Old Powder Scale??

[quickdtoo]

Ok fellas, the NEF guys got me interested in handloading, first it was just for a .45-70, now BBF has me buying his .357 Maxi, so I guess I'm hooked real good! I'm makin a list and checkin it twice....got an old beam powder scale that I bought at a flea market long ago, it's a Pacific Gunsight Co, "Improved Deluxe Scale" model #M9-L29....I used to used it for weighting round balls. Now, I may just use it for handloading, it seems to be accurate and very sensitive. It has a well in it for liquid dampening, what liquid "should" I be using in it? I've been using motor oil and it seems to work fine, but thought I would ask for your opinions and experience with this or similar scales.   Thanks,     Tim

[Kragman71]

Quickdto,
If they are not abused,those old scales can be used for almost ever.
My powder scale is a WaMaster,made in Cincinnati,and sold for $12.50,around 1950.
Buy a set of checkweights,to make sure that your scale is calibrated correctly.
good luck,
Frank

[Blackhawk44]

You're doing well.  Yes, motor oil was the proper media in the paddle tank.  That's how the world did it before " magnetic dampening".  Actually it may seem more accurate than a magnetic since the force field of the magnetic won't let the pointer settle in exactly the same place each time.  The oil dampened will.  I wouldn't use heavier than 30W or it will seem a bit insensitive and slow for pistol loads.  I would find someone near you with a later model scale and compare a number of weights just to be sure nothing is bent or badly worn.  Be sure to keep the knife blades sharp and they and their troughs totally clean of oil with some type of solvent.  BOL

[John Traveler]

"Magnetic dampening"  does NOT introduce extraneous magnetic force to affect the reading.  On the contrary, the materials used (copper and aluminum) when moved through a magnetic field induces magnetic forces opposite to that of the field and therefore dampen beam movement.  When the  beam stops, there is no induced force, and therefore no magnetic force to oppose the field.  It's a fancier and more convenient way to achieve the same result as an oil damper.