Best lab scale
- Thread starter jlorenzo
- Start date
R.Morehouse
Gold $$ Contributor
Creedmoor Sports TRX-925 Precision Reloading Scale
This is a quality scale. I use it as you intend to and have had no issues.
Regards
Rick
This is a quality scale. I use it as you intend to and have had no issues.
Regards
Rick
I don't know if they are still around but For the last eight years, I've been
using A pair of Peregrein scales They have a smaller footprint and real easy
to trickle to. .02 grain resolution. less money then Creedmoor Sports. I run
them thru a clean power supply, And swapped out all florescent lighting to
LED.
using A pair of Peregrein scales They have a smaller footprint and real easy
to trickle to. .02 grain resolution. less money then Creedmoor Sports. I run
them thru a clean power supply, And swapped out all florescent lighting to
LED.
https://ceproducts.shop/products/fx-120i-reloading-scale-122g-x-0-001g
IMO it would be very foolish not to go ahead and buy this scale while it’s on sale.
IMO it would be very foolish not to go ahead and buy this scale while it’s on sale.
wkdickinson
Gold $$ Contributor
It also allows you to upgrade to an Autotrickler when you get tired of throwing and trickling manually.
I have this one and it works very well. I dont have an auto trickler.
www.hogentogler.com
Veritas S203 Precision Balance - Hogentogler.com
Hogentogler introduces our new line of full featured, high quality precision balances. The S series features the full functionality of standard precision balances in a smaller, more convenient housing. These balances are designed in Western Europe and combine unparalleled quality of materials...
www.hogentogler.com
brokeasajoke
Silver $$ Contributor
This. That's $5 cheaper than I paid for mine like forever ago.
Krogen
Gold $$ Contributor
I have a Creedmoor TRX-925. It's a decent scale, but has two foibles that became increasingly irritating with use. It is slowwwww.... and it drifts. The usual reasons given for drift are lack of warm-up, room temperature instability, room air currents, line voltage instability or conducted/radiated EMI. I have addressed all of them and it still drifts.
I used it much the same as the OP. Throw a bulk charge with a powder measure into the scale pan and trickle up to weight with a Dandy Trickler. My process bypasses placement of an empty pan on the scale so it doesn't have the opportunity to re-zero. That's where drift becomes irritating. Even if I do let it auto-zero with an empty pan, once I trickle up and charge a case I'll find it has drifted when I put the empty pan back on the scale. On top of this, the slow response when trickling is maddening.
The scale appears to be accurate. Creedmoor ships three cal weights that are correct for the scale's specified accuracy (10x better than the scale). The scale doesn't need re-calibration all the time. It's span is correct; the zero is what drifts.
Fast forward: I bought an AutoTrickler with an FX-120i scale. I am delighted with it. The scale itself it what the Creedmoor always wanted to be. It's fast and has no drift to speak of. Resolution is 0.02 gr while the Creedmoor is 0.01 gr. Not a big issue for me. The environment is the same as the drifty Creedmoor has been used in.
Just my 20 m$, but if you're considering the Creedmoor I'd spend the extra for an FX-120i.
I used it much the same as the OP. Throw a bulk charge with a powder measure into the scale pan and trickle up to weight with a Dandy Trickler. My process bypasses placement of an empty pan on the scale so it doesn't have the opportunity to re-zero. That's where drift becomes irritating. Even if I do let it auto-zero with an empty pan, once I trickle up and charge a case I'll find it has drifted when I put the empty pan back on the scale. On top of this, the slow response when trickling is maddening.
The scale appears to be accurate. Creedmoor ships three cal weights that are correct for the scale's specified accuracy (10x better than the scale). The scale doesn't need re-calibration all the time. It's span is correct; the zero is what drifts.
Fast forward: I bought an AutoTrickler with an FX-120i scale. I am delighted with it. The scale itself it what the Creedmoor always wanted to be. It's fast and has no drift to speak of. Resolution is 0.02 gr while the Creedmoor is 0.01 gr. Not a big issue for me. The environment is the same as the drifty Creedmoor has been used in.
