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Posted: 9/6/2012 3:26:07 PM EDT
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i've got a lyman 1000xp scale. i would calibrate it, set the pan on the scale, hit 'zero', remove the pan (and the scale would read -113.5gr), fill the pan with my load from my powder dispenser and then put it back on the scale. after a couple loads, when i would remove the pan, the reading on the scale would travel (-113.6 to -114.0). when i would fill the pan, i would get the same weight of powder displayed so i would dump it in a primed case. i was re-zeroing the scale every 5 - 10 measurements. after i would charge 25 cases i would then re-zero the scale and go back and spot check the charged cases and i am consistently getting different weights (over charges).
a few months ago i sent the scale in to lyman claiming that it wasn't holding a zero. they had it for 2 weeks and sent it back with a letter claiming that they tested it over the course of a few days and it held zero just fine. since that time i moved so a couple days ago i got my reloading bench set back up and tonight i started another batch of ammo. i having the same damn problem with that scale. i'm conscious of what can throw a scale off. it's on a level surface. there is no air ducting near by that could be affecting it. i mean, i'll literally pull the pan off the scale and watch the reading change or i'll put a pan full of powder on the scale and if i let it sit there for a few seconds, it will start to creep up in weight without me doing anything. what do i do now? i hate to buy a new scale (although i'm leaning towards getting a rcbs chargemaster combo). anyone else have this problem or have any suggestions (other than to never buy a lyman product again). for what it's worth i'm loading CCI primed new LC brass with 25.3gr varget and 69gr SMK bullets. any help would be appreciated. |
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From what I have read you could be having problems from fluorescent fixtures; either proximity to, or plugged in to the same circuit. the only advice I have is to try it on another outlet from a different circuit. no fluorescent lights in the area. nothing else plugged in on any outlet in the room except for one incandescent bulb on a different outlet. |
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check to see if the platen or pan is magnetized even if pan was magnetized, why would the scale reading differ if the pan was removed? besides, the pan is brass so i don't think it can magnetize. the base of the scale is plastic. maybe magnetized is the wrong word. mine (brass and plastic) will get static once in a while and the reading will actually change when the pan is placed near (not on) the platen.....it just screws it all up |
| My rcbs 750 does it to. I don't have alot of faith in it anymore. I have found out that air can move it so i turn of my ac window unit and fans when i use it and use a drier sheet to de-static myself andthe scale, it helps. But it still moves .1-.2 every now and then so I rezero after ever 10 charges. |
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Are you letting it warm up first? I have to let my RCBS warm up for 20 minutes or so or it will act like that. Then it settles down. Static is also a problem- love to reload on rainy/damp days! Yep, I turn it on as soon as I get in my room and let it get going. Hell I let the bitch stay on all night before, go in there and it's on -175.0. The weight of the pan. do a few loads and -175.1 or 175.2. |
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Are you letting it warm up first? I have to let my RCBS warm up for 20 minutes or so or it will act like that. Then it settles down. Static is also a problem- love to reload on rainy/damp days! i'm conscious of static (have a bottle of static guard spray and dryer sheets at hand) and i leave the scale plugged in and on all the time so the load cells don't have to warm up. i think i just have a P.O.S. scale. anyone use a chargemaster combo? is it worth the dough? |
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Are you letting it warm up first? I have to let my RCBS warm up for 20 minutes or so or it will act like that. Then it settles down. Static is also a problem- love to reload on rainy/damp days! i'm conscious of static (have a bottle of static guard spray and dryer sheets at hand) and i leave the scale plugged in and on all the time so the load cells don't have to warm up. i think i just have a P.O.S. scale. anyone use a chargemaster combo? is it worth the dough? my chargemaster has been great.....with the exception of the two times it got static (in about 3yrs) |
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For static if you have anything with a grounded case like a power supply,PC, stereo or something you could try touching that case and your equipment to discharge it. On second thought unless you are touching your equipment first that could be a bad idea in-case it would cause a spark.
These are a little finer resolution and smaller than i am used to but i do have one that i use for cooking with that holds a gram. I've noticed with it that if i am adding really slow it will sometimes jump 2-3 grams before reading. I did some test and If i tap the counter or the scale it is 100% all the time. Might try tapping the bench before each step in your calibration/tare/weigh routine. |
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Op,
Try plugging it into a good surge protector or even better a line conditioner. Remember this is a senstitve peice of precision equipment. Also make sure there is nothing that transmits in the area, like a cell fone, 2 way radio etc. Friend of mine has one of the Sartorius .02 scales, get a cell fone ringing in the area and it goes to hell. Other than that, maybe try re-zeroing every few charges. SY |
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The fact is most of the electronic scales sold by the reloading company are not of good quality. Good electronic scales usually run in the many hundreds if not thousands of dollars and the only reasonably priced good electronic scale is the GemPro 250. Since you already have the scale, and you have lost trust in it, do what I do when I weight powder. 1) I weight the brass with primer first, 2) I take the brass off and make sure it goes back to "0”, if not redo, 3) I weight the powder, 4) I put the powder in the brass and reweight the combination, 5) On a spreadsheet, I minus the weight of the combo from the brass alone and the results must be within 0.004 gr of the intended weight, if not I pour the powder back in the pan and re-weight. With a GemPro, this works fine most of the time and the few times it does not work I am 0.006gr off, but the key here is with this method you have confidence what you weigh is what you want (or not). |
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Quoted: Tagging for answers. FWIW, my cheapo battery powered Franklin Arsenal does the same thing. I had that scale. I got rid of it because it drifted. (won't give the same weight with the same charge twice in a row) If you want a digital scale, expect to spend at least $100. All of the cheap ones are not reliable. Brian Enos is said to sell a reasonably priced digital scale. Myself, I will keep my RCBS beam scale.
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