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That is a very common problem with inexpensive digital scales. You will also get zero drIft.

That is why I quit using a digital and went back to usIng my balance beam.

I agree with JFrog....

I use both beam and electronic scales. They both have their place. BUT, I have found out that you can't use the cheaper scales of any type if you want quality and proper measurements.
Depends on the scale, a slight breeze will make the scale not read correctly. At one time, the electronic scales did not like to be under fluorescent lighting. This was suppose to have been fixed ( At least in the RCBS Digital scales? )

Lab grade scales have a "box" around the load cell area to stop the air flow.
Even moving your hands around some scales will make it deviate.

We don't need Lab Grade scales in reloading, but I would suggest getting ones that are of good quality for several reasons.

Myself, I have worked up to a RCBS 10-10 beam scale and a RCBS 1500 ChargeMaster Combo for my needs.
I still turn off any fans or A/C when weighing anything.

An example of cheap electronic devices I have used was the Digital Frankford Arsenal calipers, I bought 2 of them on sale at Midway for $19 each about 1 year ago. I used one and put the other back. The one I had been using every now and then just quit reading correctly no matter what I did or battery changes. Plus the battery did not last but about a month even if I did not use it ( battery drain? )
I pulled the spare calipers out to start using them and it had the same problem....!!!!
Now none of them work...I'm back to my dial calipers and will just use them for now on unless I buy a good expensive digital caliper. I saw a nice Brown & Sharpe Digital I like, but it was about $170 ????? Thats the same brand caliper I'm using now but a dial caliper.

It's kinda like using Harbor freight hand tools or Snap-On's ???
The HF may work ok for a short time.......Or a one time project?

It's not always cheaper to reload...in fact, it gets kind of expensive most times because you end up shooting more and buying more reloading "Toyz"

Don2

Don2 wrote:It's not always cheaper to reload...in fact, it gets kind of expensive most times because you end up shooting more and buying more reloading "Toyz"

Yeah, but quality reloading equipment will literally last for decades. It is worth paying once and keeping forever.

Here is the scale I use:



Redding #2 Master Magnetic Powder Scale 505 Grain Capacity

WOW!!! Houdathunkit?? It was the celing fan all along. Great detective work!

I've been reloading with the celing fan on for years and never thought to check my scale weight with and without it running. I always thought maybe I just had some slop in my measuring technique and my powder measure wasn't all that repeatable. I'm going to check this out right now.

Many thanks for discovering this gotcha.

Gerry

Gyrogearhead wrote:WOW!!! Houdathunkit?? It was the celing fan all along. Great detective work!

I've been reloading with the celing fan on for years and never thought to check my scale weight with and without it running. I always thought maybe I just had some slop in my measuring technique and my powder measure wasn't all that repeatable. I'm going to check this out right now.

Many thanks for discovering this gotcha.

Gerry

I use to have an old herters beam scale, it was very sensitive to air movements.
I set it up and had a set weight of powder in the pan, then just sit in front of it "breathing normal" and the scale would move a little. That was before magnetic dampening on beam scales...!!!!

Even on my rcbs 10-10 scale, it has magnetic dampening on it....If the fan is on and I can feel the air moving...the scale will detect the air movements and deviate "some".
Not as bad as the old ones.

Get a fan with remote control, sure is easier to cut off and on

Don2

Ps...
JFrog...I agree with buying QUALITY reloading equipment as much as I can.
One press I have is a Redding T7 turret press that is built like a tank that I love to use..But its not stock. I have made a few improvements
I like everything Redding makes...Just wish they made an Auto Progressive press !!!!

After reading all the suggestions, I broke down and bought a new scale, RCBS model 505. I was given all the other equipment so this was a small price to pay. I'm keeping the old scale so I can compare the results of the 2 scales. I was going to try out the new reloads this weekend but I'm sure the ranges will be a nightmare so I'm going to just have to wait until next weekend. A co-worker told me how to make my own shoot and see targets so I guess I'll make some of those too. If they work, it will definitely save money. I hope you all have a fun-filled holiday weekend and be safe.

urnoodle wrote:After reading all the suggestions, I broke down and bought a new scale, RCBS model 505. I was given all the other equipment so this was a small price to pay. I'm keeping the old scale so I can compare the results of the 2 scales. I was going to try out the new reloads this weekend but I'm sure the ranges will be a nightmare so I'm going to just have to wait until next weekend. A co-worker told me how to make my own shoot and see targets so I guess I'll make some of those too. If they work, it will definitely save money. I hope you all have a fun-filled holiday weekend and be safe.

