digital scale recomendation

[pitoniakmike]

greetings,

can someone suggest an affordable accurate digital scale, and supplier. i am doing DLG wing layups...

many thanks,

mike

[David Forbes]

I get mine here http://www.bowworks.com/pages/catalog/miscprod.php#Anchor-digi
Dave

[Guz]

Harbor Freight - Cen-Tec Digital Pocket Scale (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93543)

It is a bit small, but I am able to weigh completed DLG's on it. I just use a tall cup on the scale, hit tare/zero, then balance the DLG upside down on the cup (so I can read the display).

It's accurate. Helps to calibrate it occasionally (especially after changing the battery). Fortunately I have 500g calibration weight on hand.

Cheap too. I got mine on sale for $10.00.

[tom43004]

I have the harbor freight scale. It's useless for mixing epoxy or anything else that requires accuracy at small weights. From about 30g up it's not bad but under 30g it's only accurate +- 1.5g.

I use a 3 beam for all epoxy mixing after botching several batches with the Harbor Freight scale. I saved $15 by buying this scale, and immediately wasted $50 in kevlar by having a soft cure. Thank God I wasn't doing wings at the time.

Tom Siler
Columbus, OH

[will_newton]

i use the ibal 201 for epoxy mixing (200g limit), a pelouze (5 lb. limit) for weighing planes and parts and small shipping needs, and a 50 lb limit mechanical postal scale for shipping and large planes/parts.

good source http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/ I have bought from them before and they are running a one day sale today on a 300g digital for $12 !!!!!

[glider90]

+1 on the ibal 201 and oldwillknott. 200 grams by .01 resolution for under 100 dollars.

[Guz]

I have the harbor freight scale. It's useless for mixing epoxy or anything else that requires accuracy at small weights. From about 30g up it's not bad but under 30g it's only accurate +- 1.5g.


Dang QC. I've tested mine and it's good, even with small weights. It's nice to have a full set of commerce calibration weights to play with.

I guess mine wasn't made on a Monday or Friday :D

[wyowindworks]

Dang QC. I've tested mine and it's good, even with small weights. It's nice to have a full set of commerce calibration weights to play with.

I guess mine wasn't made on a Monday or Friday :D

I've found that cheaper scales "stick" with small additions when weighing epoxy. They will not respond then jump a tenth (or two) of a gram.

I like to use ammunition scales. They go to the hundredth of a gram and are designed to be very responsive when making small additions.

Adam

[Troy]

I noticed the same on my Harbor Freight "special" scale. I checked it with calibrated 200g & 500g weights (A-OK) and then noticed my tare weight for the Dixie cup was off after I picked up my epoxy mix. Will have to watch for that....

[2lairrol]

First one, for the epoxy / glues, you need a scale of at least
Capacity 200g Division 0.1g.
We call it pocket scale.
You will need 0.1g division to mixture resins.

Secondly, a scale can measure the whole plane.
Therefore, 4000g/1g division will make it.


Please understand any scale over 1/10,000 will cost twice or more if you stay under 1/10,000 divison.

For instance, 4,000g/1g division will make it 1/4,000 accuracy.

Matthew

[wyowindworks]

For resins, I like a scale that goes to .01 grams.....especially for small batches.

Adam

[Troy]

Yep, the smaller the batch the higher tolerance you need. I have problem solved many issues with thermosets with folks only to find they are trying to do 10g batches or less. If you don't have an accurate scale then small batches are hopeless. That's why I was disturbed on my Harbor Freight tare weight shift.

[Fly2High]

I have a JScale and it has been great.

I personally have a small 6" x 4" footprint scale and it is good up to 500 gr +/-.01gr. if I remember correctly. Love it. The only thing I would do differently is get one large enough for a small paper plate to rest on it AND have the readout be visible. I should have gone for a 12" x 9" or so sized scale especially since I mostly use it at home. I have taken it on trips but find I rarely need it.

I like the fact that it can be calibrated at home with a simple keystroke. I did purchase the weights it needed for calibration. Always good to verify and adjust it if nec. For the most part, it has never been off but I have used the weights and found other scales to be off.

Frank