Reducing digital scale drift

[Rocketvapor]

I also picked up a cheap ebay scale.
runs off USB or battery power.
20g/0.001g for a "make offer" a dollar less than the "Buy It Now" price.
$20.68 + tax. Free U.S. shipping, So far looks OK.
As received calibration:


Looks like it cuts off after a couple minutes even on USB power.

Quick video of this quick reading scale.

 

[sparker]

No drift recorded in the previous century, and none so far in this one.

 

[Rico-chet]

I also picked up a cheap ebay scale.
runs off USB or battery power.
20g/0.001g for a "make offer" a dollar less than the "Buy It Now" price.
$20.68 + tax. Free U.S. shipping, So far looks OK. View attachment 1312620
As received calibration:
View attachment 1312621

Looks like it cuts off after a couple minutes even on USB power.

Quick video of this quick reading scale.

Hi Rocket,

How as this scale been working out for ya? I was looking at the same one.

R

 

[Rico-chet]

No drift recorded in the previous century, and none so far in this one.

Hey Sparker,

What is the device that is magnifying the scale readout? I can't tell what it is from the picture. Is it just a plain old magnifying glass attached to something?

R

 

[Rocketvapor]

Hi Rocket,

How as this scale been working out for ya? I was looking at the same one.

R

I use it a a case, bullet, primer sorter, or as a second scale to check loads.
It has a problem that can be avoided. Anything within about 0.004 grams of a round number of grams it rounds to the gram. Like 1.997 grams will jump to and read 2.000 grams.

Equivalent Scale to Gempro 250

Is there a comparable digital scale to the Gempro 250 in the same price range? Thanks

forum.accurateshooter.com

Just don't weigh things that are close to round number of grams.
Checking with check weights it was always dead on. No wonder.

 

[Rico-chet]

I use it a a case, bullet, primer sorter, or as a second scale to check loads.
It has a problem that can be avoided. Anything within about 0.004 grams of a round number of grams it rounds to the gram. Like 1.997 grams will jump to and read 2.000 grams.

Equivalent Scale to Gempro 250

Is there a comparable digital scale to the Gempro 250 in the same price range? Thanks

forum.accurateshooter.com

Just don't weigh things that are close to round number of grams.
Checking with check weights it was always dead on. No wonder.

I wonder how that affects weighing in grains, since I have no intention of weighing anything in grams.

 

[Rocketvapor]

I wonder how that affects weighing in grains, since I have no intention of weighing anything in grams.

The scale will have the same problem near 15.34 grains, 30.68 grains etc.
Grains are 'Caculated' from gram readings.
The loads I currently load are 31 to 33 grains of Staball 6.5. This does not cross over one of the bad spots.
I thought it was instantly fast and always dead on with the check weights. Duh.
Still pretty good, just something I didn't check for at first.
Works great for sorting case by weight (or volume). Just stay away from those round numbers.
Seems to get to +/- 0.02 grains. Good enough to sort primers Avg weight of Ginex SRP is about 3.47 grains, CCI 450 about 3.69 grains.



Bad exposure. Scale reads 3.46 grains


Charge weighed on EJ-54D2 (in grams ) case tared on $20 scale, charge case and check in grains on the $20 scale. Set in block and cap with an inverted projectile.

 

[Rico-chet]

Something to help out those reloaders that are using small battery powered scales.

USB PowerConnect+™ 2 "AAA" Converter

Kurt Adler's USB power connect and converter is a great way to turn your battery-operated light sets into USB Powered light sets. This connect and converter is equivalent to 2 “AAA“ batteries.

www.kurtadler.com

Eliminates the need for batteries by converting the unit to a DC power supply. They make them or AA and AAA battery systems. No more dying batteries messing with your scale.

There are also lots of videos on Youtube for you DIY guys that want to build your own. And no, you don't have to modify the scales in any way.

R

 

[Rico-chet]

I also got these from Amazon. They seem to work well with the cheap 20g microscale I picked up. So far so good. I leave the scale powered on all the time now.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0873Y5MQ5?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Here is the scale I picked up. Seems to work well, and it's super accurate. I do recalibrate before every weighing session just to be safe.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ESHDGOI?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

R

 

[Beiruty]

Do not trickle on those scales. Trickle on the pan off the scale.

 

[Mark611]

Using the gram to grain check weights, I took some the gram check weights I have and tuned them to weigh in grains by removing material off them so they weigh even numbers, like 77.1gn 39.7gn {etc} I did this using my analytical scale, I also use 2 beam scales, I can now use these check weights on my beam scales to get accurate weights in grains not grams

 

[dusterdave173]

This is a great thread...
I have been loading 223 only and Yes That makes me Need all of this info but I recently got a 30-06
I can load over a 2-3 grain spread and ES SD is damn near the same
I like the "forgiveness" of the larger charge weights--It makes reloading easy as pie
Now..back to that pesky 223---OK I gave up and bought an FX120i--we will see. The most interesting thing about the FX120i so far has been checking all of my old scales--I think if many could borrow one to check-- like I have-- that you might wind up satisfied with your old ones.
My $60 Hornady that many claim are junk is not that bad at all after you spend some time with it and get in a routine--repeating whatever you are doing is the key--screw up the same every time and well...you are at least being more consistent

 

[6Creed73]

There's a lot of info in this thread and I admit I didn't read it all...so I apologize if this has been mentioned.

Save yourself some frustration with a digital scale and get a line conditioner. They are very sensitive to dirty power. Make sure there are no fans running nearby either.

Also, if you are using a battery powered scale trash it or use it as a kitchen scale. An accurate scale needs good, clean power.

Lastly, skip the scales marketed for reloading and get a good quality lab scale. I went through 3 "reloading" scales (Lyman, Rcbs, Frankford Arsenal) before finding a scale that actually works consistently. I went with US Solid and they won't break the bank. But you can spend thousands on a good lab scale.