RCBS 1010 powder scale question

[Ole Joe Clarke]

I purchased a RCBS 1010 beam scale last weekend for under $70. It has some issues, but with the help of the good folks at RCBS, they are quickly going away. I have a "tenths" sticky and a dust cover coming at no charge.

Have any of you guys ever cleaned the agate bearings? On the sides of the -V- there is what looks to be accumulated dust. The bottom of the -V- looks to be in good shape with no grime or wear that I can see.

Any help or suggestions on cleaning them will be appreciated. Keep in mind they are "floating" and I don't want to damage them in any way.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Leon

Have a blessed evening.

[troyboy]

Use alcohol and a q tip. If you are inclined remove the side covers, take out the bearings then clean.

[M-Tecs]

Not my post but good info here http://www.shootforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=11325

"Any beam scale is only as good as the knife edges and bearing setup. The agate bearing should never ware but you need to look at the steel knife edges through a jewellers eyepiece. They need to be clean and sharp, infact dirt/dust is nearly always to blame for sticky inaccurate scales. Take them right apart, take the bearings right out and wash everything with lighter fluid and a toothbrush. Check the magnets have no hairs of wirewool etc. sticking to them and put it all back together. Check them through the range with some check weights and you are ready to go."

[Ole Joe Clarke]

Thanks for the tips. I removed the bearings and used a Q tip and vinegar to clean them and re-assembled. I also soaked the right end of the beam in vinegar. It looked like wax or something similar was splashed on it. Even without the "tenths" sticky I can tell that it is gonna be very accurate.

[1066]

Not my post but good info here http://www.shootforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=11325

"Any beam scale is only as good as the knife edges and bearing setup. The agate bearing should never ware but you need to look at the steel knife edges through a jewellers eyepiece. They need to be clean and sharp, infact dirt/dust is nearly always to blame for sticky inaccurate scales. Take them right apart, take the bearings right out and wash everything with lighter fluid and a toothbrush. Check the magnets have no hairs of wirewool etc. sticking to them and put it all back together. Check them through the range with some check weights and you are ready to go."

:) I wrote that post back in 2006 - I see I only had about six sets of beam scale then, now I guess I have around 40 :)

[Ole Joe Clarke]

:) I wrote that post back in 2006 - I see I only had about six sets of beam scale then, now I guess I have around 40 :)

How about some photographs? It's fun looking at good tools.

[country gent]

Any time you work on a scales it needs to be verified thru range with check wieghts. A slight error at the low end may be magnified as the weight goes up. These scales need to be on a level surface. A simple leveling plate can be made from Aluminum, brass, steel, or even heavy plastic plate. you want it 2" wider and 3 inches longer than the scales feet are. On one end drill and tap 2 3/8 24 threaded holes 1/2" from each corner on the other end 1 3/8 24 threaded hole on center line and 1/2" in from edge. 3 38 X 24 x1 1/2" set screws for feet adjusters. With a decent level set where you want scales and level in both axis, you now have a very stable level surface for your scales to operate on. Set scales on it and zero. If you want to trickle make it long enough for the trickler to set on also.

[1066]

How about some photographs? It's fun looking at good tools.

Here's a nice old scale Joe - It's a Webster, oil damped, 1950ish. Very accurate and well made.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/allan1066/th_20131206_184828_zps90b05590.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/allan1066/media/20131206_184828_zps90b05590.jpg.html)

And these are a little odd - really a balance. They're not calibrated in any way, you need to set your weight with the check weights provided first.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/allan1066/th_pacific5_zpsf3eb3575.png (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/allan1066/media/pacific5_zpsf3eb3575.png.html)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/allan1066/th_images60_zps99520840.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/allan1066/media/images60_zps99520840.jpg.html)

And here's a few more of my scales:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/allan1066/th_20130321_132912_zpsc00bbef0.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/allan1066/media/20130321_132912_zpsc00bbef0.jpg.html)

And these are the scale I regularly use for powder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnVOoGd1bDU

[Ole Joe Clarke]

1066, thanks for the photos and the video. You have many beam scales, very interesting.