Danger: Frankford Arsenal high precision pocket scale

SuperDave

SuperDave

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This electronic scale seems to be a bargain but be careful: it is complete junk and is potentially dangerous.

I've first calibrated the scale and zeroed it with the plastic cup that came with the kit on it (piece of junk). Then I've spent 15 minutes trying to get ONE measure with it and haven't been able to get one (the scale was catching up very sluggisly and kept variating all the time without me doing anything). I finally got the desired measure, I poured it in my casing and put back the little plastic cup on the scale and it gives me a negative weight instead of going back to zero, which means it lost its zero when I poured the powder on it.

I recalibrated it, zeroed it with the empty plastic cup on top and poured the powder charge back on the scale and found out that I was 1 full grain over my previous measurement.

I tried 3 times with similar results.


This is not only a complete piece of junk but it is also extremely hazardous.
 
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Just wondering? Are you operating your scale near any flourescent lighting or magnetic fields? A lot of people don't realize that flourescent lighting creates a magnetic field and if you have enough lights or your scale, whether its an electronic, or old standard balance type, is close enough to them, they will measure incorrectly. It might not be a lot, but you won't get a true and accurate measure.
 
There is no magnetic source anywhere near the scale any it is a digital scale so I don't think it should matter anyway.

I think I'm going to get myself a good o'l mechanical scale.
 
SuperDave said:
This electronic scale seems to be a bargain but be careful: it is complete junk and is potentially dangerous.

I've first calibrated the scale and zeroed it with the plastic cup that came with the kit on it (piece of junk). Then I've spent 15 minutes trying to get ONE measure with it and haven't been able to get one (the scale was catching up very sluggisly and kept variating all the time without me doing anything). I finally got the desired measure, I poured it in my casing and put back the little plastic cup on the scale and it gives me a negative weight instead of going back to zero, which means it lost its zero when I poured the powder on it.

I recalibrated it, zeroed it with the empty plastic cup on top and poured the powder charge back on the scale and found out that I was 1 full grain over my previous measurement.

I tried 3 times with similar results.


This is not only a complete piece of junk but it is also extremely hazardous.
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this is almost typical of dead/dying batteries- slow response, losing zero, etc- i don't care how fresh they are- i've seen dead right out of the pack- or a poor power connection- this is why i use a beam for powder and an electonic only to check to see if there's powder after i've made the round-
total weight= bullet weight + case weight + primer +powder, and i already know a typical case,bullet , and primer weight for any given brand
 
I am using an original Dillon digital scale - one of the first on the market and she is still working perfectly after more than 20 years....get the good stuff right away you will save yourself a lot of grief...
 
I've many years of lab experience, and I tell you these digital balances are great, but they must be shielded even from your breath, any static electricity, magnetic fields (motors, fluorescents, radios, tv) and virtually everything. I have no problems with my FA scale that I cannot cure with attention to the above.
 
I tested the batteries and they were fine. I tried brand new batteries and it keeps screwing up.

Basically, I calibrate it and let it sit there for 30 seconds and then the counter will start decreasing by itself without me doing anything.
 
SuperDave said:
I tested the batteries and they were fine. I tried brand new batteries and it keeps screwing up.

Basically, I calibrate it and let it sit there for 30 seconds and then the counter will start decreasing by itself without me doing anything.
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she's fubar- send it back
 
I finally received a response to the e-mail I've sent to the maker. They gave me an address so I can send it back so they can replace it.

At least they're standing behind their products.

But this is disappointing because I've been waiting so long to start reloading and now I'll have to wait another couple of weeks.
 
I think it is a good idea to have a "mechanical" or balance beem scale as well just to check things from time to time . I have the chagemaster combo that I love , but the 10-10 is always set up as well for random tests to make sure it is bang on. I like the safe side ;)
 
frankly, i've never seen the fascination with digital anything anyway- your batteries go dead or screw up somehow, you're done-granted, its more precise, but as long as you measure to 1/10th grain, you're good anyway, and the mechanical ones do that easily- if there's no gun/reloading store near you, try the tool or a lab supply store- my first ohaus 505 came out of a chemical supply store(all the 505/1010s are the same scale, just different branding)and i didn't pay the price the gun store was charging b/c they figured they had a monopoly-or the scientific supply shop- just don't get a dual-pan scale- the ones with one pan on each side
in 30 years of reloading, you get your tools where you find them-
 
t-star said:
frankly, i've never seen the fascination with digital anything anyway- your batteries go dead or screw up somehow, you're done-granted, its more precise, but as long as you measure to 1/10th grain, you're good anyway, and the mechanical ones do that easily- if there's no gun/reloading store near you, try the tool or a lab supply store- my first ohaus 505 came out of a chemical supply store(all the 505/1010s are the same scale, just different branding)and i didn't pay the price the gun store was charging b/c they figured they had a monopoly-or the scientific supply shop- just don't get a dual-pan scale- the ones with one pan on each side
in 30 years of reloading, you get your tools where you find them-
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Do they have some that measures in grains?
 
sure they do- medicinal scales measure in grains, you just have to ask, as do scientific- i'm just saying that the gun shop isn't the ONLY game in town as far as scales are concerned- just be sure and get it in grains, not grams- the scale i'm using right now we got across the line in montana years ago, it's a bonanza, and it cost 20 bucks- it's all plastic and just as accurate as any - and more accurate than a lee
 
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Bearcat said:
The one I have works fine !!!!!
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Same here. Picked it up cheap on sale during a weekend trip to the States, and it works just fine.

BCboy said:
I think it is a good idea to have a "mechanical" or balance beem scale as well just to check things from time to time . I have the chagemaster combo that I love , but the 10-10 is always set up as well for random tests to make sure it is bang on. I like the safe side ;)
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I absolutely agree. That's exactly how I use mine, in concert with my RCBS balance beam scale...

TFC
 
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