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by Jen-Ken

Jen-Ken Vertical Air Bath 30+9 Knife Kiln

SKU JENKEN-VAB-30-9
Save $349.00
Original Price $3,489.00
Current Price $3,140.00
Talk to an Expert Secure Checkout 30-Day Returns No Sales Tax Outside GA

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Not sure this is the right fit? Power, size, firing needs: talk it through with a real person before you order. Call or text (470) 264-3563

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Flat-Rate Freight Delivery
✓ No sales tax outside GA ✓ Quoted at checkout ✓ Authorized Jen-Ken dealer
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Made to order: Jen-Ken builds each kiln in Lakeland, Florida after you order, and says shipping can take several weeks to several months. Call or text us for the current lead time before you buy.
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2-year limited warranty on brick kilns, 1-year on fiber kilns — direct from Jen-Ken.
Jen-Ken · Vertical Air Bath · Knife & Blade Heat Treating Jen-Ken Vertical Air Bath 30+9 Knife Kiln Vertical Air Bath 30+9 · 240V · 11" x 39" chamber · 2,200°F The 30+9 is the 30 with nine more inches bolted on, and it comes apart the same way — two sections that separate, which is how you get a 39-inch chamber through a shop door and onto a stand without a crew. Blades hang vertically in the air bath so nothing touches the steel while it soaks, and the refractory baffles keep the heat in when the lid comes off. It takes blades to 38", runs to 2,200°F, and draws 33 amps on a 6-50 plug.
Max Temp2,200°F
Blade lengthUp to 38"
Chamber11" W x 39" D
Power240V · 33A
Key features
Orton AutoFire AF4X 3-button controllerFitted as standard and shipped preloaded with heat-treating programs — ramp, soak and quench-point schedules, not a pottery cone table.
Two-section chamberThe oven separates into two pieces, which is the only practical way to move a 39-inch chamber into position.
Vertical blade suspensionBlades hang by pin, spring clasp or ceramic rod rather than resting on anything.
Rolling stand with castersJen-Ken lists a stand with casters for this model.
Refractory baffle systemA custom baffle arrangement that holds heat in the chamber when the lid comes off, so pulling one blade does not drop the temperature on the rest.
Power-interrupt lid switchCuts power to the elements the moment the lid opens. You are reaching into a 2,200°F chamber with tongs, so this matters.
Optional accessories
Quench tank and platformJen-Ken sells these separately for the taller ovens. If you are hardening rather than only tempering, you need somewhere to put the blade in the two seconds after it leaves the chamber.
Suspension hardwareBlades hang by pin, spring clasp or ceramic rod. Tell us what you make and we will help you work out what you need to hang it by.
Spare thermocoupleA thermocouple is a consumable in a furnace that lives at 2,000°F. Worth having one on the shelf before you need it.
Controller upgradeJen-Ken offers other Orton controllers on request. It is a factory option rather than a checkout add-on — call us and we will quote it.
Common questions
Why hang the blade instead of laying it flat?A blade lying flat on a shelf touches something, and everywhere it touches cools differently from everywhere it does not. That is where warp and decarb patterns come from. In an air bath the blade hangs from the top of a tall chamber — by a pin, a spring clasp or a ceramic rod — and nothing is in contact with the steel while it soaks. Heat reaches it from every side at once, tip to tang. It is the same argument a front-loading oven cannot make.
What electrical circuit does it need?Jen-Ken publishes the voltage, the draw, the wattage and the plug for the knife line and nothing else — no breaker size, no circuit wire gauge and no shipping method appear on any of these spec tables. We have not filled those rows in by working them out or by borrowing them from a pottery kiln of similar draw, because a number we invented is exactly the sort of thing an electrician would act on. Size the circuit to the continuous draw with a licensed electrician, and call us — we are asking Jen-Ken for the factory figures.
What does the “+9” mean?A 30-inch base chamber plus a 9-inch extension section, giving 39 inches of depth. It is built as two pieces that separate, which is a practical point rather than a marketing one — a single 39-inch furnace body is awkward to move and this one is not.
Why is there no shipping weight?Jen-Ken does not publish one for this model. The oven itself is 130 lbs. We have banded it for freight on the assumption that it ships like the comparable ovens in the line rather than guessing at a crate weight, and if you want the exact figure before you book a delivery, call us and we will get it from the factory.
How uniform is the temperature, in numbers?Jen-Ken describes this oven as giving 360° heat, and that is a fair description of the geometry — a hanging blade is surrounded by chamber on every side. It is not a measured specification, though. Nobody in the heat-treating oven category publishes a temperature uniformity figure in °F, Jen-Ken included, so we are not going to print one either. If you need a documented uniformity survey for a certification, tell us and we will take the question to the factory.
Will it do stainless as well as carbon steel?2,200°F covers the austenitizing range for the carbon and tool steels most knifemakers use, and reaches into the range for the common air-hardening stainless grades. Jen-Ken publishes the ceiling and not a steel list, so check your steel's data sheet against 2,200°F rather than taking our word for it.
How long until it ships?Jen-Ken builds to order in Lakeland, Florida. Their own guidance is that kilns can take several weeks to months depending on the production queue. Call us and we will get you the current estimate before you commit.
Does buying from Peach State Pottery affect my warranty?No. We are an authorized Jen-Ken dealer, so the factory two-year warranty applies exactly as it would buying direct. Keep your proof of purchase.
Longer than a 30 and shorter than a sword. We are authorized Jen-Ken dealers based in Georgia. Thirty-eight inches covers most longsword and machete work. Call us with your longest blade and we will tell you whether this or the Excalibur is the right buy.
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Common questions about this kiln

