Leveling a beam scale

[Loudcherokee]

Hey guys,

My beam scale is a Dillon Eliminator, made by Ohaus. It's been a great scale to date, but I've just recently got some check weights that go all the way down to .15 grains, and things didnt look so great last night. Everything was weighing about .2 grains heavier than the stated weight on the check weights.

After futzing around with it and trying to stave off another GAS attack to buy another scale, I figured out that my bench is not completely level. After placing the scale on a 14" long 1x4 hardwood board, and leveling that, it seems to read correctly now.

I'm trying to devise a way to have a "platform" that I can set the scale on that will give me a level area. I've seen alot of people use a sheet of tempered glass, which looks great in theory but if I put the glass on an unlevel bench to begin with, it wont help.

I'm thinking of building a small platform, say 6" wide by 12" long, and installing leveling feet on the bottom of it, along with a bubble level on all sides of the platform. The leveling feet are the kind that you can turn to adjust the height. That way I can ensure that my scale is level at all times. This would also be large enough to set my trickler on to trickle into the pan directly.

Has anyone done something like this, or know if something already exists? Maybe a self-leveling board of some sort?

LC

 

[piie]

You can also use gravity to ensure your new bed is level.

Build an enclosure of your liking, and then pour something that will set into it. Once hard, it will be perfectly level at the spot where you placed it and poured the material - resin epoxy, etc?

 

[oley55]

I ran across this rig while perusing ebay the other day. Offered only as an example of a platform, with bubble levels and leveling feet. Although it's not clear why the leveling feet in the last pic are not shown in the first. And it's a pretty good deal or so me thinks. https://www.ebay.com/itm/RCBS-510-Scale-and-Custom-3-Speed-Auto-Trickler-Kit/114155030349

edit note: tried to capture a pic of it, but it is in micro miniature size.
tried again old school with photo of pc screen.

 

[Webster]

Hey guys,

My beam scale is a Dillon Eliminator, made by Ohaus. It's been a great scale to date, but I've just recently got some check weights that go all the way down to .15 grains, and things didnt look so great last night. Everything was weighing about .2 grains heavier than the stated weight on the check weights.

After futzing around with it and trying to stave off another GAS attack to buy another scale, I figured out that my bench is not completely level. After placing the scale on a 14" long 1x4 hardwood board, and leveling that, it seems to read correctly now.

I'm trying to devise a way to have a "platform" that I can set the scale on that will give me a level area. I've seen alot of people use a sheet of tempered glass, which looks great in theory but if I put the glass on an unlevel bench to begin with, it wont help.

I'm thinking of building a small platform, say 6" wide by 12" long, and installing leveling feet on the bottom of it, along with a bubble level on all sides of the platform. The leveling feet are the kind that you can turn to adjust the height. That way I can ensure that my scale is level at all times. This would also be large enough to set my trickler on to trickle into the pan directly.

Has anyone done something like this, or know if something already exists? Maybe a self-leveling board of some sort?

LC

If you build a platform with leveling feet it must have 3 legs. I spent several years leveling samples under a microscope. If you have 4 feet and you adjust one it requires changing the other 3 screwws. it's an endless mad circle.

 

[JFrank]

Hey guys,

My beam scale is a Dillon Eliminator, made by Ohaus. It's been a great scale to date, but I've just recently got some check weights that go all the way down to .15 grains, and things didnt look so great last night. Everything was weighing about .2 grains heavier than the stated weight on the check weights.

After futzing around with it and trying to stave off another GAS attack to buy another scale, I figured out that my bench is not completely level. After placing the scale on a 14" long 1x4 hardwood board, and leveling that, it seems to read correctly now.

I'm trying to devise a way to have a "platform" that I can set the scale on that will give me a level area. I've seen alot of people use a sheet of tempered glass, which looks great in theory but if I put the glass on an unlevel bench to begin with, it wont help.

I'm thinking of building a small platform, say 6" wide by 12" long, and installing leveling feet on the bottom of it, along with a bubble level on all sides of the platform. The leveling feet are the kind that you can turn to adjust the height. That way I can ensure that my scale is level at all times. This would also be large enough to set my trickler on to trickle into the pan directly.

Has anyone done something like this, or know if something already exists? Maybe a self-leveling board of some sort?

LC

A remnant sink cutout from a granite supplier with holes drilled in the three points as @Webster suggested should work quite well.
May I also suggest cleaning all the v notches.

 

[Loudcherokee]

I ran across this rig while perusing ebay the other day. Offered only as an example of a platform, with bubble levels and leveling feet. Although it's not clear why the leveling feet in the last pic are not shown in the first. And it's a pretty good deal or so me thinks. https://www.ebay.com/itm/RCBS-510-Scale-and-Custom-3-Speed-Auto-Trickler-Kit/114155030349

edit note: tried to capture a pic of it, but it is in micro miniature size.
tried again old school with photo of pc screen.

View attachment 1167009 View attachment 1167010

I REALLY like that. That's kind of what I had in mind. I like the holes for the check weights. I wish my wood working skills were adequate. I tried to make a box type cover for my scale with some 1/4" underlayment and my jigsaw skills are HORRIBLE! It looks like I was standing on a boat in the middle of a hurricane while making the cuts.

