A method and apparatus for providing an economical vacuum furnace for heat treating of heat treatable articles including heat transfer arresting means at two ends of a vacuum furnace heat treating chamber such that the construction of said chamber is simplified and said heat transfer arresting means comprise reduced area portions of sealing and exhaust means for said vacuum chamber by reason of which seals are economically protected from deterioration by the heat normally associated with vacuum furnaces, and wherein the heating of the interior of the vacuum furnace is outside the heat treating chamber.