Light Armor Powder Oven Review

[@curtismeeks138]

Hey Scott, I can reinforce what you experienced with Light Armor Ovens. I have one of their ovens as well, a 5x5 foot model, that I purchased approximately 3 months ago or so. I was not at my shop when it was delivered. The shipping company did call me about 15 minutes before they delivered it, and when they found out I was not at home, they were nice enough to allow me to call my father-in-law who lived close by to be there for delivery. When I got home 45 minutes later, the oven was still on its pallet and on the forks of my tractor (still sitting outside). I went to look at it, and it was damage in multiple places on the top and a place on the top/side. This had to have happened during shipping at some point, either being put on the semi, while in the semi, or after being taken off the semi (when my father-in-law got there, it was already unloaded from the truck and on the ground). I contacted Light Armor Ovens about it, and they responded in the same way to me as they did you. Short and rude. Basically they said, "well, you signed for it, so its on you." (which I didn't, of course. I was not there, and my father-in-law didn't know any better). After about 3 or 4 emails back and forth about this, the guy (i think he is the owner) called me and we spoke about it on the phone, but still nothing more was done by them, other than for them to say that they would submit a damage claim with the shipping company and they may get back to me in a few months with some reimbursement for the damage (they haven't, btw). I also explained to the guy on the phone that a good number of the self tapping screws that hold it together were loose/stripped (maybe 15 to 20 of them, throughout the oven). His response was again, it must be the shipping company because they were all tight when it left our store. Then he said he'd ship me a box of bigger-sized screws so I could fix it myself. That all being said, the oven does work, and some of the issues you mentioned in your video are no longer an issue, at least with my model. But their customer service and their care for their customers' happiness and well-being, seem non-existent. I am a small firearms business, so 3,547.00 is a lot of money for me and my store. I expect to get quality for that amount of money, and at least some kind of actually customer service, if that quality is not met. Even though it works, and I will use it until it no longer does since I'm vested in it now, I will never purchase from them again, and I will recommend against them to everyone in the industry that I know, which is quite a lot of people here, especially in the Midwest. Thanks for your video! Well done.

[@TigerCreekFarm]

I can understand your frustration. After my video they reached out and made an effort to do better. The minor build changes/choices were needed, not to mention backing off the 500 degree claim. But like you, my biggest frustration was their complete lack of customer service. It's a shame to hear that they have frustrated another customer with that attitude. I hope your repairs are minimal and the oven provides you with many years of service.

[@lightarmorovens]

Thank you, Scott, for your detailed and honest review of both our LA2500B oven and customer service! Looking back at the emails you mentioned from last year, it's without doubt that we could have been of more assistance to your concerns and we apologize for the frustration and any disappointment we caused! We will take this constructive criticism to heart, learn from it and improve on ensuring that customers don't ever feel dismissed. A few things that should be mentioned are that our ovens are rated for 450F and nothing higher, although the controllers allow the user to input higher values if they choose to. While a user could enter in 500F (or more), it can lead to issues such as the ones mentioned by Scott in the video. Additionally, the insulation found in our ovens is fiberglass and is rated for +1000F. While there are other insulations that can be used in such ovens, such as kiln and rockwool insulation, we prefer the type we use, as it's worked well for the many hundreds of customers we've had the pleasure doing business with in the past, who use our ovens for low temperature cerakoting (~270F), as well as those powder coating (375~450F). Given that there's a need for running temperatures as high as 500F, we will look into offering high temperature options very soon that will include insulation better suited for temperatures north of 450F so that there are no concerns with heat. Again, thank you for your honest and fair assessment of our product and customer service! 🙂

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Thank you for your comments. I'm glad that this can be a positive thing. My confidence in purchasing your oven and using it at 500 degrees came from your product description - Multi Purpose Curing Oven The LA2500B is a customizable curing oven with many applications in various industries. This model of curing oven can produce a maximum temperature of 500 degrees F, which makes it possible to cure any material. Not to belabor a point, but I did feel that I was using it as intended although at the limit of its intended temperature range. All in all, it's a good and practical oven that fills a niche and a price point - and I would consider another purchase if the need should arise. All the best.

[@lightarmorovens]

@@TigerCreekFarm We've since added a few things to the page to help clarify this information for viewers, now that 500F is becoming slightly more prevalent 🙂

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Good to know

[@ScottZ77]

Appreciate the in depth review, this was one of the first videos I watched. Im sure your interaction with them made some changes/updates for the better. Poor customer service is always a bummer but at the same time one employee isn’t the company and it seems like its been addressed. I emailed them some questions and got replies quick, with all the info i wanted and even pics. I ordered this same oven the other day with a few of the newer options they offer. i don’t plan on going above 400° but did get the upgraded mineral wool insulation they offer now. I also went with their insulated bottom with casters since i don’t need to roll a cart in and out of it at floor level and want it mobile. Looking forward to getting and using it.

