Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for heat treating at least one work item, such as a coil, having an axial passage and being axially stacked on a base support means disposed within a cover means which is located on the base support means. The base support can be on the floor of a furnace and with the chamber of the furnace. A means to force the atmosphere such as an axial fan is located in the base. The atmosphere is forced axially from the base, up through an axial path including the axial passage of the at least one coil, through a top space between the top of the stack of coils and the top of the cover means, down through the annular space between the outside of the coils and the inside of the cover means, and back to the axial path through a base space beneath the at least one coil, communicating from the annular space to the axial path.