Drying cases

[Tigereye]

I use one of the Franklin brass dryers. I let the brass dry on a towel for a bit before putting it in the dryer for an hour.

[hotrodder636]

Wet tumble, rinse, then rinse in 91% isopropyl. Shake free liquid off then air dry on towel until dry. Works for me and I don’t see many water spots.

[Jammer Six]

You don't need to worry about temperature so much.

The transformation temperature of brass (the point at which annealing begins to occur) is 650 - 700 F depending on brass alloy and current state of hardness. That's a hard limit, in other words, nothing happens to brass hardness until then.

I dry mine at 240 F typically (20 - 30 min), that way I am positive it is completely dry since the metal temp > boiling point of water.

Those numbers make perfect sense to me-- above the boiling point of water means no more water, just like sealing a P-trap with water means a perfect seal. I like physics answers.

Now I just need to worry about getting hung for using the oven to dry brass.

[Uni-Vibe]

I put mine on a sheet pan and put them in the oven on the top rack with the oven set on HOLD, which is about 170. Like that for about 30-40 minutes and they're dry.

I'm a bit leery of this. Cases, even after washing, could contain heavy metals (lead, antimony, etc) and using a food oven for such an industrial process could, over time, cause ingestion of same with serious consequences for human health.

[Don Quijote]

I'm a bit leery of this. Cases, even after washing, could contain heavy metals (lead, antimony, etc) and using a food oven for such an industrial process could, over time, cause ingestion of same with serious consequences for human health.

Then buy a cheap, countertop toaster oven and use it just for this. You could probably pick one up for less than 30 bucks at Wlmart/Target/Meijer/etc

My answer above is meant to placate a spouse without making her feel dumb about concerns that have no basis in fact.

[Jammer Six]

I'm a bit leery of this. Cases, even after washing, could contain heavy metals (lead, antimony, etc) and using a food oven for such an industrial process could, over time, cause ingestion of same with serious consequences for human health.

Can anyone explain how this would happen, particularly if the temperature is kept below the melting point of brass?

[Don Quijote]

Can anyone explain how this would happen, particularly if the temperature is kept below the melting point of brass?

That comment is from the same guy who is worried about softening brass if he goes over 200 F. It's baseless speculation not based on any subject matter expertise.

I am an engineer by education and profession, involved in manufacturing for over 25 years. His concerns are nonsense.

[Joelski]

Ignorance (no offense) breeds fear. That poster should get a reloading clinic in before proceeding, maybe speak with some old-timers.

[Uni-Vibe]

Ignorance (no offense) breeds fear. That poster should get a reloading clinic in before proceeding, maybe speak with some old-timers.

Funny. I've been reloading since 1978. Ignorance, in my case, breeds caution, not fear.

How could heavy metals get into your food? Well, it's possible that inadequate cleaning could let the dust get into your oven; when you reheat the pepperoni pizza it gets a dusting of heavy metal residue and same finds its way into your liver, etc.

Not saying it's inevitable, or even likely; but I just think it's a bad idea to use the same utensils for food preparation and service that you do for industrial work.

[Don Quijote]

Funny. I've been reloading since 1978. Ignorance, in my case, breeds caution, not fear.

How could heavy metals get into your food? Well, it's possible that inadequate cleaning could let the dust get into your oven; when you reheat the pepperoni pizza it gets a dusting of heavy metal residue and same finds its way into your liver, etc.

Not saying it's inevitable, or even likely; but I just think it's a bad idea to use the same utensils for food preparation and service that you do for industrial work.

In other words, it's all conjecture based on your imagination and not on any professional expertise.

I thought this forum was different