Making A Scale Stand

red rick · May 3, 2013, 09:11 PM

I was off work today so I thought I would make a stand for my powder scale.

I will start the staining tomorrow and then 4 to 6 coats of tung oil.

kobudo · May 3, 2013, 10:03 PM

That looks nice and sturdy. Looks like it would be ergonomic also.

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Jesse Heywood · May 3, 2013, 10:16 PM

I might be asking a stupid question, but how are you going to keep it from moving when you bump it?

red rick · May 3, 2013, 10:33 PM

I don't see any difference with it moving on the stand or on a bench. I might me missing something .

Jesse Heywood · May 3, 2013, 10:49 PM

It looks to me like a small, light object on a large heavy bench. Just waiting to be bumped. Granted, my hands shake a lot more than yours, and I am clumsy as heck. I would need weight in the cabinet and non-slip pads under the feet.

medalguy · May 3, 2013, 11:03 PM

I built a stand for my scale too. The advantage is that it puts the scale at eye level so there's no more leaning over to see the marks line up. As far as bumping it, I'm just careful when handling it, and it's pushed all the way to the back of the bench. I also made a plexiglass cover for it to keep dust out.

red rick · May 3, 2013, 11:24 PM

Mine is not that light it is made out of solid wood and the scale also adds some weight. It is very stable, I have no concerns of it falling off or the stand tipping over. It is positioned where I can not walk into it and it is steady enough that it will not fall over if I hit my reloading table.

I just weighed it with the scales and trickler ( 8 lbs. ) .

1SOW · May 4, 2013, 12:31 AM

Quote:

I built a stand for my scale too. The advantage is that it puts the scale at eye level so there's no more leaning over to see the marks line up

Same here. On a shelf above the loading bench---it never gets moved. I made a garage door-like enclosure when it's not being used---also stops drafts from affecting the reading

red rick · May 4, 2013, 12:46 AM

That's the same reason I made one. It really saves the neck and back.

FROGO207 · May 4, 2013, 09:39 AM

Have you given any thought to making a sliding plastic cover for the shelf underneath to keep dust out of the scale? I assume that you will store it there when not in use.

Great looking BTW.

red rick · May 4, 2013, 10:22 AM

I hadn't thought of it until this thread. Sounds like a good idea. Could y'all post some pictures of yours ?

gamestalker · May 4, 2013, 10:32 AM

Nice job! I'll have to do something like that for mine, good idea there.
GS

jibjab · May 4, 2013, 12:02 PM

I made mine with three legs instead of four, my bench is not dead flat.

floydster · May 4, 2013, 01:22 PM

My scale stand.

Andrew Leigh · May 4, 2013, 01:37 PM

The alternative to lifting it is to leave it where it is and do what I did. A USB webcam and my laptop. Scale stays at an ergonomic height for the arms, the parallax is removed throught the camera and no Neck / Bachache.

[IMG]

[/IMG]

ranger335v · May 4, 2013, 01:46 PM

Red, you done good. I often have to shake my head at people who post about how hard - and slow - reading a beam scale is and I know they're putting the poor thing flat on the bench top; the only worse place for it would be under the bench top!

Having used a similar device for decades let me suggest two things.

Put a piece of the rubbery 'shelf covering' ladies often use today to prevent the tendency from sliding from light taps.

Cut one of your rear 'legs' a half inch short and drill a pilot hole up from below so you can put a 1/4" or 5/16" x 2" lag screw in it. File the top of the screw head flat. You can then wrench adjust it up or down for solid stability as needed.

Storing a few boxes of bullets on that lower shelf will add a LOT of stability.

murf · May 4, 2013, 01:57 PM

red, good idea.

i would store some bullets on that shelf under the scale to add a little weight. an old tshirt over the scale when done will keep the dust off. don't bend over when you zero the scale and you won't have to bend over when measuring your powder.

murf

**Walkalong** · May 4, 2013, 02:31 PM

Very nice. Well done.

floydster · May 4, 2013, 02:57 PM

red, I really like the idea of the bottom shelf--dang I may have to make one for my other scale

Good Job!!!!

TexasShooter59 · May 4, 2013, 03:20 PM

This gave me some ideas. I made a really simple scale stand a few years ago to put the scale at eye level. It was using door jamb scraps. Yours looks well done!

red rick · May 4, 2013, 07:46 PM

Thanks, y'all are giving me some good ideas. I really like the rubber mat suggestion.

I got around to putting 2 coats of stain on it today. Next the long process of the tung oil.

Hondo 60 · May 4, 2013, 07:56 PM

I couldn't saw a straight line if my life depended on it.
All I can do is drool over such nice looking woodwork.

Looks great!

1SOW · May 4, 2013, 10:52 PM

I also do woodwork, but obviously NOT in this case

20 mins work meant to be temporary------a couple of years back. Works great..

jibjab · May 4, 2013, 11:16 PM

Quote:

20 mins work meant to be temporary--

Priceless

Been there done that, If it aint broke don't fix it.
Nice to see a use for those goofy Federal primer trays.

**Walkalong** · May 5, 2013, 12:31 PM

Quote:

20 mins work meant to be temporary-

Yep, been there done that as well.

May 3, 2013, 11:24 PM	#7
red rick Member Join Date: August 11, 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 343	Mine is not that light it is made out of solid wood and the scale also adds some weight. It is very stable, I have no concerns of it falling off or the stand tipping over. It is positioned where I can not walk into it and it is steady enough that it will not fall over if I hit my reloading table. I just weighed it with the scales and trickler ( 8 lbs. ) . Last edited by red rick; May 3, 2013 at 11:47 PM.

