Drying sand in the oven- anyone try it?

My grandmother had a recipe for this, but I lost it! Here in Tucson, I'd just leave the sand outside for a few days...good luck finding a 'real' answer.

that sounds like a lot of effort that probably is not necessary. You want silica sand (readily available from any home improvement store in 50 or 100lb bags). This is 100% moistureless whereas builders sand or play sand is not. When you fill your stands, be careful not to breathe the dust as silica is carcinigenic.

a conventional or convection oven will dry the outside and hold the moisture inside. just assume that if its dry to the touch, its dry. you might even try your stands unfilled. i have found that some loudspeakers sound pretty much the same on heavy stands with no filler as they do with.....

I vaguely remember a thread along this line quite a while back, but I don't have any link (sorry). I also vaguely remember there being comments about being a little careful about just what kind of sand & where you get it, because I think the poster or someone who responded had some issue with a delightful aroma as they cooked their sand. They also went into using stuff like flat pans, etc. but I think Rwwear had the right idea - turn it often, and don't baste...

Seriously... Sand would be the most economical route, however make sure the sand is 100% dry. Many play type sands are bagged and shipped moist after being exposed to rain. I would prop each bag in an upright position, and cut a slit in each bags top. Opening and allowing it to dry out in a non-humidity area for a few days prior to filling your rustable steel stands.

A "Easy Bake" oven would make for a great sand dryer!

Lead shot, is not something you really want to play with. I'd rather eat Ants in the Sand, then knowing I had lead in the house with the kids.

Lead dust is even worse! I heard horror stories of fellows that used lead to fill their stands in their listening rooms. Missing the stand, & spilling it all over the carpet. Lead is also non-magnetic, & using a vacuum would agitate the lead dust. I can send you a 16 page EPA brochure on what lead dust can do to a childs still developing mind. So if you have children I would strongly rule out the lead.

Unless you ate Lead Paint chips as a child, since your parents wouldn't buy you Ruffels stay away from Lead.

So let's talk about the Numero Uno Rule of filling a stand.

1.) No matter what filler is used, if possible due to stand weight, fill stands Outside or in your Garage in case of SPILLS!

Good Luck!