RCBS scale help

[ACORN]

My Loading bench is not sufficiently level for me to zero my scale.
If I add or remove shot from the pan holder to allow it to be zeroed, does this affect the accuracy?
I’ve loaded for a few years but never did this out of fear of messing it up.

 

[Imissedagain]

Put a shim or shims, of some type, under either side of the scale
to level it.

 

[glenwolde]

Get a digital scale.

 

[Imissedagain]

^^^^^
You still need to have the proper battery level.

 

[SMSgt]

Level the bench.

 

[ACORN]

Put a shim or shims, of some type, under either side of the scale
to level it.

Tried that it jus seemed Mickey Mouse.

In order to level my bench I’d have to move half my room

 

[rockquarry]

Get a digital scale.

I think that was a joke, not really intended as good advice.

 

[ACORN]

I think that was a joke, not really intended as good advice.

Kind of figured.
Hard to justify as I have 3 beam scales.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The 5-0-5 and 5-10 scales and many others have and adjustable foot at one end. With nothing but the pan on the scale set the weight adjustments to all zeros. Then adjust the foot to bring the pointer to the center of the scale. Good scales can be effected by air movement, so block or shut off air/furnace vents and fans until you have still air in the scale's area.

A good beam scale is much faster than a digital scale, I currently have 4 beam scales and 2 digital! (and several powder drops)

Ivan

 

[Rule3]

How wonky is your bench?


As mentioned there is a adjustable foot to level the scale

 

[ACORN]

The 5-0-5 and 5-10 scales and many others have and adjustable foot at one end. With nothing but the pan on the scale set the weight adjustments to all zeros. Then adjust the foot to bring the pointer to the center of the scale. Good scales can be effected by air movement, so block or shut off air/furnace vents and fans until you have still air in the scale's area.

A good beam scale is much faster than a digital scale, I currently have 4 beam scales and 2 digital! (and several powder drops)

Ivan

My bench is out so far that I run out of adjustment on the foot.
Probably 3/4” on a 4’ run.
If I raise the low end on my bench the opposite end has a drawer that then hit a shelf.
If I could just add or remove some shot from the scale it’d be easier.

 

[Rule3]

My bench is out so far that I run out of adjustment on the foot.
Probably 3/4” on a 4’ run.
If I raise the low end on my bench the opposite end has a drawer that then hit a shelf.
If I could just add or remove some shot from the scale it’d be easier.

No, do not mess with scale weights!

Get a piece of MDF. Like the stuff with white laminate on it (shelf boards)to make a stand for the scale Cut it just a little bigger than the scale footprint

Get some adjustable screw in rubber feet for it and you can adjust any way you want.

 

[TheTinMan]

My bench is out so far that I run out of adjustment on the foot.
Probably 3/4” on a 4’ run.
If I raise the low end on my bench the opposite end has a drawer that then hit a shelf.
If I could just add or remove some shot from the scale it’d be easier.

The lead shot in the thing that holds your pan is how your balance beam scale is calibrated. Do not mess with it or your scale will be wrong at any weight other than zero.

I somehow managed to chip one of the knives on my RCBS 5-0-5 some years ago. Sent it back to RCBS. They replaced the knives and also noted that they had re-calibrated the scale. The only cost to me was shipping the scale to them.

[broken record mode] get a set of check weights. I don’t care what scale you’re using - use the check weights every time you set it up. [end broken record]

 

[Nevada Ed]

I built a shelf at eye level, for my 505 scale that was 99% level.

After I dropped the scale one time, I now need to flatten a lead #8 pellet,
cut it in half, and place it in my pan holder, for my scale to come to "Zero".

In the fall, the numbers plate, fell off and had to be glued back on to the unit.

I also learned that any "Air flow" from the A/C or a door left open in the summer time, near by
will cause the scale to give different readings !!

Get er done.

 

[rockquarry]

The lead shot in the thing that holds your pan is how your balance beam scale is calibrated. Do not mess with it or your scale will be wrong at any weight other than zero.

I somehow managed to chip one of the knives on my RCBS 5-0-5 some years ago. Sent it back to RCBS. They replaced the knives and also noted that they had re-calibrated the scale. The only cost to me was shipping the scale to them.

[broken record mode] get a set of check weights. I don’t care what scale you’re using - use the check weights every time you set it up. [end broken record]

I second that advice on check weights. I only use mine two or three times a year and have been doing so for at least forty years. My 10-10 and my Redding have always checked out perfectly but I'll continue to verify with check weights.

 

[s&wchad]

If I add or remove shot from the pan holder to allow it to be zeroed, does this affect the accuracy?

It's a balance scale, so adding or removing shot won't affect accuracy. I've done it when the foot didn't have enough adjustment. You can always verify the accuracy with a test weight. If you don't have one, you can use a 1983 to present US penny (38.6 grains).

 

[ACORN]

It's a balance scale, so adding or removing shot won't affect accuracy. I've done it when the foot didn't have enough adjustment. You can always verify the accuracy with a test weight. If you don't have one, you can use a 1983 to present US penny (38.6 grains).

That is precisely my issue

 

[s&wchad]

That is precisely my issue

There's a screw on the top of the pan cradle that snaps into the hanger. Remove the screw and the cradle comes apart so you can adjust the amount of shot. Do it over a tray or sheet pan in case you fumble it!

 

[ACORN]

Another thought is to get a longer screw.
Unless it’s some weird proprietary size.

 

[s&wchad]

Another thought is to get a longer screw.
Unless it’s some weird proprietary size.

Why bother? Adding/removing shot is a simple job.
If you need to add weight and don't have loose shot, cut into an old shotgun shell.