Can a regular mechanical scale be off?

[veep]

Hi guys,

Not having a problem, just something that popped into my head...

So they make regular mechanical powder scales which obviously work fine for a tonnes of people, or automatic/digital dispensers and scales.

For the digital scales and measures obviously convenience is a big thing, people also talk about repeat accuracy though.

Surely the accuracy of a regular balance beam is repeatable?

Can a mechanical scale ever be "off" ?

[agentzero]

Unless the gravity changes on one side of your scales, not really

Seriously though, as you obviously know a balance beam is about as basic as a scale can be - pivot in the middle, weight on both ends... There's nothing in them that can malfunction as such like an electronic failure with a digital scale.

As long as it's treated well and in proper condition, it should always be accurate.

If you dropped it and bent or broke something, then maybe not.

[Noisydad]

I'm still using a Lyman O'Haus balance beam scale that dad bought in 1969 and it'll weigh 3 granules of ADI powder. Digital doesn't mean better!

[Supporter]

Short of the pivot rod of the beam having a flat/ding/dent/chip on it, I'd say no worries.

[Lorgar]

Short of the pivot rod of the beam having a flat/ding/dent/chip on it, I'd say no worries.

I did this to mine. Drop the whole thing and after it had a tendency to get stuck every 6-7 loads and report a load was heavier than it actually was.

Good excuse to buy my RCBS Chargemaster combo though

[roob]

Good excuse to buy my RCBS Chargemaster combo though

My excuse would be so I don't have to bash the powder thrower in frustration

[Hardcast]

My old Pacific beam scale went off. Don't know why, it just did.
I tried to sharpen up the hinge points, lube it, grafite it etc etc, no good.

Thought I had a lot of s**ty powder, except all my loads went haywire.

The new Dillon (O'Haus) is fantastic. Very accurate.

[chacka]

I did this to mine. Drop the whole thing and after it had a tendency to get stuck every 6-7 loads and report a load was heavier than it actually was.

My old Pacific beam scale went off. Don't know why, it just did.
I tried to sharpen up the hinge points, lube it, grafite it etc etc, no good.

Some 1/1000th inch flat spot or something in the hinge you can't see probably

I had a similar issue (but without dropping it) with mine, scale would randomly 'stick' once every 5-10 loads or something showing that the load was .5 - 1 grain over.

Give it a little tap and it balances out properly again.

Such a pain