Please advise on a metallurgy / heat treat question.

[Bat Rastard]

I moly coat my bullets with the wet method. I usually dry them in the oven at 195 Fahrenheit for an hour or so.
Today, I left the oven on and went to work. They were in the oven 9 or 10 hours.

Did I harm them? Harden them?
This getting old thing is taking its toll.

Thanks, Bat

 

[mike mccormick]

195 F isn't going to hurt them, period

 

[Bat Rastard]

195 F isn't going to hurt them, period

Thank you. I was afraid I may have age-hardened them.

 

[ELR LVR]

If anything you would have annealed them, made them softer

 

[jackieschmidt]

If anything you would have annealed them, made them softer

^^^^^^^

 

[6.5 forever]

I moly coat my bullets with the wet method. I usually dry them in the oven at 195 Fahrenheit for an hour or so.
Today, I left the oven on and went to work. They were in the oven 9 or 10 hours.

Did I harm them? Harden them?
This getting old thing is taking its toll.

Thanks, Bat

Let us know how they shoot. You may start a new trend!!

 

[divingin]

If anything you would have annealed them, made them softer

As far as I know, annealing can happen as low as 450F, but it takes a really long time (days or longer.)

I think at 200F, you're just going to get them hot.

 

[ELR LVR]

As far as I know, annealing can happen as low as 450F, but it takes a really long time (days or longer.)

I think at 200F, you're just going to get them hot.

yeah, I agree there.
i dont think 200F would do anything
But IF anything, would anneal
I know of a spring maker who told me how to anneal springs after forming and the Temp was around 450-500F for approx 4-5 hours, (and these are thin gauge spring wires)
Based on that, I dont think any temp less than 300F for ANY length of time including days... would do anything except as you said
Just get it hot

 

[divingin]

Springs are (at least usually) not brass. Different material, different temperature thresholds, different effects.

Another difference example is quenching after heating. Steel is affected by doing so (hardening and/or tempering); brass, not at all (aside from making it safe to handle.)

 

[JMayo]

Y'all don't think the lead moved to what ever side they were laying on ?

I had some the lead w was poking out the meplat.
Ppl said they had gotten to hot in storage.

 

[ELR LVR]

Springs are (at least usually) not brass. Different material, different temperature thresholds, different effects.

Another difference example is quenching after heating. Steel is affected by doing so (hardening and/or tempering); brass, not at all (aside from making it safe to handle.)

Not brass but Beryllium Copper, .....is the material I was referring to, (I should have mentioned this)
Although I would have figured this material to act more similar to brass than steel
I was surprised it was suggested to even anneal with temps and times similar to steel
This material gives a nice even feel for small springs

 

[Fast14riot]

Well, would you be worried about boiling them for that long? That's how hot you got them. Even if your oven cycles with 50° temperature swings, you'll still be fine.

 

[divingin]

Y'all don't think the lead moved to what ever side they were laying on ?

I had some the lead w was poking out the meplat.
Ppl said they had gotten to hot in storage.

Lead melting temp is 621F. I assume it's higher for bullet alloys (just a guess there, but it's a lot higher than the 200ish that OP was running. So, no I wouldn't think the lead would be affected at all.

 

[mauser284]

You need to get rid of your TV's, computers, internet connection, cell phones and move to Jones Town! A lot of people and things based on fear are living rent free deep inside your mind. I would think about getting:

Psycho-Cybernetics and What to Say when you talk to yourself!​