[ithacaartist]

Here's the deal on the toaster oven and the sand. The oven is capable of reaching the temperature needed to make a piece of steel turn dark blue/black--in the 500's somewhere. Straw is 300-something IIRC. The toaster oven heats by direct radiation (that's what toasting is all about.), and maintains temperature within a range, via its adjustable thermostat. The element comes on and shines heat inside the box, and shuts off when the thermostat detects its limit. When it is heated, a part which has thick and thin areas (safety lever, takedown bolt) will have overheated thin portions if the thick portions are heated enough to achieve the right color, if the heat in the oven is above the prescribed temp for the target color. The box of sand at stable temp ensures the entire part reaches the exact temp--and no more! This ensures even color. The setting numbers on the oven's dial are used only to be a relative reference, and need not be strictly accurate.