Drying sand in the oven- anyone try it?

Thanks for the inputs folks. Lead shot isn't an option, pretty much impossible to find in Canada. My original thinking was to avoid getting any moisture in the pillars of the speaker stands, they would rust out over time (maybe stink too). I broached the subject of using the oven along with some roasting pans to the keeper of the kitchen, that did not go over well. "Get your own pans, leave my stuff alone. You're insane, quit hanging out on AudioGon" (I'll still do it if it makes sense to me though). The silica sand sounds like a good idea, but the toxic nature of it makes me a bit leery.

Unfilled vs. filled is another topic unto itself. Only way to know is try 'em both ways. Intuitively the unfilled stands will ring, damped stands won't. I figure it's worth exporimenting, worse case you empty the stands out if they sound better unfilled. Thanks all, Jeff

The shot melted!

Using sand to fill the pillars definitely tightens up the sound - well worth pursuing. The oven would be great for drying, but you can also simply spread it out on a piece of cardboard and set it out in the sun for a few hours. Make sure when you fill the pillars you do it outside because it lets off a lot of dust.

Home Depot sells bags of sand already dried.

Actually I prefer Sun Dried Sand vs. Oven Baked. How ever I haven't tried it before but I have had many tell meto go pound sand!