Digital scale question

[Lrush]

I have a RCBS chargemaster but would like a more precise scale to check my benchrest loads with that won't break the bank.any suggestions?

 

[Raythemanroe]

A&D FX-120i, Gempro 250, I would look for a milligram resolution or better Magnetic weight restoration scale. I found one on Ebay for a good price, But it took a long time..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-D-FX-Series-FX-300i-Precision-Lab-Balance-Compact-Scale-320gX0-001g-/161490276634?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item259992111a

Ray

 

[Lrush]

Thanks,the gem pro is one of the ones I've been looking at

 

[Raythemanroe]

Someone said Cambridge has the FX120I on a Black Friday sale




Ray

 

[jimcasey01]

Lrush,
You might check Ebay for a used Ohaus TS120, TS200 or similar. They are commercial lab grade, magnetic force restoration, .001g (.0154 grain) resolution, and it gives very fast readings, in the area of 1-2 seconds. Mine will drift once throughout an evening when the heat or AC kicks on, just push the on switch and it is zeroed. I have a GemPro, but got tired of the waiting for it to settle down. Now the 1-2 seconds seems like a long time to wait. The asking prices are $300-$500, but I got mine for $99.00 + $18.00 shipping. Used scales many are afraid to buy, but with a 2 week return period, you can check it out and will only be out the shipping charges if it is bad. If it is good, you will likely get many years of use. Make a low offer, I bet that you will get some bites. Scales and a good set of pointed tweezers for picking up a 1/2 grain of large powder, or a single piece of small powder and you have removed another variable in the puzzle. My GemPro is now relegated to a drawer as a backup if needed.

 

[krktractor]

+++++100 times on the A&D fx120i best scale hands down. And Cambridge has the best deal on them. Gempro is junk along the A&D the GemPro shifts all the time and won't stay steady. I had 3 of them and they all did the same thing. Get the A&D and you will be super satisfied.

 

[Raythemanroe]

$59.99 Ohaus TS400D

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ohaus-TS400D-Standard-Precision-Dual-Balance-Scale-/111448713083?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f2dc677b



Ray

 

[jimcasey01]

Could be a cheap way to get a very accurate scale. Some test weights will tell the story.

 

[ChrisNZ]

+++++100 times on the A&D fx120i best scale hands down. .. Get the A&D and you will be super satisfied.

BIG +1 on that

The FX120i is the dog's danglers.
Set mine to fast response and it's ultra stable, never drifts.

 

[Jason Boersma]

I have a Gem pro 250 and it works great and for $150.00 you can't go wrong.

 

[Martin52]

I have both the Gempro 250 and the A&D.

I bought the Gempro first and yes, like others I have had some issues with it but if I let it warm up for 12 hours and tare using the line option (10 gram and 50 gram weights, one after the other) then it usually holds good for 50 loads, occasionally having to hit the tare button during the loading process. If powder is thrown eg into a clean piece of brass (with fired primer left in to seal flash hole) then poured into the tray on the scale it wieghs the thrown charge accurately. But, if you're above or below your target load I find it best to then remove the pan and add kernels by tweezer counting as I go. If I am say 0.1gr under then I add 5 kernels (Varget) and re-weigh. I find this works better that trying to trickle, the Gempro does not respond well to trickling.

The A&D being a magnetic force restoration scale does respond well to trickling and when used with the Omega 2 speed trickler is a perfect combination, in my opinion. This combination cuts reloading time by about 50%.


Martin

 

[jonbearman]

Is a gempro better than an rcbs or hornady scale .

 

[Raythemanroe]

Is a gempro better than an rcbs or hornady scale .

Yes, one for sale in the classifieds for $90




Ray

 

[jonbearman]

I missed it by moments.

 

[normmatzen]

Jim Casey is right on!

I, too, bought an Ohaus TS 200 and a TS 120 and another TS 120! all for an average of $100!

One of them has some dirt in the Mag Force restoration portion and needs to be cleaned. But a good gamble.

The TS400D on ebay right now I would usually say not to touch it. But the seller is a bit vague on what is wrong with it, if anything! and the $59 price is an excellant gamble!
If you are curious what this balance is, it is a 400g full scale balance with, I think +/- 0.01g resolution. BUT, the "D" after the 400 means it is dual range and the other range is 40 g! that is approximately 600 grains full scale. And the accuracy on that scale is 1 mg. Ohause specs the accuracy as 1mg accuracy, 1mg drift and 1mg tare accuracy. Very inexpensive check masses will do just fine, as long as you get the appropriate ones for the full scale limit.

The owners manuals are available on line as is the actual maintenance manual. A lot of the maintenance is not difficult, but needs care and time.

By the way, I have found that converting my loads from grains to grams and weighing in grams works better as on the grain scale, for those units that have it, the resolution is only 0.02 gr. The reading increments in 0.02 steps. On the gram range, it increments in 1mg increments or about 0.015gr and is easier to weigh to the granule.

 

[fdshuster]

I tried the Pact electronic scale, and it was returned for a refund, because of drifting.

Then bought a GemPro250 from Will Knott. Major drifting problems, taking double the time to weigh powder compared to the time required using my old, Made in the USA RCBS 1010. The GemPro was returned for another GemPro. it was also returned, this time for a refund.

I'm done with electronic scale's, for weighing powder.

To be fair, I found both GemPros to be very accurate and much faster than using the beam scale, when weighing bullets and cases for sorting, the type of weighing they were designed for, I would guess.

 

[normmatzen]

I, too, went the GemPro route to find more accurate weighing.
I found the GemPro cumbersome due to its inability to track trickling and the drift in tare.
So, I went to a used Ohaus balance and haven't look back.

But, in all fairness, the GemPro is really a fine scale when you consider its size, cost and accuracy.
The problem is one of technology. The GemPro uses a strain gauge measuring method. They take advantage of a digital signal processor to do many automatic things like auto zero and remember the tare setting. These features get in the way of things like trickling. And they tend to drift because they must take liberties with the price and design of the actual strain gauge. They do work flawlessly for their original intended use, weighing gems and gold in a convenient, small package.

The balances we all brag about now are actually magnetic force restoration. The scale is predominantly an analog measurement helped along with some digital circuits. When a mass is placed on the table, the table depresses a very little bit and the circuitry changes the amount of current flowing in a solenoid which adds some force to raise the table back up to its resting position. This extra current is directly proportional to the weight added to the table, and it is converted to digits in the display. The digital part of the circuitry does some statistical analysis and remembers the tare setting as well as the zero value.
Now we have a balance that allows trickling and is way more stable long term. Many of the "good" balances we have will maintain both zero and tare for hours and days!

The poor strain gauge scale depends on the flexure of a resistive device that has strong temperature effects and long term drift effects. In fact, they would not work well without a feature that re-defines zero when the scale sits motionless for a while without any mass on the table. When there is mass on the table and the reading becomes stable, the digital circuit will hold that reading unless a fairly large mass is added to the table. That's why GemPros don't like trickling, they intentionally ignore it till the change in time and mass is quite large.

My GemPro stays in its original box too, but I know if I find myself with out a balance, I can still trust my GemPro but at a time and trickle dis-advantage.

 

[michaelnel]

That is a fine and unbiased evaluation of the GemPro, Norm. I dislike the company (abysmal customer support) and using the GemPro so much it is difficult for me to be objective about them, but your review is spot-on.

 

[unclefish]

If you get a chance go to long range hunting forum read the artical beam scale vs digital. Page 2 written by Steve Smith a certified scale person has a good post on how to check your scale and anyone that you buy.