Ideas on how to make a powder trickler?

[dragon]

I really like weighing rifle charges, unless I am short on time. I find it relaxing, and like knowing that I "did my best" with a load. I usually find the dipper that is just below my charge, or set the powder measure to drop just a couple of tenths under, then I tap on a dipper to trickle the last few granules of powder into the pan but tapping on the dipper can get old at times.

I like making things... ammo, boolits, tools (why else would I be here 8-)) so was wondering if anyone has made a trickler or has ideas on it?

Thanks!
Dragon

[Garyshome]

Just use a rifle case, it works in a pinch. Too cheap to bother making one, I have 2 a Lee and a RCBS, they work great.

[rockshooter]

I've been using a 45-70 case for years. I have a trickler but find the case faster to use.
Loren

[JSnover]

I took a piece of 3" brass round stock, 5" long. Bored it to 2.75", 2.5" deep.
Drilled and reamed a .375" hole to pass through the bottom of the bore.
Through this hole I ran a piece .374" stainless steel (turned and polished to fit), drilled out two-thirds of it's length and tapped 1/4-20. Two 1/8" holes midway through allow powder to fill the tube as I turn it.
The threads act as an auger to pull the powder towards the open end. I slipped an o-ring onto each side to keep it from slipping out, though they may not be necessary.
Park it with the 'spout' over the pan, give it a few turns to fill the tube and it will begin to trickle. I don't have pictures but take a look at a few tricklers, they are super easy to make.
I had an RCBS trickler but it was too light, so I gave it to a buddy of mine. He filled the base with lead and is satisfied with it.

[obssd1958]

I've been using a 45-70 case for years. I have a trickler but find the case faster to use.
Loren

Me too!!!!

[dragon]

Thanks for the ideas.

For the guys that use a rifle cartridge... do you just tap on the cartridge to move the powder toward the mouth?

[runfiverun]

cut a window in the side of a rifle casing.
poke that through [or make a nice round hole whichever] a Styrofoam cup near the bottom or wherever is high enough to reach over the side of your scale.
put an o-ring on either side of the case. [or some electrical tape]
fill with powder and start twirling.

you can get all fancy and glue something in the cup so you don't have to fill it all up.
or rip a cup apart using just the bottom inch or so and glue it bottom to bottom to another cup turned over.
or get super fancy and use a piece of stainless brake line and wrap a handle and everything.

[obssd1958]

I just fill the case about 2/3 full, and tilt and slowly rotate it between my fingers and thumb.
...and I'm "that guy" that will make the scale balance out at the last "kernel" of powder.

[waltherboy4040]

Arrow and a pill bottle

[Beagle333]

See post #18 for the ultimate in homemade tricklers. :cool:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?215032-October-2013-Photo-Submission-*Topic-Items-tools-unique-to-reloading-cast-boolits

[jmorris]

Have to give the one above that one credit for using what you've got.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=86016&d=1383267440

[fourarmed]

A piece of PVC pipe about 3" long works well for the powder reservoir.

[country gent]

I have several tricklers one I made, one electric and a couple rcbs. I use them all at one time or another depending on the task at hand. One quick trickler is a "Icy" straw with the little Spoon on the one end. a cap or shallow container of the powder and you can pick up a small amount and tap it to drop one or 2 grains at a time into scales pan. I made a similar scoop from a popcycle stick and 9mm case. Cut the 9mm angled length wise to case head and glue stick on back for a handle. I still go back to the straw.

[JSnover]

See post #18 for the ultimate in homemade tricklers. :cool:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?215032-October-2013-Photo-Submission-*Topic-Items-tools-unique-to-reloading-cast-boolits
That's some nice work. Essentially the same as mine, I just left the body straight.

[Bullwolf]

Found a nice instruction link on the web for making a Powder Trickler.

Building a Powder Trickler (http://www.deansphotographica.com/machining/projects/trickler/Powder_Trickler.html)

http://www.deansphotographica.com/machining/projects/trickler/Powder_Trickler.html

Looks like a fun project if you have access to a metal lathe.






- Bullwolf

[jmorris]

While both look nice, really like the brass one, most of the machine work done on these wouldn't have much effect on how they work.

http://www.deansphotographica.com/machining/projects/trickler/1done.jpg

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=86020&d=1383269003

[troyboy]

The material in those cost more to purchase then a factory made trickler. It is impossible to put a value on a hobby. It is even more satisifying when one hobby compliments the other.

[JSnover]

The material in those cost more to purchase then a factory made trickler. It is impossible to put a value on a hobby. It is even more satisifying when one hobby compliments the other.
That's probably true. In my case I was able to use scrap, but even the man-hours would have cost way too much if I had built it for someone else. The advantage to rolling your own is you get exactly what you want.

[bangerjim]

Just buy one. They are dirt cheap. I have 2 commercial ones I use all the time.

And also have 2 complete outfitted machine shops with every tool you can name! I love making intricate and expensive things in the shop from metals and woods. But, there comes a time and place where buying a simple thing over-rules the machinist tendencies in all of us. To me, a powder trickler is one of those.

Those ones in jmorris's post above are really beautiful! Looks like the stuff I do.

banger

[JSnover]

I bought the RCBS trickler (assumed it was well-made because I've had good luck with everything else from them) and couldn't stand it; way too light. Instead of gambling on another store-bought model I made my own.

[jmorris]

Well, this thread got me to thinking about a project I started playing with awhile back. So after lunch I made a very simple trickler made from UHMW, .25" stainless tubing and a bit of aluminum.

I threaded the bottom of the "trickler housing" and it will be mounted to a base plate.
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv5/qvideo/PM/IMG_20160110_151617_395_zps51oyj4lb.jpg

The base plate will also be large enough to mount the motor, have room for the scale.

