February 23rd 2023
NOTE: If you prefer drying brass in the oven, we recommend setting it at 200 degrees. TIP: Dry your brass in an oven at 200 degrees F.
Wet-tumbling brass has become increasingly popular in recent years. Men have tried many different methods to dry their brass, including towels, hair dryers and food dehydrators. (See Top Ten Brass Drying Techniques). A common method is to dry your brass in the oven. However, this can cause some problems. This method can be fast, efficient, and simple if you keep an eye on TEMP AND TIME. Unexpected problems can occur when oven drying is done. This worrisome tale illustrates this: “I put my brass into the oven for an hour at 200? It was turned off at F. The next thing I know, my wife has the oven preheating to 350. F. Has my brass been damaged? “If you search AccurateShooter.com Shooters Forum, you will find at least three threads that contain similar stories (i.e. There are many threads with similar stories (i.e., higher than expected oven temperatures for drying brass) and answers from both sides. This is what I know because it happened to me. I had 6XC brass drying, and my wife pre-heated our oven. Andrew Rixon, the Director of Engineering and Manufacturing at Alpha Munitions (makers of premium-grade rifle brass), was my first port of call when I was concerned about my cases. I had baked a batch Alpha’s 6XC brass. It is extremely consistent and well-made. Andrew did not answer my question, but he gave me a quick lesson about what annealing actually looks like. “Annealing involves heating the brass to a specific temperature. There are three phases to annealing: recovery and recrystallization. Each phase has specific exposure times and temperatures. It is crucial for cartridge brass annealing processes reach the recrystallization stage which allows for strain-free grain growth. Strang-free grains are free from dislocations and have a dramatically decreased hardness and increased ductility. Rerystallization must occur at a temperature of 600-1000 F (F). “He then went into detail answering the question and was (fortunately!) definitive in his answer: “If temperatures do not exceed 450 degrees F then there are no concerns as it did not exceed critical temperature for annealing.” Editor’s Note: Be cautious! The oven temperature on the knob is not the actual temperature inside the oven. This is especially true for older ovens. You have it. You should be fine if you have baked your brass. You should heat it to 450 degrees. This TECH TIP was brought to you by Area 419
Do you want to learn more about Alpha Munitions Visit AlphaMunitions.com for more information.
Similar Posts:Tags: Alpha Munitions, Anneal, Annealing, Area 419, Case Dryer, Craig Arnzen, Drying Brass, Oven, Wet Tumble
