[ithacaartist]

Using the big oven at a temp that is beyond what is necessary to develop the straw color is trickier than it needs to be. You'll have to watch the parts like a hawk and pretty much snatch them out and quench them at the right tone. But this IMO risks uneven results due to vafying thicknesses in each piece, inconsistent color when comparing individual pieces, and over-temping beyond what's needed, which will yield another color.

You don't have to worry about this kind of heating because it's not quite hot enough to make the steel non-magnetic, at which point it does lose all temper.

My tried-and-true technique involves the toaster oven. There is a mark on the dial which will achieve the exact temp needed to straw, which I established by increasing the setting bit by bit until perfect results were achieved. The trial and error will be unnecessary next time once you've made the mark.

I use a small container filled with sand, in which the parts are immersed. This shields them from direct radiation from the heating element, avoiding any overheating therefrom. Bring the sand to the right temp throughout by leaving it for a half hour or so before the parts are shuffled down into it. This will ensure an even heating of the medium, and all portions of all parts will be heated to the same level/color. No need to quench because the parts won't be worked on by heat that is conducted internally, and obviously can't get any hotter once removed.

De-greasing is quite important for even color. Anyway, it's easy, and you should give it a try! Worst case, re-polish and start over.