man]

I was wanting one in the past, just for the balance of ten pound cans of 7018-3/32", 1/8" & 5/32". I called Keen, explained what I wanted to do, and they said there would be no problem using that as a permanent oven. Then I found a 350# oven for $150.00 and went with that because I stumbled into a bunch of 50# cans of 7018 at a good price.

 

[Zapzoo]

Cool. I was looking at them online last night. The K200 is starting to look intresting. I just don't know if I need to have 200lb of 7018 on hand. I'm also kind of wandering what the electrical cost will be. The 50lb portiable unit is only 150 watts the 200lb unit is 500watts. Most of the time the door will be closed. Pretty much only open long enough for me to pull out a hand full of rods. When welding on the weekends. However I could buy a 50lb can of 3/32, 1/8, and 5/32.

 

[Stick-man]

The best price I found on the Keens was from rod ovens.com .

Yep, then I was looking for a K200, but those are really hard to find. Check evilbay now, because I just seen the first used one of those. But, also check craigs, that's where I found mine for $150. Remember, you dont have to fill it with rod, but you will want to put fire bricks in the empty space's to help retain the heat and run less. I just had a thread on this. http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=175711&highlight=fire

Keep in mind, 50# cans cost less per pound. It will really matter on how fast you'll use it. Sometimes, I will go a while without burning a rod, and sometimes I will go through 10 -15 pounds in a day.

 

[mstyer]

I don't have direct experience with the KT-50, but I've had good luck with other Keen ovens for rods and sub-arc flux.

The suggestion of the K200 is a good one. The odds of wishing you had a smaller oven are much less than wishing you had a bigger oven.