Topic: Waxing the Rain Gauge Funnel?.

[KF5APO]

I read a post on another forum that for improved accuracy you can wax the funnel of your rain gauge.
Is this a practice commonly used by NWS Observers or is it just a rumor?.
anyone care to explain I'm open to suggestions and all theories.
Thanks

[chief-david]

Some have put RainX on their weather station funnels.

[KF5APO]

I've heard of that too and wondered about the need for doing such after washing/ Cleaning the Gauge.
Though I can't really say that cleaning the gauge has effected it's readings much.
I'm thinking of doing an experiment with an un waxed or un Rain x'd   and comparing the readings between the two
this could be interesting to see differences between the two.

[Weather Display]

it could help where there is warm conditions while it is raining...and relatively low humidity at the same time......i.e the black funnel surface of the davis rain gauge would be relatively warm, and the drops sticking to the side before running to the center might evaporate a bit...rainx would make the drops run off quicker

[tweatherman]

Don't use rain-x on plastic as it has alcohol in it and breaks down the plastic. I myself as a NWS coop observer use a high grade plastic polish.

Tim

[DaculaWeather]

I am not going to worry about a few drops in the grand scheme of things. And think about this... how much rain "bounces" off or out of the funnel?

[SlowModem]

I myself as a NWS coop observer use a high grade plastic polish.

LOL  I had to think about that one for a minute.  I was wondering why the NWS cared about chickens!  

[DaculaWeather]

  That's good!

We have a few COOP guys up here, Al from Washington GA is a COOP observer.

[SlowModem]

That's good!

We have a few COOP guys up here, Al from Washington GA is a COOP observer.

I guess that's where my head is at since I got a coop and 4 chicks a couple of weeks ago.   

[KF5APO]

It's raining today here in Northeast Mississippi and my Stratus 4" cocorahs  gauge is out collecting rainfall data though I've found
the 7:00 am morning ritual to be quite a challenge at times. as sometimes I like to sleep a little late on the weekends.
but, I think it will easier as I get used to it. though Rain X is a good Idea I might have to try that the next time I clean the Gauge.
Thanks guys for your input!. also I'm gonna leave this post up for those new to both analog and digital Rain Gauges.
and those new to the Weather Warrior World.

[KF5APO]

Update from earlier this morning...
My Cocorahs 4" gauge has recorded a total rainfall Received since 6:00am local this morning
of 1.32" in  measured and logged into my station records at 9:30pm local while my OS WM-918's rain collector reads
1.31" in total which there is still some fine tuning needed for it to be accurate though the wind and Temp/hum sensors
Partially work then it goes to the --.-  or displays the O.R. Out of Range icon.
and this data was recorded using an Un waxed un rain x'ed  funnel on both for Comparison/ Calibration.