What type of oven do you use to heat treat bullets?

[Jumbopanda]

I have two small ovens; a basic cheapo analog toaster oven and a fancier digital convection oven. They both have temperature settings that go as high as 450F, which is just about what I want for heat treating bullets, but after measuring the actual temperatures with a BBQ thermometer as well as the thermocouple from my PID temperature controller, I've found that neither will go much higher than 420F before the built in temperature control cuts off the heating elements.

Is this fairly typical of small countertop ovens? What type of ovens do you guys use? Would it be unwise to use the gas oven in my kitchen? I'm pretty sure that solid lead won't be giving off vapors or anything, but the thought of putting it in an oven that will later be used for food is still unsettling.

[JeffinNZ]

I have a bench top toaster oven that I put insulation around. Prior to the insulation the temp went up and down like nobody's business.

[Jumbopanda]

I have a bench top toaster oven that I put insulation around. Prior to the insulation the temp went up and down like nobody's business.

Details?

[oldandslow]

jp, 7/30/13

I heat-treat with my electric kitchen oven using a cooking sheet from the reloading room (which is never used for food). When my heat setting of 450 was checked with a thermometer the actual temp. was 465 degrees. The only way I can do this in the kitchen is that the wife passed away a few years back. I've had no problem with lead toxicity (last lead level was 7 a few months ago). If I had a wife and young kids I'd probably rig up something in the garage to heat-treat so I wouldn't end up sleeping in the driveway. Good luck.

best wishes- oldandslow

[Sensai]

I use an old table-top toaster oven, Black and Decker I think. I replaced the control with a solid state relay and put a thermocouple at the back of the oven about midway up. I also threw out the little aluminum pan and use a 1/4 inch sheet steel rectangle to sit my boolits on. I use a little Omega PID controller for temp regulation, and it holds to about three degrees of process temp. Looks like a real cluge job, but it works!

[gray wolf]

I use an old table-top toaster oven, Black and Decker I think. I replaced the control with a solid state relay and put a thermocouple at the back of the oven about midway up. I also threw out the little aluminum pan and use a 1/4 inch sheet steel rectangle to sit my boolits on. I use a little Omega PID controller for temp regulation, and it holds to about three degrees of process temp. Looks like a real cluge job, but it works!
That sounds great, but what is the average guy to do ?
Some of us just don't have the skill, the money or the know how to do that.
I thought a simple toaster oven--drill a small hole in the top and drop in my lead thermometer. I would like to hear an absoulute answer to the safety YES or NO about using a kitchen oven.

[RobsTV]

Picked up a cheap $15 toaster oven from K-Mart, Essential Home model MG10DP.

http://www.kmart.com/essential-home-4-slice-toaster-oven/p-011W011131020001P

Drilled a small hole through the side and insert this digital thermometer http://www.meritline.com/digital-thermometer-lcd-display---p-28321.aspx.

This allows the probe to go into bottom of tray, middle of oven, for more accurate temp of the lead (in fryer basket which is later quickly plunged into ice water).

Easily hits 500+ and normally HT at a reduced temperature of 465F (depends on alloy used slump point of course). Temperature during frequent on/off cycling fluctuates only about 10 to 15 degrees max, which is more accurate than our new hi-end kitchen oven. Confirmed digital thermometer accuracy by using Tel-Tru as reference and also watched slump point. Wish I could use the digital in the lead pot as well. Digital speed can't be beat. Also tested a few other less accurate brands before I found this one. I heat treat for S&W 500 and 303 brit. with tester showing 24.8 BHN at 465F for 30 to 60 minutes. One thing to be careful of is preheat. During preheat, temperature can well exceed slump point, then it will drop down to desired. I preheat at a lower temp first, then insert boolits, and gradually increase temp to reach desired after about 30 minutes, then let them cook at that temp (465F) for 30 minutes more.

The photo shows the various points I marked for reference to reach different temperatures, and note that my max of 465F is below what the max that the oven is capable of doing.
77675

[reloader28]

I use the propane kitchen oven. I just set my screen basket of boolits on a sheet of tin foil to disperse heat, and it works perfect.

[popper]

I use a Euro-Pro convection table top ( Lowes ~ $40 , new one replaces the kitchen 1, ~ 15 yrs old). I've checked it with my PID thermocouple, holds temp ~ 10F.

[RobS]

I use a cheapo convection toaster oven and it took me a while to find one that had a 500 degree temperature setting. I use this thermometer as I don't trust any oven setting to be consistent on these small ovens:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/TAYLOR-Liquid-Filled-Food-Service-Thermometer-14F306?gclid=CLv4wfKy17gCFcJj7AodUgYA0Q&cm_mmc=PPC:GooglePLA-_-Furniture,%20Hospitality%20and%20Food%20Service-_-Food%20Service%20Cookware%20and%20Preparation-_-14F306&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=14F306&ef_id=UHC6IgAAAkmoKQsn:20130730141110:s

[gray wolf]

Thank you Rob
http://www.meritline.com/digital-thermometer-lcd-display---p-28321.aspx
Wow $3.99 for the thermometer, are they kidding ? even I can afford that.

[RobS]

Same Thermometer but cheaper:

http://www.zorotools.com/g/00089122/k-G4190523?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google_Shopping_Feed&kw={keyword}&gclid=CJLk6cS017gCFSho7AodKFYAqw


I prefer these over the digital ones as I can see it mechanically working...........

[JeffinNZ]

Details?

viola.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/Insulatedtoaster.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JeffinNZ/media/Shooting%20stuff/Insulatedtoaster.jpg.html)

[Iowa Fox]

Good Will toaster oven

[hickfu]

I have used a thrift store toaster oven and a thrift store convection oven, Never did see a difference so it depends it I am using the toaster oven for lubing. They both go well above 500 degrees. The convection oven will go up and down in temp at about 5 to 10 degrees both ways but the toaster stays within 5 degrees of set temp.
Total cost of both...... 18.00 3 for TO and 15 for convection


Doc