Lee scale problem

[muntz]

I have two Lee powder scales. One that I bought about 6 or seven years ago and one that's still NIB that I acquired a few years ago.

I've been using the older scale for years now and it's been ok. I've thought about upgrading over the years but since I've acquired some acceptable load data using it I didn't want to change any variables.

The other day I noticed what looked like a piece of tape on the bottom of the older scale. I pulled it off before thinking about it. Turns out it was what Lee called a "Beam Lifter". A small strip of thin plastic that gently touches the bottom of the pointer end of the beam.

After I realized that the "Beam Lifter" was not a piece of trash stuck on there I though to check the old scale against the NIB scale. Using various things around the house the old scale weighs objects at exactly .4 grains heavier than the NIB scale.

1. Could removal of the "Beam Lifter" change the way the scale weighs? Or is it more of a stabilizing feature?

2. Could removing the "Beam Lifter" have made the .4 grain difference? Or could the difference most likely be Lee's quality control?

[Nodda Duma]

It solves a problem that some beam scales have when you drop a charge of powder in the pan. The beam may not move as you approach the balance weight. I had an old Redding scale that did this. I would have to give the table a slight tap to jar the beam loose from its resting position. Lee's "beam lifter" either pushes the beam away from its resting position via static charge, or is made of PTFE (Teflon) which has very low stiction so the beam doesn't "stick in place".

I don't believe you would affect the accuracy of the scale with its removal. Has the zero set point of the old scale changed?

-Jason

[muntz]

I don't believe you would affect the accuracy of the scale with its removal. Has the zero set point of the old scale changed?

I think your right. I held up the NIB scale with the beam in place. I moved the beam up and down and the "Beam Lifter" only touches when the beam is bottomed out. It makes no contact as the beam pointer approaches the zero indicator. I can only assume that it gives a slight lift when the powder is entering the pan to give the beam a little boost so it doesn't get stuck as the pan fills.

The zero has changed no more than usual. After being on the shelf for a time I do have to check and adjust the little little nut. But it's never really been off by more than 10th of a grain either way. I check the zero occasionally during a reloading session and I have no complaints as to it's zero holding.

I'm thinking that as for the difference in the way the scales are weighing I should get a check weight for piece of mind.

If I upgrade and get a better scale, can I still use my saved load data if the upgrade scale weighs an exact amount different than the old Lee scale? For example if my accuracy load for .223 is 25 grains of a particular powder on the Lee scale and this particular load is very close to max, and I know that the Lee scale is weighing .4 grains heavier than an upgrade scale, can I go ahead and subtract .4 grains and make my future load 24.6 grains according to the upgrade scale? Does that make sense?

[bohoki]

if you get a new scale put an old cartridge apart and measure your old charge