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Glad they're doing a better job. Seems like they took a lot of my comments to heart which in turn made for a better oven and customer service. Prior to my order the replies to my questions were quick - it was when I had issues or questions AFTER the order that I seemed to be nothing but a problem. They make a good product for the price and you should be happy with it. Nice to hear about the additional options that they now offer. I appreciate you taking time to leave a comment and informing us of the changes. Good luck in your oven endeavors.

[@ralphzavala8757]

You just changed my mind on buying one I’ll keep looking

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Since this video they have made more options available. My biggest gripe was against their customer service - hopefully things have changed there too.

[@ralphzavala8757]

@@TigerCreekFarm thanks

[@michaeltaylor1534]

This really needs to be shared more.

[@nicholastoth4719]

How did you attach the angle iron for the shelves to the walls? Tia

[@TigerCreekFarm]

The oven has a framework. I aligned the angle iron with the studs and marked it. Drilled out holes in the angle iron then used metal screws to attach.

[@bjlanders]

Man, I would love to see the internals in their control box, as they don't list or show it anywhere....concerned to find Amazon specials inside there!

[@TigerCreekFarm]

No worries. It's all good. I changed out the PID controller to match the controller capabilities/preferences in my other ovens - otherwise I would have left it as is.

[@evandthayer]

Keep in mind that rockwool and / or fiberglass has negligible insulation value (R value.) What it is made to do is capture air and prevent it from moving around the cavity. Air is the best insulator of all, but without the insulation it rises to the top and blows around the cavity. By packing the additional insulation you are actually reducing the R value by compressing and limiting the air pockets.

[@TigerCreekFarm]

The insulation or lack thereof in the oven allowed too much heat to escape (melting PID controller). The addition of the oven insulation has made a considerable difference in the heat escaping the confines if the oven. I'm guessing your point is to use a maximum thickness without compressing the actual thickness of the insulation to get maximum results - which I totally agree with.

[@joseaponte2510]

Hi Were i be to get the circulación fan thank in advance

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Are you asking where it is located or where to buy one? The fan is located in the top/back of this oven. To purchase on just look for oven circulation fans.

[@wkuadkins]

a really good review... thank you for your honesty... even when you were not happy you were still nice... lol thx jeff

[@YTRobLand]

^ and I'll add thorough. Like most of your content.

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Thanks. I appreciate you.

[@davemi00]

Seems a count down timer is the obvious choice. Great Review

[@lightarmorovens]

Unfortunately the controller doesn't allow to toggle between count down and count up 🤷

[@TigerCreekFarm]

That is why I opted to swap out the controller for one made by Auberin that allows for a count down. In counting down all roads lead to zero but in counting up you may not always remember the end number. Its a personal preference.

[@lightarmorovens]

@@TigerCreekFarm Auberin would be a good choice in that case, as many of the PID controllers we've tested and used over the years only offer the count up option from "0". If users plan on bypassing the timer function and running their ovens nonstop, the timer function direction becomes moot. I will say that Auberin has very good tech support. If their prices for controllers weren't so high and tech nearly identical with what they were selling +10 years ago, we'd likely still be rocking their equipment.

[@philbaker29]

Flat floor is so you can roll a cart into it. This is assuming it's sitting on concrete

[@lightarmorovens]

That is correct 🙂

[@Yellowlabratory]

How ya been man?

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Hanging in there.

[@joshcudworth4770]

Hi. Do you have a contact number or email that I can pick your brain more on this oven. I have the same one and use it for powder coating. But I’m looking to upgrade a little.

[@TigerCreekFarm]

It can be found here - www.youtube.com/@TigerCreekFarm/about

[@joshcudworth4770]

@@TigerCreekFarm I didn’t see anything in there on how to contact you.

[@TigerCreekFarm]

@@joshcudworth4770 on that page in the Details section is a link that says View email address

[@joshcudworth4770]

@@TigerCreekFarm I’m not seeing a details section anywhere

[@joshcudworth4770]

@@TigerCreekFarm I found it I had to go onto my computer instead of my phone

[@Yellowlabratory]

Where’s the tortoises?

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Out and about

[@robertculbreth694]

Not buying something I have to modify to make it useful!

[@TigerCreekFarm]

It works fine - and they have made improvements and options available after my video. My complaint was that it was originally marketed for 500 degree work (which they now don't recommend) and their customer service was TERRIBLE.

[@badkarma5776]

U saved me money, I will not buy one from them!

[@TigerCreekFarm]

The oven performs as it should and this video made them aware of their customer service shortcomings - so maybe they are doing a better job now.