The three legs is something I hadn't thought of. I would assume that the third leg would need to be in the center of the one side, correct?

I'm actually considering getting something like this, and modifying it to be able to be leveled. This would give me a nice hard cover as well.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017NTRQM/?tag=accuratescom-20

LC

 

[oley55]

The three legs is something I hadn't thought of. I would assume that the third leg would need to be in the center of the one side, correct?

I would think NOT. Basically the same positioning as the points under the scale. Two (left and right) of the pivot end and a single centered at the poise end.

As for your link to the plastic box, I would have concerns since plastic seems to collect and hold static electricity more so than other materials. Would that static charge affect the operation of the scale????

 

[Loudcherokee]

I would think NOT. Basically the same positioning as the points under the scale. Two (left and right) of the pivot end and a single centered at the poise end.

That's kind of what I meant. Didnt mean right in the middle of the board. The one leg on the poise end would be centered along that edge/side.

LC

 

[oley55]

That's kind of what I meant. Didnt mean right in the middle of the board. The one leg on the poise end would be centered along that edge/side.

LC

gotcha, my bad.

 

[bobm]

This one is easy to make.

 

[Cecil S.]

A remnant sink cutout from a granite supplier with holes drilled in the three points as @Webster suggested should work quite well.
May I also suggest cleaning all the v notches.

I have heard about this idea and will be using this myself. But starting out with a good level work surface seems to be the key.

 

[Webster]

This one is easy to make.

View attachment 1167028

View attachment 1167029

I should have added to my 3 leg leveling comment. You leave one leg with no adjustment. It becomes the standard to level to. Then you only have to adjust the other 2 legs to level the platform.

 

[JFrank]

A level base is desirable not essential. Zero your scale to your check weights and you should be good to go same as any high dollar scale.

 

[group therapy]

Hey guys,

My beam scale is a Dillon Eliminator, made by Ohaus. It's been a great scale to date, but I've just recently got some check weights that go all the way down to .15 grains, and things didnt look so great last night. Everything was weighing about .2 grains heavier than the stated weight on the check weights.

After futzing around with it and trying to stave off another GAS attack to buy another scale, I figured out that my bench is not completely level. After placing the scale on a 14" long 1x4 hardwood board, and leveling that, it seems to read correctly now.

I'm trying to devise a way to have a "platform" that I can set the scale on that will give me a level area. I've seen alot of people use a sheet of tempered glass, which looks great in theory but if I put the glass on an unlevel bench to begin with, it wont help.

I'm thinking of building a small platform, say 6" wide by 12" long, and installing leveling feet on the bottom of it, along with a bubble level on all sides of the platform. The leveling feet are the kind that you can turn to adjust the height. That way I can ensure that my scale is level at all times. This would also be large enough to set my trickler on to trickle into the pan directly.

Has anyone done something like this, or know if something already exists? Maybe a self-leveling board of some sort?

LC

this is a setup I made for my fx120, no reason it wouldn't work for a beam scale. hope it helps. the platter came from Lowes and you just level it with the 4 screws on the corner. if you decide to go with this pm me and I can get you details

 

[Loudcherokee]

I just got back from Home Depot and Hobby Lobby. Looks like I have a little project ahead of me.

Does Plaster of Paris heat up considerably while curing? Enough to warp acrylic/plastic? I'm also thinking of using it to fill up the bottom of my scale and powder trickler to add some weight to these items.

LC

 

[Loudcherokee]

Well it's a start. I may fill this base with plaster of paris to stiffen it up some and to hold the threaded plastic plugs in a little better. It's about 3/8 inch concave on the bottom. The weight of the scale causes a slight bow in the bottom acrylic.

LC

 

[group therapy]

I just got back from Home Depot and Hobby Lobby. Looks like I have a little project ahead of me.

Does Plaster of Paris heat up considerably while curing? Enough to warp acrylic/plastic? I'm also thinking of using it to fill up the bottom of my scale and powder trickler to add some weight to these items.

LC

a possibility for adding weight to the items is to mix up some epoxy and fill the areas with birdshot and epoxy. what I did to my ribs trickier to add weight to it for stability and it worked great.

 

[Rustytigwire]

Some levels are liars. Swap ends on same surface to see if they are symmetrical before purchase if possible.
Big Starret precision bubble levels are more accurate when temp stable. Hint, you can briefly touch the vial with your finger and cause thermal expansion there temporarily. The bubble will migrate to the warm spot.
I always turn bubble levels thisaway then thataway and split the diff if any is evident.
One day when im brave you may see a post questioning sunlight on one side of the scope causing deflection or barrel heat from underneath causing vertical displacement. Not this thread though.

 

[JFrank]

This one weighs perfectly without a level platform, just adjust the leveler to zero a check weight and go.

 

[oley55]

Well it's a start. I may fill this base with plaster of paris to stiffen it up some and to hold the threaded plastic plugs in a little better. It's about 3/8 inch concave on the bottom. The weight of the scale causes a slight bow in the bottom acrylic.

LC

looking good, AND no wood working!

pm coming your way