Recommend a Good Scale

[Matthew Alan Thyer]

My trusty, old, no-name scale bit the dust. The kink spring that holds the scale plate up has been sagging, and now I can't get it to register anything below a kg-and-a-half. So, I'm looking at the new fancy digital scales that one can find on Amazon and other places and thinking to myself "Sheesh! Option paralysis."

Any recommendations you guys might be willing to make will help me narrow my choices. I prefer to use metric.

[Kate Magill]

The Escali Primo is the only scale I have any experience with for weighing my gear. Great little all-purpose kitchen scale. Does grams and ounces. Maxes out at about 10 lbs I think, so not the most heavy duty. Only cost about $30 and I don't think I've ever had to change the batteries in it. Plus, cute colors!

[Randy Nelson]

This cheapy has worked great for me for 3 years now. I'm very happy with it. And the cost.

http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-scale-95364.html

There's a store in Westminster. You can swing by and get one today.

[Brian Johns]

I think it's Saga (at least that's what it says when it lights up in orange while turning one. anyway, it was around $11 on ebay (shipped from China). Search ebay for kitchen scales, I think you'll find a number of affordable options.

[Jerry Adams]

I got one of those cheap scales from Ebay shipped from China. $10 or something. Works fine.

I got another one previously and it broke, but maybe I abused it.

[Ben H.]

http://www.amazon.com/EatSmart-Precision-Digital-Kitchen-Silver/dp/B001N07KUE/ref=lp_289787_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374772829&sr=1-1

This is the one I got and love it. 11 lb capacity and 1 gram accuracy. $25 shipped to your door and 5 stars on 5400 reviews.

[Jerry Adams]

If you want to weigh down for each baffle, 0.01 ounce/0.1 gram resolution is good.

Otherwise, 0.1 ounce/1 gram is fine

[John Brown]

Has a little pullout display in case the thing you're weighing is bulky. 5 lb max though, kinda wish I had seen the eatsmart.

[Rex Sanders]

Always good to know if your particular scale is reasonably accurate. No need for calibrated weights.

http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/?action=coin_specifications

1 US 5 cent coin ("nickel") is 5 grams. Pretty easy to remember.

1 US 1 cent coin ("penny") is 2.5 grams.

Weights of other US coins are more fractional, but if yor scale is good to 0.1 grams, might be useful. I don't know how much coins might lose or gain from wear and tear and grime.

Pile up more coins to check higher weights. Add coins to existing loads to check sensitivity at much higher weights.

You can probably find coin weights for other countries if you need to.

— Rex

[Jerry Adams]

One penny weighs 2.5 g, another weighs 2.6, close enough : )

[Ben H.]

"1 US 1 cent coin ("penny") is 2.5 grams."

Just be careful. Prior to 1982 pennies had a much higher copper content and are heavier. Just make sure you only use post 1982 pennies. Pennies from 1982 can be either copper or copper plated.

[Dan @ Durston Gear]

Grab a cheap "digital pocket scale" from eBay for $6 or so. Paying more is silly. These things weigh to 0.1g precision and up to 2000g.

Do an eBay search for "digital pocket scale 2000g" and sort by price. Heck here's a link for the lazy:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Digital-Weigh-SCALE-Balance-Jewelry-Pocket-Black-Silver-2000g-x-0-1g-HD23L-/121101499625?pt=US_Pocket_Digital_Scales&hash=item1c32363ce9

To weigh bigger stuff, get creative. I set a mug on it, zero it and then balance the bulky item on the cup. Really large stuff can be done by holding the scale in your hand and using a clothing hanger.

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