Redding beam scale

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

gunzby

Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2020
Messages
53
When I do test loads I always weigh each charge on a Redding beam scale and then double check it on a digital scale. I'm actually glad that I did this, or I would have never noticed this.

When weighing using the small counterweight (0-5gr) it is spot on. When I use the large counterweight (5-500gr) it is light by .1 grains when I double check. I'll check the zero and no problem.

Now here's the weird part. I'll weigh it on the digital scale and add powder to make it 5 grains. I'll then put it back on the beam scale and zero it out and everything is fine. After that I went back to zero and checked the zero again and it was spot on.

Think I need to find some check weights
 
Without check weights you will never know which one is the correct weight. I have found that the balance weight is the more trustworthy of the two on my bench at least. You do need to clean the balance a couple times a year though.
 
FROGO207 said:
Without check weights you will never know which one is the correct weight. I have found that the balance weight is the more trustworthy of the two on my bench at least. You do need to clean the balance a couple times a year though.
Click to expand...

My thoughts as well. The only caveat to that is that on the small counterweight it ends at 5 grains, measures a powder charge at 5 grains and double checks on the digital at 5 grains. When I switch to the large counterweight at 5 grains the same drop weighs 4.9 grains
 
dcloco said:
Where is your cell phone while weighing with the digital scale?
Click to expand...

About 8' away at the end of the bench. The difference isn't in the digital, but the beam. I can measure 5 grains using the small counterweight and get 5 on the digital. If I measure 5 grains using the large counterweight it measures 4.9 on the digital
 
Get your check weights and verify things. Then add weight to the counterweight if it is inaccurate across the whole range. First step is to clean the knife edges and agate bearings though.
Add weight by a drop of epoxy on the counterweight. File off as needed to calibrate.
 
FROGO207 said:
Get your check weights and verify things. Then add weight to the counterweight if it is inaccurate across the whole range. First step is to clean the knife edges and agate bearings though.
Add weight by a drop of epoxy on the counterweight. File off as needed to calibrate.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't it be easier just to use a 5 grain check weight and if it reads say -0.1 grains to just adjust it to 0
 
dcloco said:
Where is your cell phone while weighing with the digital scale?
Click to expand...

Did you find that cell phones create an issue with digital scales? I know for a fact, that cold weather does, and so does "dirty power" on the electrical line.
 
Cell phones makes a difference with my Hornady Auto Charge and bench scale. I been posting that here for about 8 years. If I move the phone to other side of the reloading room and don't stream music on it the Hornady scales work fine.
I have a national metallic (midway brand) scale that something is messing with, or it has something wrong with it, I haven't figured out which yet.

What ever is making it weigh wrong doesn't affect either of my Hornady scales. I suspecting the scale in that case.
 
My guess is, this is one of the newer breed of Redding #2 scales. Up until maybe 15-20 years ago the Redding used a really nicely engraved beam - Since then they have use printed applied tapes. I have seen more than once where the tape for the minor poise is not in sync with the tape along the beam for the main poise. I have not found a solution to fix this, other than, as has been suggested, use checkweights to balance the scale and ignore the numbers.
 
Properly calibrated, there isn't any as far as weight goes.
Ease of use .... night and day.
 
MEHavey said:
Properly calibrated, there isn't any as far as weight goes.
Ease of use .... night and day.
Click to expand...

I agree - it's always a faff to think about warming your scale up half an hour before you're going to use it, worrying about your phone and the florescent lights etc......... Much easier to pull out the trusty beam scale, toss in a check weight to give you peace of mind and away you go.
 
I'll be brutally honest.... I've been running an RCBS Chargemaster (which I never turn off) and an inexpensive Lyman Micro-Touch for at least ten years now.

Every once in awhile I'll haul out the check weights, and every once in a blue blue moon my old TEXAN Scale .... and when the grass is chartreuse and sun goes dark, the RCBS 10-10 OHAUS

And always seem to find that -- somehow -- the Chargemaster and Lyman never fail me
 
RX and TX on cell phones and weather alert radios definitely can and do affect electronic scales.

....as well as the dirty power we are provided with, as mentioned above.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Project355
  • Locked
Beam Scale 101, a look at the tried and true
2 3 4
Replies
78
Views
9K
jcullen
jcullen
S
  • Locked
Dillon Beam Scale
Replies
6
Views
691
Sport45
S
C
  • Locked
A digital scale for sorting brass
Replies
14
Views
1K
clutch
C
D.B. Cooper
  • Locked
Erratic Beam Scale
2 3
Replies
51
Views
2K
Eugen
Eugen
G
  • Locked
Beam scale is off
2 3
Replies
55
Views
7K
grubbylabs
G
Back
Top