Just my 20 m$, but if you're considering the Creedmoor I'd spend the extra for an FX-120i.
Belly Benchrester
Silver $$ Contributor
FX120i is the gold standard for scales in F class
Whatever electronic scale you buy put it on clean power source or you'll have drifting and slow performance. I recommend a Tripp Surge protector with a Tripp line conditioner. More money to invest but you'll be happy in the long run.
charlie b
Gold $$ Contributor
All the links I had show them as out of stock. I wonder if they stopped making them.
FYI, there are other chinese brands on Amazon with the same specified accuracy of 0.02gn (.001gm). Not sure how good they are but I am tempted to try one. Several also have the USB serial output but don't know if it is the same output format as the Fx120i.
sgav8r
Silver $$ Contributor
I’ll chime in here and strongly suggest just getting an FX-120i (or variant). If the amazing current sale price of $490 (CE products) is too much for you, then simply keep an eye on eBay auctions. The FX-120i, FX-300i and FX-200i balances come available quite often, and at really affordable prices (mostly from closed down cannabis stores). If you find one that’s model number ends in the letter “N” (120iN, 300iN etc) it’s just the NTEP “legal for trade” version of the same scale, and it can quite easily be unlocked and programmed exactly like a standard FX-120i.
I’ll warn you about “lesser” scales such as the Creedmoor TRX-925. I had one for a while and it is a nice little scale. But I very quickly “outgrew” that scale. I love that it comes with excellent calibration weights, and it has a resolution of .01gn (FX-120i is down to .02gn). However, the Creedmoor has extremely slow response time, and it drifts. It’s utilizing standard strain gauge technology, just like what’s in your Frankford Arsenal intellidropper’s scale. The FXi scales are magnetic force resistance, analytical lab balances. HUGE difference in technology and performance.
Trickling powder onto an FXi scale vs the Creedmoor is night and day different, and well worth the extra few bucks. Plus with the FXi scale you’re ready to roll whenever you decide to go with an AutoTrickler, SuperTrickler, IP System, or whichever powder dispensing system you settle on. Given that literally ALL extruded powders have individual kernels that weight at least .02gn, the FX series of scales gives you “to the kernel” accuracy. There is a reason everyone has essentially that same scale. It’s become THE goto reloading scale. Buy once, cry once.
I’ll warn you about “lesser” scales such as the Creedmoor TRX-925. I had one for a while and it is a nice little scale. But I very quickly “outgrew” that scale. I love that it comes with excellent calibration weights, and it has a resolution of .01gn (FX-120i is down to .02gn). However, the Creedmoor has extremely slow response time, and it drifts. It’s utilizing standard strain gauge technology, just like what’s in your Frankford Arsenal intellidropper’s scale. The FXi scales are magnetic force resistance, analytical lab balances. HUGE difference in technology and performance.
Trickling powder onto an FXi scale vs the Creedmoor is night and day different, and well worth the extra few bucks. Plus with the FXi scale you’re ready to roll whenever you decide to go with an AutoTrickler, SuperTrickler, IP System, or whichever powder dispensing system you settle on. Given that literally ALL extruded powders have individual kernels that weight at least .02gn, the FX series of scales gives you “to the kernel” accuracy. There is a reason everyone has essentially that same scale. It’s become THE goto reloading scale. Buy once, cry once.
Last edited:
ronemus
Gold $$ Contributor
The FX-120i is the bottom end of what could be considered a "lab" scale. Anything less expensive is a strain gage scale and has the same problems of drift (zero & calibration). The FX-120i uses magnetic force restoration technology and is nearly immune to drift. The price difference vs. the TRX-925 is trivial in light of the performance difference. I have a strain gage balance that I keep as a backup to bridge the gap until my FX-120i can be repaired/replaced; I'd never consider using one full time again.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.