scales

boggs,jeff · November 15, 2011, 04:17 PM

Having trouble with my Lee scale it won’t stay zeroed & after I weigh some powder I’ll remove the pan & place it back on the scales it will give me a different reading. What am I doing wrong?

g.willikers · November 15, 2011, 04:34 PM

Is the scale near a fan or open window?
Just a tiny breeze will upset the readings.
Also check the fulcrum for dirt.
And make sure the pan isn't knocking the tenth grain weight adjuster around.

boggs,jeff · November 15, 2011, 04:57 PM

I eliminated all the drafts. The beam is not moving once it stops, just a different reading.

Don P · November 15, 2011, 05:17 PM

Its possible your powder thrower is throwing different weights. I have the same scale almost 20,000 rounds and all I do is check zero EVERY time I am going to reload. Is the 1/10 grain adjustment slide button in so the adjustment slide isn't moving?

Poodleshooter · November 15, 2011, 05:19 PM

To add to the above:
-keep the pan centered on the scale
-keep the powder centered/even in the pan
-don't bump the scale

Try to isolate how far off it is. Move the 1/10th grain indicator to see how much variance you're getting.
Sometimes an "eyeballing" of the scale "level" indicator may show a variance that actually isn't very large at all.

higgite · November 15, 2011, 06:42 PM

Are you moving the scale between readings? I'm always amazed at how uneven "level" surfaces are.

boggs,jeff · November 15, 2011, 09:01 PM

I did make sure the 1/10 grain adjustment did not move. Centering the powder in the pan did help and I did check to see how much it was off and it was very little. Scale sits on a piece of marble and outlined the scale with a sharpie, to make sure I hadn't moved it. Thanks for your help.

Toney · November 16, 2011, 11:17 AM

The weight will change depending on how you hang the tray on.
I hang the tray on and then trickel powder untill the beem just starts to raise and then push the beem down and lightly bump it to set the tray. the weight will go down a couple tenths from just hanging the tray on.
I zero my scales like this to. It works nothing on the scales is changing cause i can get the same reading to repeat using the same tray of powder.
If the tray turns it will also change the weight.

wingman · November 16, 2011, 11:32 AM

Cover scale after use to prevent dust accumulating on scale at any point.
Any vibration will cause a change in readings.

November 15, 2011, 04:17 PM	#1
boggs,jeff Junior Member Join Date: September 2, 2011 Location: Pound, Va. Posts: 14	scales Having trouble with my Lee scale it won’t stay zeroed & after I weigh some powder I’ll remove the pan & place it back on the scales it will give me a different reading. What am I doing wrong?

November 15, 2011, 04:34 PM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Is the scale near a fan or open window? Just a tiny breeze will upset the readings. Also check the fulcrum for dirt. And make sure the pan isn't knocking the tenth grain weight adjuster around. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

November 15, 2011, 05:17 PM	#4
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Its possible your powder thrower is throwing different weights. I have the same scale almost 20,000 rounds and all I do is check zero EVERY time I am going to reload. Is the 1/10 grain adjustment slide button in so the adjustment slide isn't moving? __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

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November 15, 2011, 04:57 PM	#3
boggs,jeff Junior Member Join Date: September 2, 2011 Location: Pound, Va. Posts: 14	I eliminated all the drafts. The beam is not moving once it stops, just a different reading.

November 15, 2011, 05:19 PM	#5
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,599	To add to the above: -keep the pan centered on the scale -keep the powder centered/even in the pan -don't bump the scale Try to isolate how far off it is. Move the 1/10th grain indicator to see how much variance you're getting. Sometimes an "eyeballing" of the scale "level" indicator may show a variance that actually isn't very large at all.

November 15, 2011, 06:42 PM	#6
higgite Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2010 Posts: 1,025	Are you moving the scale between readings? I'm always amazed at how uneven "level" surfaces are.

November 15, 2011, 09:01 PM	#7
boggs,jeff Junior Member Join Date: September 2, 2011 Location: Pound, Va. Posts: 14	I did make sure the 1/10 grain adjustment did not move. Centering the powder in the pan did help and I did check to see how much it was off and it was very little. Scale sits on a piece of marble and outlined the scale with a sharpie, to make sure I hadn't moved it. Thanks for your help.

November 16, 2011, 11:17 AM	#8
Toney Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2005 Location: Stillwater Oklahoma Posts: 790	The weight will change depending on how you hang the tray on. I hang the tray on and then trickel powder untill the beem just starts to raise and then push the beem down and lightly bump it to set the tray. the weight will go down a couple tenths from just hanging the tray on. I zero my scales like this to. It works nothing on the scales is changing cause i can get the same reading to repeat using the same tray of powder. If the tray turns it will also change the weight.

November 16, 2011, 11:32 AM	#9
wingman Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2002 Posts: 2,108	Cover scale after use to prevent dust accumulating on scale at any point. Any vibration will cause a change in readings.