Magnetic Prop Balancer

[SweetAccord]

I was on a balancer "hunt" for a while. I got the Grim racer one and ew, not sensitive at all. Well made though. Then I got the Tenshock balancer. It was a horrible copy of the OSE one. The shafts were so off they were useless and the magnets are horrible, barley hold the balancing shafts. Then I got the Kintec one. I was in love at first and I was finally able to balanced all my smaller props with it.

Then the OSE one came out and I had to try it.

http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/proddetail.php?prod=ose-80310

This now is the best one out that I find. I like to support OSE and it's products when Steven carries a great product and this is it. It's precisely made and I like it more than the Kintec. Why? Different reasons;

1. Cause it's adjustable, meaning that two set screws allows for adjustment for the smallest props to be balanced (what I needed) where the Kintec is a set length shaft for the same prop size.

2. The OSE one sits flatter than the Kintec as the Kintec does not have a flat bottom but is curved. The OSE one is completely flat.

3. The OSE one had a wider base (more stable flatter sitting). The OSE is 60mm while the Kintec is 36mm wide. May not make a difference on balancing.

4. Also the OSE is 45mm in length between the two magnets meaning the prop shaft is much shorter which is more accurate when balancing to what is on a boat so you are not including the extra length or weight of the prop shaft. The Kintec one is 69mm in length between the two magnets so the shafts are longer (heavier). Why is this important? I find the longer the shaft when balancing adds to a less accurate balance as it's heavier with more drag so it's less sensitive. I may be splitting hairs, but when the lengths are shorter it seems to be more accurate when "floating" in the magnetic field during the balancing.

5. The points on the OSE shafts were dead on and sharper. Maybe it was the set I just got but I spent less time balancing the OSE shafts than the Kintec ones.

Also, search my posts and find my tips on making this or any magnetic balancer even better with a razor and oil. One thing I can say I do like on the Kintec like Jordan says is that yes it does pack up nice, where the OSE one needs a small allen wrench to disassemble but I don't tighten the screws at all so the shafts are easy to slide out. In general they ARE both great, but in comparison (for me Mr. Picky) the OSE one is just my personal pick for what I find.

[dana]

Kintec and ose both have great products. I do ALL my shopping with the exception of batteries from these guys

[sailr]

I'm surprised to hear that about the tenshock balancer. I use one all the time and it is dead on. Magnets are plenty strong. I guess there's a lemon in every basket.

[martin]

Ive just got one of the orange anodised balancers like the one in OSE shop, & must say this is a very good balancer out of the box. Ive also since taken the grind marks from the pointed ends with a small flat slip stone & polished the ends. This has made a good balancer into an even better one, It is so sensitve now. Martin.

[SweetAccord]

Ive just got one of the orange anodised balancers like the one in OSE shop, & must say this is a very good balancer out of the box. Ive also since taken the grind marks from the pointed ends with a small flat slip stone & polished the ends. This has made a good balancer into an even better one, It is so sensitve now. Martin.

Told ya .........enjoy!

[martin]

What i have found with this balancer is that it has quite strong magnets & if you set the distance between the magnets slightly wider than the shaft. When you put the shaft on the balancer with the prop on the shaft attaches to the magnet at one end with a small gap the other. The magnets are strong enough to hold the shaft in mid air on the end not touching & keep it centre with no wobble what so ever, Because the shaft is only actually touching 1 magnet with the other end suspended off of the other magnet makes this balancer even more sensitive because the friction with contact with 2 magnets is halved. I dont know whether you can do this with other make balancers or not. Martin.

[Boaterguy]

OSE has them in stock! yay!
I'm getting one of these. Where is the article about a razor and oil?

[SweetAccord]

There is no article. This is my tip.

[kookie_guy]

Ive just got one of the orange anodised balancers like the one in OSE shop, & must say this is a very good balancer out of the box. Ive also since taken the grind marks from the pointed ends with a small flat slip stone & polished the ends. This has made a good balancer into an even better one, It is so sensitve now. Martin.

Make sure you balance the shaft first on its own. When you take out the grind marks yourself by hand you risk putting the tip slightly off center. Use some nail polish and make sure your shaft is balanced first.


What i have found with this balancer is that it has quite strong magnets & if you set the distance between the magnets slightly wider than the shaft. When you put the shaft on the balancer with the prop on the shaft attaches to the magnet at one end with a small gap the other. The magnets are strong enough to hold the shaft in mid air on the end not touching & keep it centre with no wobble what so ever, Because the shaft is only actually touching 1 magnet with the other end suspended off of the other magnet makes this balancer even more sensitive because the friction with contact with 2 magnets is halved. I dont know whether you can do this with other make balancers or not. Martin.

My top flite was like that as well when I used to use it. Then I made my own new one.....

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l307/kookie_guy/Assorted/DSC00927.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l307/kookie_guy/Assorted/DSC00926.jpg
yarHNOBpciQ

[martin]

I took the grind marks out & polished it in my lathe not by hand holding it. Martin.