Where have all the electric powder tricklers gone? I was searching for a factory trickler (Omega,Dandy or Targetmaster). These were all the rage five or so years ago but I did not find one with any reloading suppliers.
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Where have all the electric powder tricklers gone? I was searching for a factory trickler (Omega,Dandy or Targetmaster). These were all the rage five or so years ago but I did not find one with any reloading suppliers.
If I'm understanding your question right, it's because "all in one" electronic scales and throwers are now the standard, with the rcbs chargemaster leading the pack. Essentially, things have gotten digital, faster, and more accurate (I guess that depends on who you ask.) But I can guarantee you, given everything else the same, my a&d balance WILL be faster and more precise than, say, the scale in the rcbs unit, but at a greater cost.
Basically, you just push a button, and machines poop out whatever you told it to. Much more boring.
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Working on building my own, there are low speed tiny gear motors out there for not much money.
I ordered one during the great house arrest. Unfortunately the house arrest end and shooting, boating and motorcycling weather coincided and the powered powder trickler was back-burnered.
I'll get back to it when the snow flies again. If and when I get it working I'll post pictures and description.
The plan is to direct drive an RCBS trickler with the gear motor actuated with a momentary switch.
Do a search for 60 rpm gear motor and you'll see the size I'm going to use. They are available in both AC and DC. Mine is a 12v DC and the plan is to use the charger from the motorcycle.
Hopefully it will be a simple and inexpensive majic widget.
Last edited by 15meter; 08-01-2020 at 09:56 PM.
Not trying to derail the original thread, but wouldn't a direct drive transmit the motor vibrations to the scale, causing possible inaccuracies?
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I bought a chargemaster several years ago at a gun show - your assumption was spot on with my experience.Originally Posted by nhyrum
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Possibly, but I doubt it will transmit any more than my ham-fisted turning the knob on the trickler.
It will not be connected to the scale in anyway. Just sitting behind with the tube extending over the pan.
May have to include a rubber mat or feet in the design. That's easy enough at this stage. I even have some stick on rubber feet from another project. I remember having extras, just can't recall what I did with them.
If you are going to spend the winter working on a trickler how about a one kernel drop plate like the Prometheus or one like Jimmie Todd makes that a retiree can afford?
I like my charge masters for what they are but they are not the end all in precision. I really don’t like the auto zero “feature” that hides the fact they drift with temperature.
Last edited by jmorris; 08-02-2020 at 03:08 PM.
My homemade auto tricklers have a higher resolution and greater repeatability.
That is two hundredths of a grain, the CM 1500 just can’t do that, even on a good day.
Last edited by jmorris; 08-02-2020 at 03:14 PM.
Also not very difficult to put together if someone is remotely “handy”.
And for a fraction of the cost. If you have a scale and measure, the rest can be shipped to you from eBay for <$40.
The photo electric switch is the most expensive part, at almost $19.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-OMRON-E...53.m2749.l2649
Less than $5 in the gear motor shipped.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-3V-12V-3...cAAOSwdudbiJpC
$7 for the relay and socket to your door.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Relay-Omron...kAAOSwrmdTqNyE
$5 for a power supply.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-DC-12V-2...5a3579e900b2c9
$2 for a latching switch.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2Pcs-R16-50...oAAOSwY0hZrMqd
Last edited by jmorris; 08-02-2020 at 03:30 PM.
You guys are way to complicated for me, all I'm aiming for is a button to push, the little tube to turn and me watch the beam to get to the center. I need to a LITTLE of the work or I may as well go buy factory. Spinning the little tube is like trimming brass. If I do not need to do it, it's time for
Here's my version. I finally got around to finishing it this spring when c19 started.
3 modes. Slow trickle, high trickle and auto trickle. The pot controls a 'gain' type function that adjusts where the auto trickle stops. The motor was something I had on hand and has a 32:1 gear box to reduce speed. Motor is also PWM speed controlled.
Operation is: press auto trickle, motor turns on and dispenses powder until the beam moves to the set level, then the user presses slow trickle 2 times or so to get the beam leveled. Rinse and repeat. The scales beam setting controls the weight.
I builet this so I can easily dispense ladder tests, OCW tests, and precision loads faster.
If there is interest I'll do a whole write up on it.
Last edited by Dimner; 08-02-2020 at 08:36 PM.
My happy solution to manual trickling.You guys are way to complicated for me, all I'm aiming for is a button to push, the little tube to turn and me watch the beam to get to the center. I need to a LITTLE of the work or I may as well go buy factory. Spinning the little tube is like trimming brass. If I do not need to do it, it's time for
I have no use for anything digital on my loading bench, I want total control of all that's happening there. For my "precise" charges I've always used manual tricklers but I liked none of the commercial ones. SO, I made my own Model Perfect Trickler (and a tip of the hat to ol' Geo. L. Herter).
I mated a 2 1/2 cast iron pipe cap to a 1 1/4" x 6" brass sink drain pipe and filled the cap and lower part of the pipe with molten lead - at 2 1/2 pounds, it's heavy enough to be stable. I used a 4" length of 1/4" thin wall brass pipe (from a broken auto radio antenna) and a common 1/4" radio knob for the dribble tube. The lead filled powder chamber then got a smooth bottom of poured epoxy.
It really is perfect for my needs and was easy and inexpensive to make.
Even easier, forget the photo electric switch and relay and get a momentary push button instead of the latching one.
It’s the reloading forum, there is always interest. Start a new thread on your device.Here's my version. I finally got around to finishing it this spring when c19 started.
If there is interest I'll do a whole write up on it.
I agree! A new thread would be great!
I like the idea of a push button rather than a latching button because you push once instead of twice. I would constantly forget the second push, but that’s just me. I suppose a delay timer that was set to hold a relay in long enough to trickle a particular charge in and you do not have to hold the button either, just one push.
The setups with a camera displaying the balance beam pointer on a screen looks good to old eyes and stiffer necks and shouldered folks like me has it’s appeal also.
Three44s
Last edited by Three44s; 08-03-2020 at 09:56 AM.
Quote Originally Posted by Bret4207
“There is more to this than dumping lead in a hole.”
And now the wait on the slow boat from China. Also guessing I will see something in Dimners set up that I need.
Midwayusa lists a Hornady Vibrating Powder Trickler, I have a Franklin Armory (Midway?) that I've been using for years, maybe on some auction site for older ones. The electronic scales have replaced them though I guess I haven't found the need. More modern powders and spherical powders (RL15, Varget, 2015, H322, TAC, 2520) measure much better than the old IMR 4064 and 3031, eliminating the need for tricklers. If you can find a working Franklin Armory Electric Trickler, it does work well
The Targetmaster auto-trickler is still available but has only ever been available direct from the manufacturer.
Here's one in action with a dedicated sensor for the RCBS M500 scale.
https://youtu.be/1NNIC2Qn50U
I am electrically chalanged. I have built an electrical trickler like diagrammed above. But the motor turns too fast. is there a way to slow it down? The motor in the above post runs at 3 to 30 rpms. So there must be a way to adjust the speed. Kevin
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