Digital Scale

[lostfido]

I've been at PGI all week and wandered through the mfg area looking at presses and scales.

 

I have a 20.00 cheapy scale like Skylighter sells and I need to step up to the plate and buy something better.

Any suggestions? I think I'm willing to spend a hundo or two to get something decent.

I would prefer a digital, but would consider a balance scale. I searched the archives and opinions varied, anything new out there?

 

Fido

[TheEskimo]

Americanpyrosupply.com has some nice looking scales...I'm placing an order tomorrow.

[Swede]

My better scale is made by VMC. They are all over eBay and can be ordered directly as well. They are a good, middle-ground scale in terms of cost and quality. A 500 gram X 0.01 resolution will be less than $200. Here's a 300 gram capacity, looks just like mine:

 

VMC Scale

 

Get one that has the size you need. If you work large, maybe 3 kilos X 1 gram, or if you work small, 500 to 1000 grams by 0.01 or 0.05 grams.

[Ralph]

any one here have some molar scales

i have considered ordering some before but they are expensive what are your thaughts

[TheSidewinder]

Cully,

 

What weight range are you looking to get?

 

I bought an AND (1 kilo), and two Ohaus (200g and 30Kg) scales along the way. Very satisfied with both brands.

 

None of them were cheap, but they were worth the money.

[flying fish]

A year or two ago my mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday, and I said a nice scale instead of this cheap pocket scale. Of course, what I ended up with was another pocket scale... A much nicer one, but still a pocket scale! Has a 200 gram limit, which is kind of inconvenient for 200g batches...because with the weighing container it goes over. Also, the weighing platform is too close to the elevated LCD screen to accomodate large weighing containers. Other than that I can't complain...everytime I put the calibration weight back on it reads correctly (which can't be said about some of the really cheap ones that I've worked with). I think it was a $60 scale from "AWS"...to lazy to find the model number right now.

 

When this one breaks down I'll definetely have to buy a scale like the one Swede pointed out. But for now I'd much rather spend the money on "not being poor."

[lostfido]

Cully,

 

What weight range are you looking to get?

 

I bought an AND (1 kilo), and two Ohaus (200g and 30Kg) scales along the way. Very satisfied with both brands.

 

None of them were cheap, but they were worth the money.

 

 

Sidewinder,

 

I am thinking a scale that will do 1000 g with decent accuracy, and possibly adding a finer scale as I start making things that require more attention to detail.

 

I'm probably going to use it for BP and rocket fuels for now and possibly some star comps.

I will check out both of the scales you mentioned.

 

Luckily I already know there are 12 ounces of beer in a standard can and 16 ounces in the cups in the garage next to the beermeister so I don't need the scale today or tomorrow and I can spend some time researching.

[TheSidewinder]

You have a PM (or will very shortly), Cully. Should save you some cash.

[laser200]

Target sales a nice kitchen scale...

[dgm]

You can get digital scales that are accurate to the milligram for a very reasonable price, advertised as "jewelry scales".

[Swede]

I bought one of those $25 milligram scales, with a 10 gram capacity, and it is pretty nice, actually. Like any milligram scale, it is very sensitive to air drafts and vibration, and if there is much of either, it never really settles down. But in a decent environment, even the cheapies do OK.

 

A milligram scale has to be treated with great care, or the shock will definitely wreck them. Also, milligram is overkill as far as resolution unless you enjoy experimenting with 1 to 2 grams of comps at a time, or are into chemistry in general.

 

This particular scale impressed me so much I bought a spare. Far better than your average pocket scale, and I think I've gone through about 8 of them.

Edited September 14, 2009 by Swede