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Posted: 3/18/2025 2:48:41 AM EDT
Made a knockoff of a knockoff DIY Omega Dandy trickler detailed in the following utube video. Thought I'd share what I came up with in case someone is looking to do something similar.  DIY Electronic Powder Trickler. Omega Dandy trickler clone. My twist on this is using a wireless mouse to take the place of the project box, battery holder and push button switches shown in the video. The ergonomics with a mouse are better and lowered the parts cost by $23. Attached File Mouse modification: Tried to incorporate the micro switches on the board, but couldn't isolate the voltage from the other board electronics. Ended up removing the old switches off the board. Found a microswitch on Amazon with the same 6mm height and superglued them in the same locations on the board, making sure the 2 tabs for connection on the switches didn't contact any exposed traces, etc. Attached File Attached File I expected the new switches to be at the same height as the original switches so when assembled the tabs on the mouse would actuate them. Turned out the new switch placement wasn't high enough. Used a piece of rubber to shim the board a little higher. Worked fine after that. Shown below Attached File Attached File Used the existing wiring leads to get 3V and added a red wire to a single battery to get 1.5V. Attached File Attached File Mounted the vibrator towards the rear of the block to begin with, but it wasn't moving powder down the tube as fast as I wanted. Moved it closer to the front and that made the powder move faster without having to angle the tube downwards further. This provided better control (start and stop) of the flow. Attached File Used a drill bit to open up the bottom of the funnel to get better flow. It seemed the kernels were bridging at that location and tapping the side of the funnel would get the powder flowing again. Flowed more consistently afterwards. Attached File Some details on the aluminum block and a BOM: Attached File Attached File Tested with IMR4895 and R15 and it seems to work decently. Definitely better than the manual trickler I've been using. Finished trickler with the cover on the scale. Attached File Used a puddy knife to press a V into the end of the tube so kernels of powder travel single file before dropping off the end the tube. Attached File edit to fix utube link. dryflash3 |
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Quoted: if you push both buttons at once you will short one battery I haven't had an issue so far since I mouse click with my trigger finger I attribute it to years of maintaining good trigger control. 
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Quoted: Very nicely done. I fixed your utube link. If this thread takes off, I will set the archive toggle. |
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Quoted: Nice setup, thanks for sharing I have a precision ladder load to do that I'll use this on. It should shake out other changes that need to be done if any. |
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Quoted: Thanks for that. I haven't figured out the tube embed process yet. I made a couple Utube vids of this trickler in operation. I can add them once I get it figured out Quoted: Quoted: Very nicely done. I fixed your utube link. If this thread takes off, I will set the archive toggle. Look to the right of the chain icon (for a hot link) and find the utube icon. Rectangle with an arrow in the center. So copy url of utube video. Open post, click on utube icon, paste url, click Submit. Done. |
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Had to change some of the script in the url to make it work... remove [/shorts/] and replace with [/watch?v=] This shows when the vibrator was moved to the front position. I believe the powder kernels were bridging before I tapped the funnel. After tapping the powder flows smoothly. This was taken before the mouth of the funnel was opened up with a drill bit.  March 17, 2025 |
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Quoted: I was lucky to pick up a used Omega cheap. I had thought about something like this, I built my own brass annealer from parts I had laying around. My Omega with my 505 is what I use for my match loads. You can always add a camera to your 505 for around $10. Easy to do and makes trickling easier/more precise. Attached File |
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Quoted: couple of shotky diodes in series with the + battery terminals. 1N5817 Diode 1A 20V Schottky Barrier Diode DO-41 IN5817 Appreciate any help you can provide. Attached File |
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Quoted: Reinventing the wheel, no? My rcbs manual trickler is as easy to use as breathing is. Am I missing something? I'm hoping this electric version will speed up the process loading precision rounds. I've used a Forster trickler for years. Sometimes too much powder is dropped and have to pull out some powder and start trickling over, because it won't consistently drop one kernel at a time. I also don't like reaching out at arms length to constantly turn the knob. It's not ergonomic and I've had 2 rotator cuff repairs and tore it yet again mtn biking. What I've experienced with the little testing I've done, the flow is much more consistent than the manual trickler. You can see the kernels traveling in single file like ants before they drop off the tube. The video posted earlier shows it. With the manual version you can't see well what will be dropped and the kernels don't always drop one at a time. An electric rotary trickler was another option, but from what I've read the vibration version is the better way to go from the previously mentioned reasons. I'll need to work up a ladder load with it to really know how well it compares to the manual trickler. |
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My son did a precision load ladder using the DIY trickler today. Worked well as expected. It did slightly dribble powder when the pan wasn't in place. I can lessen the slope of the tube a little by bending the vertical rod the trickler attaches to. That should reduce the possibility of that occurring but it also makes the powder dispense slower. I'll also glue the funnel in place. Almost had a powder spill when my son started to pick up the trickler by the funnel in order to dump the remaining powder back into it's storage container. Now I'm thinking about it... I could drill and tap for a set screw to secure it in place instead so it can still be disassembled. I'll probably do that instead. |
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