That's a nice scale. It would be just fine for 98% of most reloading needs.
As I remember, RCBS beam scales are made by Ohaus, which have been making good scales for a LONG time..!!!

Let me tell you a quick story.....
I was given/traded an old RCBS 5-10 scale years ago, they quit making them a bunch of years ago and was replaced by the 10-10 scale.
Well I found that the 5-10 scale was not reading correctly, so called RCBS and they said to return it to them and they would check it out.
About 2 weeks later, they sent be a new 10-10 scale....like I said, they just did not make the 5-10 any longer and the 10-10 was as close as they could get. I also heard of others that the same thing happened to.
The 5-10 and the 10-10 scales both have a micrometer adjustable poise...Thats what I liked about them instead of moving the little clip. They both work just fine...I am just pointing out the differences. Your scale is very nice, and should last you a life time.

Don2

Don2 wrote:The 5-10 and the 10-10 scales both have a micrometer adjustable poise...Thats what I liked about them instead of moving the little clip. They both work just fine...I am just pointing out the differences. Your scale is very nice, and should last you a life time.

Don2

Don2,

I have an old 10-10 that I just loved until I got the electronic digital scale a couple of years ago. After reading this thread I took it off the shelf and sat it beside the electronic one and started weighing powder charges from my powder measure on both scales. Lo and behold, the digital was consistantly about 0.2 gn light compaired to the 10-10. So I got out my check weights and weighed them and sure enough the 10-10 was always dead on while the electronic was between 0.1 and 0.15 gn low. Maybe it's an old battery issue but there's no way to tell except buy another battery.

For now the electronic is up on the shelf and the trusty 10-10 is back on the bench. I really need to dust the 10-10 and make a plastic cover for it.

Gerry

Gyrogearhead wrote:

Don2 wrote:The 5-10 and the 10-10 scales both have a micrometer adjustable poise...Thats what I liked about them instead of moving the little clip. They both work just fine...I am just pointing out the differences. Your scale is very nice, and should last you a life time.

Don2

Don2,

I have an old 10-10 that I just loved until I got the electronic digital scale a couple of years ago. After reading this thread I took it off the shelf and sat it beside the electronic one and started weighing powder charges from my powder measure on both scales. Lo and behold, the digital was consistantly about 0.2 gn light compaired to the 10-10. So I got out my check weights and weighed them and sure enough the 10-10 was always dead on while the electronic was between 0.1 and 0.15 gn low. Maybe it's an old battery issue but there's no way to tell except buy another battery.

For now the electronic is up on the shelf and the trusty 10-10 is back on the bench. I really need to dust the 10-10 and make a plastic cover for it.

Gerry

The best way I could think of putting it is, they both have their place.
I use the 10-10 most of the time...Its just been a "Good Friend" !
I also have a RCBS Chargemaster 1500 Combo, the scale they use is the Chargemaster 1500.
I've done some crazy stuff with it....A few times when loading shot shells on a MEC 600, I did not have the correct powder bushing for the powder I was using. Uncovered the Chargemaster combo and with it in auto mode, I hand poured the powder into the shot shells and it kept up with me having another powder charge ready for me when I needed it.

I find if I was worried about getting the powder perfectly weighed, I would use the 10-10????
It may just be me...I have not noticed very much variances in the powder the electronics scale measures.
Especially for shot shells....it just has to be close ( I didn't really say that ! )

I have checked my 10-10 out with the Deluxe check weight set all across the beam and it came out perfect...I do really trust it. Plus with it able to weigh a larger amount of weight than a lot of the beam scales, it makes it a nice choice if you need the extra capacity......Oh, I have used it to measure shot also.

I bet if you called RCBS and asked them if you could buy just the dust cover, they may sell you one or give you one????
They have helped me out before....I lost my case for my rcbs dial calipers and asked them if they would sell me just the green case and they sent me one FREE ??? Who'dAthunkIt ???

Keep that old workhorse 10-10 handy...it's your "Friend" too
And keep spare batteries handy...I keep a few packages of the 357 batteries handy for my electronic calipers.
I also found that some electronic devices with battery power leach batteries when NOT turned on????
I pull my batteries out of the calipers when not using them...they last a lot longer.

Don2

AndyC wrote:Never have used a digital or electronic scale - I just don't trust them as much as a physical balance-beam type. That said, keep the pivots clean on the balance-type scales so they move freely and don't stick.

Ooops...Forgot to mention what AndyC said about cleaning the pivot points. Especially since your cover is missing.
I THINK, the manual over at RCBS web site has some info about cleaning your scale.

Good Point Andy.

EDIT: Not much on cleaning it, but here is the manual in case yours is missing.
http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/instructi ... ctions.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Don2