Drying brass in oven

[backdoorsally]

Any reason why i cant throw my brass cases in the oven on 200F for an hour or such to dry them out quick after ultrasonic cleaning?

 

[adamg]

Greta does not approve.

 

[Eagleye]

You will do your brass no harm at 200ºF, and they will dry just fine. Dave.

 

[Reeferman]

I do it all the time. Use the convection setting and with the fan it takes about 20 minutes at 225 F for 300 or so 44 magnum or 45 Colt cases to be dried..

 

[FreedomIsn'tFree]

A cheap, used dehydrator works as well.

 

[Chas59]

I set the oven to its lowest setting, I think 175, works fine.

 

[Munkey1973]

Unless you need them dried out quickly, I don't see the point to why people do that. Let them air dry for a 2-3 days before you need them

But if you really must, you could probably put your oven on its highest setting and you'll perfectly OK.
Most brass cases anneal between 650 to 750 Fahrenheit range. I don't think your average home oven can get anywhere near that hot.

 

[maynard]

Or on a towel on the shoe rack in your clothes dryer for about 15 minutes.

 

[Chilly807]

That's how I usually dry mine. 170 F for 30 mins, then I turn the oven off and let it cool with the brass still in it.

In summer, if the humidity is fairly low I'll sit them outside in the sun to dry rather than heat the house up using the oven.

 

[silverfoxdj]

No issues in the oven for about twenty minutes

 

[4n2t0]

Definitely ok, definitely doesn't need an hour. Touch the cases after 20 minutes and tell me how hot they are, lol. I have found that lining the cookie tray with a few sheet of newspaper helps. Also, as others have mentioned, during the summer I put them out on my patio to dry.

 

[Free Since 1977]

Melting point of brass 900 to 940 °C, 1,650 to 1,720 °F

 

[cosmic]

In my experience, there is no need to go higher than 212 F for about 20 minutes. Higher temps tend to discolor the brass.

 

[dead meat]

So no need to use the broiler setting is what you guys are saying.

 

[PWear 57]

I read on the internet that it was suggested: After pre-heating to 200° or so, turn off oven and put brass inside on a tray.

 

[B]

Set it as low as it goes. Going higher won't dry it out much quicker. If I am in a rush to load some brass I cleaned I set the oven to 170 and 15 minutes later they are dried right through to the primers.

 

[Alpheus]

I put mine in a sieve and leave over a heating vent in the winter, or in a sunny window during the summer.

 

[BattleRife]

But if you really must, you could probably put your oven on its highest setting and you'll perfectly OK.
Most brass cases anneal between 650 to 750 Fahrenheit range.

I would absolutely not recommend this. The last full body anneal of a cartridge case is generally done at 250°C (485°F), if you go higher than that you are affecting the metallurgical condition of the case head. Annealing at higher temperatures must be confined to the mouth end only.

Melting point of brass 900 to 940 °C, 1,650 to 1,720 °F

So what? The usefulness of a case will be destroyed well before the melting point.

 

[RifleDude]

Go to your local thrift store and get yourself a toaster oven. Yo momma will be pleased and you can keep it in your man cave.

 

[Crazy Cory]

I've used the oven and a toaster oven.
Both work well. Usually around 220F for 40min.