Digital scales/Balances

wy111 · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:22 am Post subject: Digital scales/Balances

Just bought some digital scales (Accuracy to .05grains) and am scratching my head!
Using the calibration weight supplied with it on my Hornaday beam scale, there is a discrepancy of of approx .2 of a grain. I reaslise that it's not a large difference but is there a way to correct this by altering the two nuts on the end of the beam and the graduation scale on the frame?
I have tried altering the nuts to read the correct calibration weight but then(obviously) it reads the same discrepancy when reading zero weight.
Has anyone had this problem before, especially with Hornady scales? The digital scales are Gem pro, manufactured by My Weigh and as they are normally used for jewellery I would expect them to be exact as considerable money could be involved if they were not correct!

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:20 am Post subject: Re: Digital scales/Balances

Are you sure the problem is with the beam scale?

wy111 · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:18 am Post subject: Re: Digital scales/Balances

Not sure Bushy, I'm presuming the digital ones to be correct because of what they were originally intended for.
Just checked some 70gn bullets. On the beam scale 10 read all as near as dammit 70gn and on the digital, 69.95-70.05. Now i'm even more confused.
The only thing that springs to mind is that at the moment it's very cold where I do my reloading and this may be affecting one or the other especially the beam length, i.e. metal length/temp variation. I'll bring them into the sitting room where it's warmer and try again later.
Dave

moose2 · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:58 am Post subject: Re: Digital scales/Balances

I'd have to agree with Bushy, the problem may not be with the beam scale. As Digital scales are nice, they can also be frustrating, e.g., getting them calibrated and having them stay calibrated. Weather seems to play some part in their abillity to stay calibrated. They seem to like stable conditions. Your example of your scales being out in the cold and moving into a warm area is a prime example. It would not surprise me it it took up to an hour to stabilize the digital scales. Don't give up on yours, but you may have to give it time to stabilize. Hopefully yours isn't llke my Lyman, it turns itself off after a few minutes of non-use, so you have to babysit for a half hour or so till it acclimates.--tr

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:35 am Post subject: Re: Digital scales/Balances

I don't heat my reloading/gun room until I plan to use it. One of the first things I do is to turn on the electronic scale then open the heat register. It usually takes around 15 +/- a few minutes to warm up and "stablize(?)" the scale. After that I calibrate it with the weights that came with it and I'm good to go. It is a 15 to 20 minute set up time anyway. Gotta get the dies out, powder, bullets, primers, determine what charge I want and set the powder measure, set up the priming die and get COFFEE (a must). By then the room is also warmed up... Very Happy

Vince · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:13 am Post subject: Re: Digital scales/Balances

Gee guys.....you have me concerned about the viability of digital scales. Shocked

I've been looking around for a set of digital scales and like wy111 I have settled on a set of Jewellers Scales for much the same reason he has.....accuracy because of the money that is involved with precious stones and metals.

Methinks I may have to put in a lot more research before I "waste" good money on a set of scales that aren't as good as my old Redding beam scale.

Cheers, Vince

Bushmaster · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:28 am Post subject: Re: Digital scales/Balances

Vince...I also have a RCBS 5-0-5 beam scale. I use it on accasion to varify my RCBS digital. I have calibration weights for the digital, but I really do trust the beam more. The digital is just a bit faster and that's what makes it more attractive as I weigh every powder charge I throw. Redding scales are supposed to be one of the best. I see no reason that the jewelers scales wouldn't work as long as you have calibration weights and the beam to back it up. And as long as the digital will be +/- 0.1 repeatable...Anotherwords...No matter how many times you pick the pan up and put it down on the digital it will read the same every time...

Vince · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:53 am Post subject: Re: Digital scales/Balances

Thanks mate. The speed and ease of use is what I am looking for.

Like you, I weigh every load and watching the beam go up and down, up and down, up and down...drives me crazy after about 100 rounds. Laughing

The Redding Beam Scale is magnetic dampened, and as you say one of the best, but it is no quicker than any other beam scale.

From what you have said I will probably get a jeweller's scale after I do a bit more research.

Cheers, Vince

wy111 · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:09 am Post subject: Re: Digital scales/Balances

Don't know where my last post on this subject went, but I'll update.
After both scales being in a warm room overnight, switched on the digital and waited a couple of minutes, checked with the calibration weight, Lo and behold, they both read the same.
Obviously Bushy and Moose2 were correct in their advice about "warming up" digital scales, a lesson well learnt!!!

Dave

Bushmaster · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:13 am Post subject: Re: Digital scales/Balances

I know I can say from both myself and Moose2...You are most welcome. No problem...Hel...Heck I'm still learning...

fireball 3 · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:21 am Post subject: Re: Digital scales/Balances

my load room stays at 68-72degrees year round. so i never have any problems with accuracy. i do see what you're saying about temp though. when i take the beam and digital scales to my shop they's a big change. dave Smile

sniper · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:03 am Post subject: Re: Digital scales/Balances

Fireball:
One thing you need to remember is manufacturing variations in the bullets. THEY will weigh slightly differently to either side of the advertised weight, due to differences in dies, machine lubrication, etc, etc... The variations can go either way by as much as a few tenths of a grain. Not enough to worry about.

I have a bunch of Remmie Golden Saber 125 gr. bullets, and they almost universally weigh 124.3 - 124.7gr. Speer 125 gr JHP bullets will weigh 124.7 - 125 gr.
Having satisfied my curiosity, I don't have to do that again. Electronic scales are a marvelous invention, but my old beam scale does as well as I will need.

fireball 3 · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:08 am Post subject: Re: Digital scales/Balances

sniper, thanks for the tidbit. I do weigh out all my bullets then sort them aout acording to weight . then i adjust my load to the diff. i'm usually no more than 30 fps diff on the loads. Very Happy

wy111 · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 12:47 pm Post subject: Re: Digital scales/Balances

I know I started this subject. I have been only reloading for 15 years and am still learning from other's. To comment on weighing the bullets. I have had to change to Nosler due to supply and decided to do a total revamp of what ever I could and the 70gnbt seem to be the most consistant weight. I bought 500 not so long ago and on random selection, I found only .05 either side of 70(With the digital scale!). Now with this advice on digital scales, must check again.
Will post when I can.

Dave

moose2 · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:20 pm Post subject: Re: Digital scales/Balances

wy111 wrote:

Don't know where my last post on this subject went, but I'll update.
After both scales being in a warm room overnight, switched on the digital and waited a couple of minutes, checked with the calibration weight, Lo and behold, they both read the same.
Obviously Bushy and Moose2 were correct in their advice about "warming up" digital scales, a lesson well learnt!!!

Dave

wy111, glad to see that your scales issues are reseloved. Good reloading to you.

Bushy, thanks for replying to the post.--tr