Drying cases in an oven - is this a problem

[ColinR]

I have just been re-reading an old Speer Manual #12 1994. It says of drying cases:

'Cases should not be dried in a kitchen oven because even at low settings, the temperature might reach levels that could weaken the brass.'

Have I been doing something wrong all this time? I clean my cases in an ultrasound unit and then dry in the oven for 30 minutes or so at <100C. They come out a little too hot to comfortably pick up, but hardly near the heat used to anneal.

Will 100C affect the structure of the brass? I've never had any problems from splits or separation and generally my brass seems to last a very long time - in fact to date I've not chucked any out. I FL size and trim to length as required. I suppose if it ain't broke don't change it comes to mind, but I'm interested to hear from those who understand the effects of heat on brass better than I. Colin

[1066]

No problem at all Colin - keep doing what you're doing.

[ukrifleman]

I have dried brass in the oven on occasion with no issues, but only in the summer months. The double radiator in our kitchen does a great job during the winter!

ukrifleman

[ColinR]

Thanks guys. It is always good to have confirmation that something you have done for eons without a second thought causes no problems, even though none have been encountered. Can a domestic oven create enough heat to change the molecular structure of cartridge brass? Colin

[hitchphil]

Thanks guys. It is always good to have confirmation that something you have done for eons without a second thought causes no problems, even though none have been encountered. Can a domestic oven create enough heat to change the molecular structure of cartridge brass? Colin

Yes its called solution diffusion the zinc will migrate to surfaces & corrode preferentially to the copper. But at 100-200 degrees it takes years! Does your oven reach 370C / 700F the annealing temperature of brass? doubt it as gas mark 9 is about 250C.

So carry on & dont get them mixed up with the oven chips or the musses will bite you .............

[River]

I have dried brass in the oven on occasion with no issues, but only in the summer months. The double radiator in our kitchen does a great job during the winter!

ukrifleman

I do exactly the same, with no problems

[ColinR]

Thanks guys. It is always good to have confirmation that something you have done for eons without a second thought causes no problems, even though none have been encountered. Can a domestic oven create enough heat to change the molecular structure of cartridge brass? Colin

Yes its called solution diffusion the zinc will migrate to surfaces & corrode preferentially to the copper. But at 100-200 degrees it takes years! Does your oven reach 370C / 700F the annealing temperature of brass? doubt it as gas mark 9 is about 250C./quote]

Thanks for a definitive answer. I knew someone out there would know!

[Mitch308]

bought one of these off ebay for £23 holds around 400 cases, takes about 30mins to dry them all and no aggro from the missus for taking over the oven

[TattooedGun]

bought one of these off ebay for £23 holds around 400 cases, takes about 30mins to dry them all and no aggro from the missus for taking over the oven

What is that magical thing...?!

[TattooedGun]

As for drying in the oven, That's how I did mine after ultra sonic cleaning:



No problems apart from needing to wash them off before putting them in the oven to rinse any bicarbonate of soda solution off them to stop white "dust" showing on them.

Click the image for the full run through.