I would like to purchase a new Gempro , but which model?
Do any of them dsiplay in grains?
Thanks in advance
Do any of them dsiplay in grains?
Thanks in advance
Which Gempro scale?
- Thread starter 500Stroker
- Start date
There is no such thing as a robust scale. If you treat it rough and or drop it, it's done regardless of made. I've had one for more than 5 years and use it weekly it still works great. Take a little more effort to use than an FX-120i which I now also have but there is a big difference in the price and I think each has its place. Yes, GemPro 250 is the one to get in terms of model.
Gempro 250, it claims to measure to +/- 0.02 gr (approx. eqivalent to 1 kernel of Varget) whereas the 500 model is +/- 0.05. Note it does not handle trickling very well. You may find you have to add/remove kernels with tweezers and take the pan off the scale then put it back on again for the most accurate measurements. I found it to be a good scale for the money but I also bought a A&D MFR scale that handles tricking much better.
DeltaBravo
Gold $$ Contributor
You might want to consider one of the Bald Eagle scales from Shiraz. I've got one and it's pretty good. Cost was about $90 delivered IIRC.
Dennis
Dennis
I come from working in the lab where I have used analytical balances since the 70s and they work just fine. The A&D FX-120i is indeed nice from the standpoint that it has magnetic force restoration which allows quicker response to small changes in charge, but the GemPro250 also works fine if you are willing to use a scale that response slightly slower but cost ¼ of the price. Slow is relatively especially if you know how to deal with the slower response of the GemPro.
The proper method is not to add a small amount of powder and sit there and wait for it to equilibrate.
You should also not take the pan off and put it back on. 
The proper method is to gently touch the powder pan with your spatula or tweezers and slightly over scale the balance, immediately remove the spatula/tweezers. Done properly, the scale will immediately settle on the proper weight. This is how people who have been properly educated on using analytical balance have been doing it for over 50 years. We never had “magnetic force restoration” back then and we got work done just fine.
So it is a very nice feature but not an essential feature that if missing would spell the end of your powder weighting career…
The proper method is not to add a small amount of powder and sit there and wait for it to equilibrate.
You should also not take the pan off and put it back on. The proper method is to gently touch the powder pan with your spatula or tweezers and slightly over scale the balance, immediately remove the spatula/tweezers. Done properly, the scale will immediately settle on the proper weight. This is how people who have been properly educated on using analytical balance have been doing it for over 50 years. We never had “magnetic force restoration” back then and we got work done just fine.So it is a very nice feature but not an essential feature that if missing would spell the end of your powder weighting career…
Love my Gempro 250
The model you want is the Gem Pro 250. It has a 0.02 grain resolution and is a pretty good scale for the price of $149:
http://amzn.com/B004C3I3AA
The downsides? It doesnt' have serial port and it's slow to update. So when you're trickling manually for the last 0.01 grains you'll have to wait 3-4 seconds for updates.
The next step up is a FX-120i. Currenlty the exchange rage with Canada is good so it can be purchased for around $550 here:
http://cambridgeenviro.com/searchResults.php?userQuery=FX-120i
It's a force restoration scale so it updates very quickly. It has a 0.02 grain resolution and also has a serial port which allows for expansion modules, like Adamj's stepper motor trickler.
The next step up from that is a Satorius scale which is a lab grade force restoration scale. They start around $750.
http://amzn.com/B004C3I3AA
The downsides? It doesnt' have serial port and it's slow to update. So when you're trickling manually for the last 0.01 grains you'll have to wait 3-4 seconds for updates.
The next step up is a FX-120i. Currenlty the exchange rage with Canada is good so it can be purchased for around $550 here:
http://cambridgeenviro.com/searchResults.php?userQuery=FX-120i
It's a force restoration scale so it updates very quickly. It has a 0.02 grain resolution and also has a serial port which allows for expansion modules, like Adamj's stepper motor trickler.
The next step up from that is a Satorius scale which is a lab grade force restoration scale. They start around $750.
Last edited:
Hengehold
Silver $$ Contributor
I just purchased a gempro 250 for around $120 shipped and like using it much more than the scale I paid $350 for. I recommend it.
Yes it measures in grains
Liven The Dream
Gold $$ Contributor
250 love the one I have checked over and over with other scales it wins hands down.
jmatters
Silver $$ Contributor
I have a 500 that I don't use anymore. (Got a MUCH more expensive scale...) How does $100 shipped sound?
which sartorius? there are a ton.
also i use the gempro. my issue is it 'wanders' a bit. its plugged into a line conditiong UPS with balans but it still drifts. i dont trickle, i use tweezers and have gotten pretty adept at using them. i would like to replace it with a better scale though.
I just got a GEMPRO 250 yesterday have not got it to use it yet.
I bought mine from jet.com for 107.95 shipped to my door I could not pass it up at that price. It arrived yesterday
I took a look at it and it looks fine and I am looking forward to the weekend.
The FX120i just out of my price range right now.
I bought mine from jet.com for 107.95 shipped to my door I could not pass it up at that price. It arrived yesterday
I took a look at it and it looks fine and I am looking forward to the weekend.
The FX120i just out of my price range right now.
Satorius start at $750 last i checked.
My gempro 250 is rock solid. I've read that people have problems with it drifting.
Yea wow I seen they went back up but you can get 15% off on your first purchase and another 1.5% if you use a debit card so it still 16.5% off..
Shynloco
You can lead a horse to water, but ........
FJIM,
For what it's worth, a few months ago, I bought one of those Gempro 250's due to it's readout with more digits to the right of the decimal point. After reading the instructions on calibrating and zeroing the unit, I discovered the scale can be a pain in the ars to re-calibrate if you take your scale down at night, which I do. And I'd been using two RCBS scales that (don't drift) are much simpler to re-calibrate and zero, even when taking it down and setting it up again. So I compared the two makes and checked them against each other in terms of accuracy and set up ease. They both read the same, except the Gempro gave me an additional tenth digit reading more than the RCBS. So basically, I loaded one batch (35 rds) using the Gempro and have gone back to using the RCBS that are much easier to set up. Bottom line, if you (or anyone else) has interest, I'll sell this new (but used once) Gempro 250 for $100 shipped CONUS. It comes in the original container and box. Let me know if you have interest.
Alex
UPDATE: SPF
For what it's worth, a few months ago, I bought one of those Gempro 250's due to it's readout with more digits to the right of the decimal point. After reading the instructions on calibrating and zeroing the unit, I discovered the scale can be a pain in the ars to re-calibrate if you take your scale down at night, which I do. And I'd been using two RCBS scales that (don't drift) are much simpler to re-calibrate and zero, even when taking it down and setting it up again. So I compared the two makes and checked them against each other in terms of accuracy and set up ease. They both read the same, except the Gempro gave me an additional tenth digit reading more than the RCBS. So basically, I loaded one batch (35 rds) using the Gempro and have gone back to using the RCBS that are much easier to set up. Bottom line, if you (or anyone else) has interest, I'll sell this new (but used once) Gempro 250 for $100 shipped CONUS. It comes in the original container and box. Let me know if you have interest.
Alex
UPDATE: SPF
Last edited:
Well I don't because I just got a new one the other day, haven't even used it yet..But I want the .02 reading that is why I bought it..I read all about it and I understand how it works and why it drifts. It takes a little patience and understanding of what is going on with the scale to use it properly from what I have read.
But it is a good deal, I am sure someone will snag it from you.
But it is a good deal, I am sure someone will snag it from you.
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.