Lee Safety scale mods

[romukom]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2ibXm8XGqk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_current_brake

The magnet that I used can be purchased at your local Home Depot along with some 5 minute epoxy.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Master-Magnetics-1-2-in-Neodymium-Rare-Earth-Magnet-Discs-6-per-Pack-07046HD/202526367

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-1-16-in-Threaded-Glide-4603644EB/203672161

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Empire-1-3-8-in-Bull-Eye-Level-3604/100147382

[ziconceo]

Very impressive! Thanks for the write up!

Sent from my 0PJA2 using Tapatalk

[rsrocket1]

Wow


Actually, I love my Lee Safety Scale and prefer it to any other powder scale. It adjusts easier than any other scale and with the little button lock, I can dial in a load easier than with any other scale. The only downside is that you are limited to 110 grains.

[stilly]

Damn I wanna get rid of my 5-0-5 and get a Lee Safety scale now...

WAIT! if you cut a piece of paper to be 1"x1" will it register on it still?

[rsrocket1]

Stilly,
Unless you really hate the 5-0-5, stick with what you have. After 6 years with the Lee Safety Scale, I found a deal for the 5-0-5 on Amazon for $40 shipped. When I got it, I compared objects with the Lee and both matched perfectly up to 110 grains (the max for the Lee scale). While the 5-0-5 may be easier for some to use, I got used to the Lee sliding window and prefer it most of the time. The only time the 5-0-5 beats it is when I'm checking weights of bullets or anything heavier than 110 grains. When setting your powder measure for a specific weight, whether you set the 3 weights on the 5-0-5 or push the window lock button on the Lee vernier, it's all the same and not really any more convenient one way or the other.

Yes, the magnetic damping is awful, but I simply stop the rocking of the beam by resting the side of my finger against the edge of the pan for a second. The scale will then settle up, down or stand still very quickly. If you know how far the "needle" points up or down when you are off by 0.1 grain you know your error margin window when throwing charges.

[stilly]

Stilly,
Unless you really hate the 5-0-5, stick with what you have. After 6 years with the Lee Safety Scale, I found a deal for the 5-0-5 on Amazon for $40 shipped. When I got it, I compared objects with the Lee and both matched perfectly up to 110 grains (the max for the Lee scale). While the 5-0-5 may be easier for some to use, I got used to the Lee sliding window and prefer it most of the time. The only time the 5-0-5 beats it is when I'm checking weights of bullets or anything heavier than 110 grains. When setting your powder measure for a specific weight, whether you set the 3 weights on the 5-0-5 or push the window lock button on the Lee vernier, it's all the same and not really any more convenient one way or the other.

Yes, the magnetic damping is awful, but I simply stop the rocking of the beam by resting the side of my finger against the edge of the pan for a second. The scale will then settle up, down or stand still very quickly. If you know how far the "needle" points up or down when you are off by 0.1 grain you know your error margin window when throwing charges.

Okay you talked me into it. I guess I will keep it then...

hehe.


In other news, my American Weigh scale has gone south. I guess after knocking it off the bench and onto the concrete floor it finally jarred something loose. Only took 4 falls to do it. damn POS! :\

But now for Christmas I got the ZEO-50 from American Weigh so WHAT TIMING! I will be sending in my scale for AWS to fix...

[romukom]

LOL lipstick on a Pig !! LOL At least the color is "LEE RED"

The accuracy of the scale still there. In simply terms, when the there is no movement of the beam, there is no dampening. It is like when a ball is bouncing on the floor, eventually will stop bouncing. The ball will not care where it stopped.

Yes, just stick what you got. You can still use some of the mods like the heavy base, better contrast on the pointer. I am not sure how the RCBS scale dampening is achieved. If I recall seeing in videos, is much faster than the Lee. I would live it as it.

At this point I don't have the need to weight anything more than 110 grains. However my FA Platinum electronic scale has 1500 grains capacity so I am covered.

I too got used to the sliding window. Here a few tricks I use when dealing with the slide.

1- When adjusting the slide, I use my dominant hand's index (behind the slide) and thumb (front of slide) to move it; like rubbing your index with your thumb. That way you will have better control and not under or over shoot your desired mark. Once at the desired mark and holding the slide, then I lock it with my weak hand by pushing the lock.

2- When finding an unknown weight, I first adjust the gross weight by moving the ball bearing. Then with an unlock slide I use an awl or any pointy tool to move the slide. Again, the goal is to have better control.

3- Normally when you want to unlock the slide you would grab the locking pin and pull it. Well, you will find out that is a pain in the rear to grab that pin with your hands. You can use your needle nose pliers but you can simply push it from behind (where the zero adjustment is located)

I hope this helps

[rsrocket1]

I never tried pulling the slide lock out from the front. I've always stuck my finger behind the slide and pushed it out from the back.

[Armistice]

I never tried pulling the slide lock out from the front. I've always stuck my finger behind the slide and pushed it out from the back.

Yah, me too. Only do it to zero out

I finally got to reloading last weekend

I actually like the scale. I just adjust the slider by lightly tapping the rod with my right hand index finger (fingernail or fingertip depending on the direction I need)

I do like the idea of painting the pointer. It was one thing I was thinking of doing... now I really WILL do it, haha