Powder Scale

[bani]

I agree with Texas10. The problem with digital scales is that you never know when they are accurate. I have a GemPro 250 which I like very much. However, I wasn't pleased with the SD's and ES's I was seeing with the chrono. I did several test comparing the GemPro to my RCBS balance beam. Much to my surprise, I found that I got consistently tighter groups with smaller SD's and ES's with the balance beam scale. I still used the GemPro to weigh bullets and cases, but rely on the balance beam scales for powder.

i have a gempro 250 as well and the gempro does not handle trickling at all. it is a very good, very precise scale, but trickling totally trips it up.

an aws gemini-20 is very nearly as accurate as the gempro 250, is a fraction of the price, and the gemini-20 handles trickling fine.

[BillPa]

The problem with digital scales is that you never know when they are accurate. .

You never know if any scale, beam or digital is accurate without using verified accurate check weights at a target weight or across it's total weight range. Without them you only know what a scale is indicating.

Bill

[shooterfpga]

I just got off the phone with Scott Parker and I will have one of his tuned Redding scales in two weeks.

Thanks all.
How much for one of those tuned? I thought he only worked on scales that were sent to him and that he had stopped doing any tune jobs ever since ohaus went chinese.

[TXCOONDOG]

Older Redding for $175 TMD and 2-3 weeks for delivery.

I emailed him (vld223@yahoo.com) with my cell and he called me

[Robinhood]

Older Redding for $175 TMD and 2-3 weeks for delivery.

I emailed him (vld223@yahoo.com) with my cell and he called me

You made the right decision.


Most of you fellas having problems with your beam scales probably bought one used, unknowingly damaged or you left the scale assembled for long periods of time. The fulcrum gets damaged making zero and repeatability impossible to maintain. You can make huge improvements to a damaged fulcrum with a fine (diamond) hone. If your having problems get out a magnifying glass and look at the contact edges of the fulcrum. You don't want to remove very much metal and it is really an art. Do yourself a favor if you don't already, Disassemble your scale when your done and reassemble it carefully each time you use it..

[wingspar]

Do people not like digital scales because they are digital, or are there some good models that are just as good as beam scales.

I’m curious, cause I ordered an RCBS Range Master 750, but won’t have it till later this week. It works on 110 v or a 9v battery. I chose it from a lengthy discussion in another forum at $119 over a $53 scale I was going to get.

[Robinhood]

Here is a scale for you....Sartorius GD503

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WMTxCRkvnNE/TsV_dT0pq3I/AAAAAAAACkU/za8ugwYGx4A/s1600/Sartorius-2.jpg

[wingspar]

Here is a scale for you....Sartorius GD503

Please send me a check in the mail. :crazy:

Unfortunately, the Sartorius GD503 has been discontinued and no longer in production as of May 2013. The Sartorius jewelry line was phased-out and at this time there is no direct replacement.

[shooterfpga]

Somethings fishy. You have an omega trickler, a sartorius scale and a lee powder measure...... Hmmm just kiddin. Nice setup!

[LongRange]

You made the right decision.


Most of you fellas having problems with your beam scales probably bought one used, unknowingly damaged or you left the scale assembled for long periods of time. The fulcrum gets damaged making zero and repeatability impossible to maintain. You can make huge improvements to a damaged fulcrum with a fine (diamond) hone. If your having problems get out a magnifying glass and look at the contact edges of the fulcrum. You don't want to remove very much metal and it is really an art. Do yourself a favor if you don't already, Disassemble your scale when your done and reassemble it carefully each time you use it..

i agree...i took a small plastic storage box lined it with foam and cut a hole for the scale to rest in so that it is secure and covered/protected from dust and the only time its assembled is when throwing charges then it goes back in the box.

[TXCOONDOG]

i agree...i took a small plastic storage box lined it with foam and cut a hole for the scale to rest in so that it is secure and covered/protected from dust and the only time its assembled is when throwing charges then it goes back in the box.

How about some pics ?

[LongRange]

ill post a couple tonight.

[BillPa]

i agree...i took a small plastic storage box lined it with foam and cut a hole for the scale to rest in so that it is secure and covered/protected from dust and the only time its assembled is when throwing charges then it goes back in the box.

I use a plastic bag Maw got some pillow covers in. Its low tech but works. ( and cheap!) As far was unloading the beam the old Lyman D7s had a "lifter", I just slip a piece of foam between the beam and bearing support towers. I don't disassemble them between use.

This is the new old stock "Made Here" 505 I recently tuned, its 100% dead on from zero to 500grs using my check weights verified-recalibrated by the tech in our ISO lab before I got lazy....errrr....retired. :p

http://i62.tinypic.com/v48jfm.jpg

Bill

[LongRange]

I use a plastic bag Maw got some pillow covers in. Its low tech but works. ( and cheap!) As far was unloading the beam the old Lyman D7s had a "lifter", I just slip a piece of foam between the beam and bearing support towers. I don't disassemble them between use.

This is the new old stock "Made Here" 505 I recently tuned, its 100% dead on from zero to 500grs using my check weights verified-recalibrated by the tech in our ISO lab before I got lazy....errrr....retired. :p

http://i62.tinypic.com/v48jfm.jpg

Bill

lol that will work to...and nice scale!!

[LongRange]

the cheap scale box...

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff515/LTT-/Mobile%20Uploads/photo1-78.jpg (http://s1239.photobucket.com/user/LTT-/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo1-78.jpg.html)

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff515/LTT-/Mobile%20Uploads/photo1-79.jpg (http://s1239.photobucket.com/user/LTT-/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo1-79.jpg.html)

and this is where it rides when loading....it puts my scale just about eye level....

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff515/LTT-/Mobile%20Uploads/photo3-42.jpg (http://s1239.photobucket.com/user/LTT-/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo3-42.jpg.html)

[TXCOONDOG]

The KISS rule works for me.

Thanks for taking the time to reply and post pics.

[LongRange]

The KISS rule works for me.

Thanks for taking the time to reply and post pics.

a little tip from Scott...when you set your scale up each time before you put the pan on take your finger and push down on the pan rest a couple of times so that the beam weights settle into place then set your pan on and zero the scale then when you set your weights to throw charges do the same thing as above. i was having issues with holding exact zero and called scott he said send it back and he would fix it...he called 3 days latter and said there was nothing wrong with the scale that he had run it with all his check weights from 1g up to 450gs and asked me if i was doing the above...i wasnt and havent had an issue since.

[Geo_Erudite]

How many of you use a precision weight (http://www.grainger.com/product/TROEMNER-Precision-Weight-38UP92?s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/38UP92_AS01?$smthumb$) instead of the weight that comes with the scale? Does it make that much of a difference?

[LongRange]

How many of you use a precision weight (http://www.grainger.com/product/TROEMNER-Precision-Weight-38UP92?s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/38UP92_AS01?$smthumb$) instead of the weight that comes with the scale? Does it make that much of a difference?

they make check weights that are much cheaper than the weight you posted...the thing with weighing powder is that you will most likely never notice the difference in a few kernels of powder from shot to shot as so many other things play into it.

[BillPa]

a little tip from Scott...when you set your scale up each time before you put the pan on take your finger and push down on the pan rest a couple of times so that the beam weights settle into place then set your pan on and zero the scale then when you set your weights to throw charges do the same thing as above.

Two udder sings.....

Gently press down on the 5-10 grain poise (which ever the scale has) to make sure it seated in the notch in the beam.

Second, when moving it lift it over the notches instead of bumping it over them especially if its an aluminum beam. Wear or knock the top off any one or more of them and any sense of accuracy and linearity will be out the window.

Bill