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv5/qvideo/PM/IMG_20160110_151418_323_zpsxkwsjheo.jpg

Also an RCBS measure to throw the main charge and mounts for at least one, likely two photo electric switches like this one. To control the trickler.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLp9M6VI3gM

[dragon]

I LOVE it! Makes me want to write up the gcode for turning or 3D printing the parts and sharing it all as open source :D

[jmorris]

I LOVE it! Makes me want to write up the gcode for turning or 3D printing the parts and sharing it all as open source :D

Once you do I want one.

[Bullwolf]

I bought the RCBS trickler (assumed it was well-made because I've had good luck with everything else from them) and couldn't stand it; way too light. Instead of gambling on another store-bought model I made my own.

I had the same problems. Got tired of hanging onto my old RCBS aluminum powder trickle with both hands to keep it from rocking back and forth, and sliding around on the top of my bench while I was turning the knob.

http://www.thegunmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/HL9-trickle-300x200.jpg

I'm not the first person with this complaint it seems, or to apply this fix.

I filled the bottom of my RCBS powder trickle up with molten lead alloy,
(I removed the plastic pieces first of course) giving it some much needed ballast.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154670&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1449035156

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154669&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1449035136

In addition to the lead, I added a small piece of old mouse pad to serve as a non skid bottom.

With both the lead weight on the bottom and the non skid base, the trickle hardly moves at all while it's being used. It can easily be operated single handed now without sliding around, and is much less likely to get knocked over by accident.

This made my older style RCBS powder trickle much more user friendly.


- Bullwolf

[abunaitoo]

A while ago, Midway had a battery powered trickler.
It had a button on the top that you pressed and the tube would turn. Let go and the tube stopped.
It worked great as long as you had good hand/eye coordination.
I think Lyman made one at one time.

[jmorris]

Test run today.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA0_KDjbBGQ

[gwpercle]

I have always used an empty rifle case, doesn't seem to matter which one but I have an old Berdan primed 30-06 that got drafted for trickler duty. Half fill with powder , just roll it between thumb and forefinger to trickle in the powder. Cheap and easy.
Gary

[dragon]

jmorris... That is outstanding! Your 10-10 has a nice shape to work with for the switch. Would you mind sharing the model # of the proximity switch that you are using?

[jmorris]

I ordered a few more of these.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-6-36V-E3S-GS30E4-Photoelectric-Switch-Adjustable-Sensor-NPN-3-wire-/331726933030?hash=item4d3c774c26:g:p24AAOSwT5tWFkB V

A better switch for the job than the proximity sensor I used. I just couldn't find the one I had the first time I was toying with the idea.

[kokomokid]

jmorris, will this switch run a small powder trickler motor directly or will it have to go through a relay?

[jmorris]

I am using a relay, needed it to switch the output and was not sure if I was going to need to change the input to the motor to adjust speed.

I'll be honest, I have been reloading for 30 years and never used a trickler before I made the one above Sunday, so I don't know the answer to your question.

Do you have the specifications for the motor on your trickler? If you do I could give you an answer.

[kokomokid]

Motor i am looking at is a small 40mA china dc6-12v 25-50 rpm gearmotor with 50 rpm no load.

[Gamsek]

My friend made me this one, we added brass bottom to add weight and got also perfect height for scale beamhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160113/60638fa1d50fb90324e9ef6a9a384e5e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160113/8e8524912b456abe9d7ab45d806810d5.jpg

[Ovationdave]

I have the Frankford Arsenal one and it works great, is heavy-based. I have a lathe but I can't imagine why I would (other than just to do it) spend the time to machine one when this one works great for under $20?

[troyboy]

Beacuse the satisfaction using something you made is truly priceless.

[6bg6ga]

While both look nice, really like the brass one, most of the machine work done on these wouldn't have much effect on how they work.

http://www.deansphotographica.com/machining/projects/trickler/1done.jpg

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=86020&d=1383269003

Absolutely beautiful work. When your a professional and have the right equipment nothing is too hard to make. These belong in a trophy case.

[6bg6ga]

I ordered a few more of these.http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-6-36V-E3S-GS30E4-Photoelectric-Switch-Adjustable-Sensor-NPN-3-wire-/331726933030?hash=item4d3c774c26:g:p24AAOSwT5tWFkB VA better switch for the job than the proximity sensor I used. I just couldn't find the one I had the first time I was toying with the idea.Can you share the wiring diagram of this switch?

[6bg6ga]

I added lead and a sheet metal screw to mine in 1984 and it helped considerably in making it not move. I'll try the anti skid on the bottom.

[jmorris]

Can you share the wiring diagram of this switch?

It just 3 wires -/+ and an output wire. When it makes it here I'll take a photo of it.

[6bg6ga]

It just 3 wires -/+ and an output wire. When it makes it here I'll take a photo of it.

I ordered one the other day so I ought to have it in a month or so. Slow boat from China.

Amazing the response this thread has gotten. I started a thread several years ago and was met with criticism when I tried to gauge interest in an automatic shut off trickler.

I guess the time is right now or the thread starter is better received.

I had used the Honeywell HOA6299-002 and HOA6299-003 through beam infrared sensor and had problems with mounting them cost efficiently. Your sensor is certainly cheaper and well adapted to mounting on any scale.

[jmorris]

was met with criticism when I tried to gauge interest in an automatic shut off trickler.


There are actually several out there you can buy ready to go.


You might not have to wait too long on your switch mine came in lastnight.

Wiring diagram on the face.
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv5/qvideo/gn/machine/IMG_20160122_091230_545_zpsfw4el0uq.jpg