Abstract: A retractable gantry heat treat furnace includes an elongated refractory bed mounted upon a floor for supporting metal parts for heat treatment. A pair of spaced tracks are mounted upon the floor upon opposite sides of the bed and extend longitudinally outward from one end thereof. An upright bulkhead is mounted upon said floor at the other end of said bed transversely thereof. An upright furnace housing having a closed end and an open end is movably mounted upon the tracks and has a retracted load position outwardly of said bed and adapted to move to a closed position over and enclosing said bed and sealed against said bulkhead. A series of spaced inwardly directed burners are mounted upon and along the side walls of the housing in communication with the interior thereof and are adapted for energization when the housing is in a closed position.