Hello I found this kitchen scale in a box from my dad will work for weighing rolling stock and locos? Or should I get a better one.
I check it and it weighs 1oz and up ok but nothing lighter. Thanks Frank
Assuming it’s reasonably accurate at each point up to 8 oz, it will work. The range for freight cars will be a little small since an HO forty foot boxcar will be 4 oz if you’re using NMRA guidelines. Can you add a small bowl/tray on the top and re zero it?
I use a scale that goes to 5 lbs instead of 10 which doubles the range for rolling stock. Mine also has a small bowl which helps keep everything from rolling off. Also, I can re-zero it if I change tops.
Enjoy
Paul
You could test it with food packages such as spices in plastic pouches or muffin mix in a paper bag or something similar. In other words, something with packaging that weighs very little but has a given weight for the contents.
It will likely prove to be reasonably close to the actual weight, which is fine for determining recommended weights for your rolling stock since the weight only has to be close, not exact.
I have a really old scientific balance scale which is way more accurate than I need but it works well, and it looks neat too!
Dave
Gidday, my far better half allows me to use her kitchen scales which have a similar range to yours, as has already been pointed out as long as they are reasonably accurate, they should be good enough for HO. Must admit I do admire Daves scales though.
Cheers, the Bear.
Depends on the scale that you are modeling.
In HO it is something like an ounce and a half and a half ounce for every real inch after that… Can’t recall.
I set all of my 40 footers at four and a half ounce and my 36 footers at four. I really don’t need to mess with much else. If you are a 80 foot high cuber you might need one that goes to about forty pounds…
see ya
Bob
Get the digital scale from micro mark. It measures down to the 100th of an ounce and costs about $30.00. Also does grams. I set all my rolling stock with it. Doug
The Micro-Mark scale is nice, but you can get the same thing for around $18 at places like Walmart. The only ‘extra’ you get from Micro-Mark is a self stick NMRA table - the table is free from the NMRA site.
Years ago I had a small ‘Weight Watchers’ spring scale that was even cheaper that what was shown in the original post. I weighed several freight cars on a good postage scale at my local Post Office and then calibrated the spring scale to match - I used it for years. I have had the digital scale for at least 10 years, and it is sitting right next to me as I type this post. Mine is a Royal ‘eX2’ exactascale…
Jim
JaBear:
That old scale came out of my dad’s laboratory at his work. He was a research scientist (not a mad scientist!). His company shut the lab down in the late 70’s and we were allowed to pick out anything that we wanted before all the equipment was sold off or scrapped. I couldn’t let the scale go for scrap even though I didn’t have a use for it at the time.
My dad was involved in some interesting research, including figuring out how to mold plastic bottles with the clear site line down the side, corrugated fiberglass panels, and some of the first attempts at micro circuitry. They had a kiln in the lab fired literally by a jet engine! It was a really neat place to visit when they held open houses for the employees’ families.
Dave
Gidday Dave ,thanks for the run down, the local pharmacist still uses a set of a similar vintage to your Dads.
Cheers,the Bear.
My scale is an old postage scale so it measures ounces reliably. It’s calibrated for 37 cts per oz.
EDIT: Not 37 cts per oz BUT for a stamp vs 49 cts. today
Bob
JaBear
Thanks for allowing me to reminisce.
Dave
check out the magnum 500 digital jewelers scale on amazon. I’ve had mine for a year now. It works awesome.
Philip
i have a old post scale too,its works good will do all the way to 1/2 oz.
Hello well I was working with this scale and some rollingstock (tank cars) . And come to find out this scale is no good. I think the spring has sprung. I put a car on check the wait and add the needed amount put it back on the scale. And its still to light . I did this a few times so I am sure the scale is no good. So I will check out wallmart later and look for a new one. Thanks for all the Help Frank
Is it “zeroed” when it’s empty, or can you take it apart and fix it (if it’s broke)?
I personally use a digital scale from Harbor Frieght. IIRC it was around 15-20 bucks