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Thread: Need A Decent Lab Scale For A Decent Price

  1. #1

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    Need A Decent Lab Scale For A Decent Price

    Looks like I'll be going back to doing some DIY dry chemical mixing...and my two old E.K. mechanical balance-type scales are toast. So...I'm in the market for a decent scale (preferably accurate to at least within 0.1 gram), but don't want to break the bank. Can be digital/electronic or mechanical - so long as its accurate! Any suggestions? Thanks!

  2. #2
    Tin Can's Avatar
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    Re: Need A Decent Lab Scale For A Decent Price

    Lot's of very good digital scales for sale.

    Many are very affordable and probably made in the same Chinese factory as the high priced models
    .
    I used several analytical balances professionally for decades. I don't need those anymore.

    Shop by review on Amazon and use common sense.
    Tin Can

  3. #3

    Re: Need A Decent Lab Scale For A Decent Price

    I have a couple of Pelouze Postal Scales, and they work very well for my needs.
    Flikr Photos Here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/

    “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
    ― Mark Twain

  4. #4
    Jim Jones's Avatar
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    Re: Need A Decent Lab Scale For A Decent Price

    Ammunition reloaders may be more concerned with accuracy than photographers. Sites like https://ads.midwayusa.com/scales-pow...oading%20scale compare mechanical and electronic scales that list for as little as $40. Read the reviews before buying. I've used fairly precise measuring equipment for decades, and trust mechanical devices over bargain electronic equipment. While electronic measuring equipment can give readouts that seem precise, these readings can be erratic. This is also be true of mechanical devices that are not properly maintained and used. Inaccuracies in mechanical scales can sometimes be analyzed and corrected. The old scales I used for reloading were calibrated in grains, not grams.

  5. #5
    William Whitaker's Avatar
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    Re: Need A Decent Lab Scale For A Decent Price

    I have a couple of scales from these folks:
    https://www.oldwillknottscales.com/?...saAqjZEALw_wcB
    - The other "Old Will"

  6. #6

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    Re: Need A Decent Lab Scale For A Decent Price

    And take a stroll through your local pawnshop and ask them... They should have an Ohaus triple beam balance for $20 or so...

  7. #7
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
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    Re: Need A Decent Lab Scale For A Decent Price

    I was a firearms reloader for decades and know that powder measures that work by volume are great with regular symmetric powders (such as ball powder). For variable loose chemistry one must use weighted scales, and I have used those as well. For our photography purposes, weight is best. Considering how inexpensive (and variable) digital weighers are, I suggest one buy three and choose the median and throw the other two into the bin.

  8. #8

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    Re: Need A Decent Lab Scale For A Decent Price

    Quote Originally Posted by John Layton View Post
    (preferably accurate to at least within 0.1 gram), but don't want to break the bank. Can be digital/electronic or mechanical - so long as its accurate! Any suggestions?
    Precision with scales is about having a calibration set, M2 certified if possible, but this $11 at amazon is perfect:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    In this way you can trust both expensive or cheap scales.


    I have two scales, a 1gr Bosch kitchen food scale and a jewelry cheap scale. With the calibrated weights and those two scales I can weight all with precision.

    This is an amazon search for jewelry scales: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=jewelry+s...f=nb_sb_noss_1

    I would take one with 0.01gr or 0.001gr precision this allows precision with Phenidone or Ascorbic.

    For 1L of instant Mytol (you know, good Xtol with no shelf life) you need 0.15gr of Dimezone S, a 0.01gr scale would have an actual 10% to 20% error in the dose (if not a 30%), so you would need to make dillutions, etc, with the 0.001gr scale you can face any situation with convenience, in the mentioned situation you would have perhaps a 2% error only in the dose.

    I use the 0.001 scale for weights up to around 80grs, for weights exceding 50grs I have to weight several times with the automatic addition function.

    IMHO one has to use two or three scales depending on the doses one uses. Perhaps an ideal combination is one 600gr x 0.01gr like this one (https://www.amazon.com/Toprime-Digit...ateway&sr=8-23) plus a 50gr x 0.001gr like this one(https://www.amazon.com/WAOAW-Milligr...ateway&sr=8-17)


    If you want an scale that makes well an ample range... this is more expensive, say $200 to $1000 , search Digital Analytical Balance:

    https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Digital+A...ref=nb_sb_noss
    https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Digital+A...f=nb_sb_noss_2

    But let me reiterate that the most important thing is the calibration set, this is not about precision, this is about known for sure precision.

    I use the most those scales for DIY emulsions, and I found the 0.001gr one extremly convenient.

  9. #9

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    Re: Need A Decent Lab Scale For A Decent Price

    I have one of these, and it’s been very reliable and accurate: American Weigh Scale AWS Series Digital Kitchen Pocket Scale, Small, Black (AWS-100-CAL) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DPHXYFM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_SxdADb4HYY2VQ

    I think people get in trouble with these devices by mishandling them, IE: dropping them or banging them about. Treat them as delicate instruments and they should serve you well.

  10. #10

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    Re: Need A Decent Lab Scale For A Decent Price

    Quote Originally Posted by paulbarden View Post
    I think people get in trouble with these devices by mishandling them, IE: dropping them or banging them about. Treat them as delicate instruments and they should serve you well.
    There can be accidents, overloads, falls, battery level... and dirt, I had a problem because a grain of Bromide was just blocking the the 0.001gr scale platform... so calibration weights...

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