Still stuck? Call or text (470) 264-3563 and talk it through with a real person.

Is freight delivery included in the price?

No. Kiln prices do not include freight, and we do not quietly build it into the product price. Freight is charged at a flat rate based on your delivery address and is shown at checkout. Liftgate service is included when it is needed, and standard delivery is curbside. You can estimate your delivered cost with the ZIP code tool above the Add to Cart button.

Can I return this kiln if it is not right?

Return requests can be submitted within 30 days of delivery. The kiln needs to be in its original packaging, in new and resellable condition, and approved before it is sent back. A restocking fee may apply. Completing the manufacturer's recommended first test firing does not by itself make a kiln non-returnable, so you can confirm it works before you commit. Full terms are on our Returns page.

What electrical supply do I need for this kiln?

The Specifications tab on this page lists this model's voltage, amperage, required breaker size and NEMA plug configuration. Most 240V kilns need their own dedicated circuit fitted by a licensed electrician, while many 120V models run from a standard household outlet. If you are unsure what your space can support, call or text (470) 264-3563 before ordering.

Does this kiln come with a warranty?

Yes. This kiln carries the Jen-Ken manufacturer warranty. Coverage length, what is included and any registration deadline are listed in the Specifications tab on this page. We are an authorized Jen-Ken dealer, which is a condition of warranty coverage on most kiln brands.

What comes with the kiln, and what do I need to buy separately?

The What's Included tab on this page lists exactly what ships with this kiln. Most kilns need shelves, posts and kiln wash before your first firing, and these are not always included. A vent is recommended for indoor installations. Any add-ons available for this model are shown above the Add to Cart button.

About this kiln
Best for: Potters, glass artists and bladesmiths who want an American-built kiln from a small Florida factory that has been building kilns since 1951 and still answers its own phone.
Jen-Ken has been owned and run by the same two brothers in Lakeland, Florida since 1991, and builds more than 60 kiln models for clay, glass and bladesmithing. The people who build the kilns fire them too.
🔨 Lead time
Made to order
Built in Lakeland, Florida after you order. Jen-Ken states that shipping may take several weeks to several months, so call us for today's estimate before you plan around it.
✓ Warranty
2 years brick · 1 year fiber
From Jen-Ken to the original purchaser, limited to repair or replacement of defective items. Elements and thermocouples carry their own 2-year coverage, though thermocouples are not warranted against breakage. Ask us which line your kiln falls under.
Why buy from Peach State Pottery?
★ Authorized Jen-Ken Dealer
★ No sales tax outside Georgia
★ Flat-rate shipping, quoted at checkout
★ Real support before & after order
★ Military discount for veterans
★ We are here if anything goes wrong
Call or text us:✆ (470) 264-3563
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Order now to hold today's price
Jen-Ken builds to order, so your place in the production schedule is set when you order. Talk to us about voltage, controller and furniture kit choices before you buy — they are all decided at order time.