May 4, 2013, 09:39 AM	#10
FROGO207 Member Join Date: December 7, 2008 Location: Mount Desert Island Maine Posts: 4,163	Have you given any thought to making a sliding plastic cover for the shelf underneath to keep dust out of the scale? I assume that you will store it there when not in use. Great looking BTW. __________________ The west was not won with a registered gun!! Don't let our government make us into outlaws NRA Life Member.

May 4, 2013, 01:37 PM	#15
Andrew Leigh Member Join Date: August 14, 2012 Location: Johannesburg S.A. Posts: 307	The alternative to lifting it is to leave it where it is and do what I did. A USB webcam and my laptop. Scale stays at an ergonomic height for the arms, the parallax is removed throught the camera and no Neck / Bachache. [IMG][/IMG]

May 4, 2013, 02:31 PM	#18
Walkalong Moderator Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 29,630	Very nice. Well done. __________________ Do you ever wonder why nobody ever robs the bag man for the mob? No, you don't. "Oh bother" said Pooh, as he chambered another round. Author unknown.

May 4, 2013, 02:57 PM	#19
floydster Member Join Date: January 13, 2008 Location: Central, Mn. Posts: 1,433	red, I really like the idea of the bottom shelf--dang I may have to make one for my other scale Good Job!!!! __________________ Smokeyloads

May 3, 2013, 10:03 PM	#2
kobudo Member Join Date: May 16, 2012 Posts: 3	That looks nice and sturdy. Looks like it would be ergonomic also. Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

May 3, 2013, 10:16 PM	#3
Jesse Heywood Member Join Date: December 9, 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,026	I might be asking a stupid question, but how are you going to keep it from moving when you bump it?

May 3, 2013, 10:33 PM	#4
red rick Member Join Date: August 11, 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 343	I don't see any difference with it moving on the stand or on a bench. I might me missing something .

May 3, 2013, 10:49 PM	#5
Jesse Heywood Member Join Date: December 9, 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,026	It looks to me like a small, light object on a large heavy bench. Just waiting to be bumped. Granted, my hands shake a lot more than yours, and I am clumsy as heck. I would need weight in the cabinet and non-slip pads under the feet.

May 3, 2013, 11:03 PM	#6
medalguy Member Join Date: March 20, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,998	I built a stand for my scale too. The advantage is that it puts the scale at eye level so there's no more leaning over to see the marks line up. As far as bumping it, I'm just careful when handling it, and it's pushed all the way to the back of the bench. I also made a plexiglass cover for it to keep dust out.

May 4, 2013, 12:46 AM	#9
red rick Member Join Date: August 11, 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 343	That's the same reason I made one. It really saves the neck and back.

May 4, 2013, 10:22 AM	#11
red rick Member Join Date: August 11, 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 343	I hadn't thought of it until this thread. Sounds like a good idea. Could y'all post some pictures of yours ?

May 4, 2013, 10:32 AM	#12
gamestalker Member Join Date: September 10, 2008 Location: SW Arizona Posts: 4,213	Nice job! I'll have to do something like that for mine, good idea there. GS

May 4, 2013, 12:02 PM	#13
jibjab Member Join Date: August 18, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,244	I made mine with three legs instead of four, my bench is not dead flat.

May 4, 2013, 01:46 PM	#16
ranger335v Member Join Date: December 3, 2006 Posts: 3,621	Red, you done good. I often have to shake my head at people who post about how hard - and slow - reading a beam scale is and I know they're putting the poor thing flat on the bench top; the only worse place for it would be under the bench top! Having used a similar device for decades let me suggest two things. Put a piece of the rubbery 'shelf covering' ladies often use today to prevent the tendency from sliding from light taps. Cut one of your rear 'legs' a half inch short and drill a pilot hole up from below so you can put a 1/4" or 5/16" x 2" lag screw in it. File the top of the screw head flat. You can then wrench adjust it up or down for solid stability as needed. Storing a few boxes of bullets on that lower shelf will add a LOT of stability.

May 4, 2013, 01:57 PM	#17
murf Member Join Date: November 16, 2010 Location: arizona Posts: 1,240	red, good idea. i would store some bullets on that shelf under the scale to add a little weight. an old tshirt over the scale when done will keep the dust off. don't bend over when you zero the scale and you won't have to bend over when measuring your powder. murf

May 4, 2013, 03:20 PM	#20
TexasShooter59 Member Join Date: January 11, 2008 Location: North Texas Posts: 207	This gave me some ideas. I made a really simple scale stand a few years ago to put the scale at eye level. It was using door jamb scraps. Yours looks well done!

May 4, 2013, 07:56 PM	#22
Hondo 60 Member Join Date: September 6, 2009 Location: Manitowoc, WI Posts: 3,522	I couldn't saw a straight line if my life depended on it. All I can do is drool over such nice looking woodwork. Looks great! __________________ Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway - John Wayne <>< When you're holdin a hammer, everything looks like a nail - Bryan Glover

May 4, 2013, 10:52 PM	#23
1SOW Member Join Date: October 28, 2007 Location: South Texas Posts: 3,413	I also do woodwork, but obviously NOT in this case 20 mins work meant to be temporary------a couple of years back. Works great..