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