One member said I should be able to pick up a scale for around $5.00 at Walmart. Seems either I was looking in the worrny section or they stopped carrying them. Officess Depote wanted $20.00 for there cheapest one. Any ideas where to go?
What do you use for weight for rolling stock? I have been using pennys, that is 1 cent per .10 of a oz. I guess I could use nuts, bolts, rocks or anything that will fit. Just wondering what you are using $ per oz.
Cuda Ken
You can find a scale in the kitchen utensils department. A simple food scale will work fine ($5-10). Or a postal scale in the stationary/office supplies department. Micro Mart sells a digital scale for about $30 if you want to go deluxe!
As for weights, just about anything will do. A-Line sells the stick-on weights. Some company sells sheet lead, (I can’t remember who). Nuts, washers etc. work too. Another option: go to your local tire store and ask them if you can have some of their used wheel weights, they’re lead and can easily be pounded into any desired shape if needed and they’ll usually give you as much as you can carry, free.
I got my scale at Cook’s Corner (a local cooking store). As for weight, I use the self-adhesive lead strips sold in hobby stores in the RC plane section. The lead is pre-scored in .25 ounce increments.
I use BBs for weight. Its cheaper than the stick on lead weights and you can put a few just about anywhere. I determine the weight for my cars a simple way. Put a little dixie cup on the scale and zero it out. Then put the car on and add BBs to the cup until you reach the desired weight. I glue them in with elmers glue, once you wait a couple days for the glue to dry they wont go anywhere.
I got one of the digital scales at Staples for about $25. It’s a 4 pound capacity postal scale. My source of weight is connected to my job, it’s lead sheets used in x-ray film cassettes that have been damaged and it has to be removed before you can throw out the old cassettes (hazardous material you know).
I bought a digital scale at the Post Offfice (<$30 if I remember) so I can also use it for postage. I use those metal knockouts from electrical boxes and then add squeeze sinkers or pellets.
I have scales I use in reloading ammunition that double for use in modelling, but you do not want to go there to try to save $s. For weight, I use #8 or #9 lead shot. Much smaller sizes than BBs and they are heavier. IF you know how to act you should be able to find a gun store that sells realoading supplies who could probably put you on to someone who would sell you a pound or two. You could get a lifetime supply, 25 pounds, for about $30 if you want to go to that extreme. If you get some step one is to put it in an old plastic milk jug or something similar, otherwise you are going to make a mess sometime.
[:D][}:)][:D]
This IS NOT the Health and Safety prefered method…
Kids; DON’T try this at home.
If you rip out old lead piping from the house you can melt it down…
Use a disgarded saucepan you’ve put by for the job not the wife’s newest set of non-stick (they get a bit upset for some reason). Keep an eye on it all the time. Don’t gas the neighbours sitting downwind of your extractor fan [:O]. (They also tend to get a bit upset).
Have a brick with a frog (indentation) in it that has NEVER, EVER been moist and definitely NOT WET… ever. (At the temperature of molten lead any drop of water will evaporate to steam explosively… when you get back from the Trauma Room you will have to explain the new kitchen decor to the wife and the lumps of brick and your windows that showered the neighbours to the local police… and these days probably Homeland Security, FBI, AT&F, CIA…)
Er… [%-)]… maybe just stick with one of the posts above…
Have a nice safe day [:P]
I got my digital scale at Walmart(under $20), but they also are available at Target for about the same price. Just look in the cooking/homewares section. As far as weight, I have quite an arsenal of weight material:
I normally use the ‘stick-on’ weights as they are so easy to use and they do not come loose in the car body later. I have used pennies, BB shot, and even melted old tire weights(be carefull as noted above). The problem with any of the ‘inexpensive’ methods is that the glue dries out and you have a loose weight shifting in the car body. I have had white glue, Walthers Goo, and plastic tube cement fail after time. The only glue that seems to hold forever has been 5 minute epoxy. Don’t even think about using ‘super glue’ as it has no shear strength and the weights will come loose! The Rite Way kits are expensive, but are just about the only way to get some cars weighted. The ultra fine solder really works nice, but be careful so you do not short between metal wheels! I used to use it when I had plastic wheels, but now all of my equipment has metal wheels and I do not have any cars with the wrapped solder on the axles at this time.
Jim
I’ve got a triple beam balance that I picked up at a school closing sale for $50. It is scaled for one gram so is fairly accurate to 0.1 gram.
For weights I buy self adhesive automobile tire weights in bulk. Last time it was like $107 for a case of about 20 lbs. I also have a few choice corners where cars regularly throw off their pressed on weights and harvest the ones that have fallen off. I’ve probably gathered over 30 lbs worth through the years. I then smelter them into what I need.
I use an antique postal balance scale with a 1# capacity. I got it really cheap at an antique sale. I prefer a balance scale over a spring type, as they never have issues with the spring wearing out. I may invest in a more modern digital scale one of these days, but it’ll be a while.
For weight, I prefer lead sheet, at least 1/16th thick. Easy to fit to odd shapes, and stays put with a little Wathers Goo. I have melted down tire weights and cast them to specific sizes - but DON’T use a saucepan! Too thin, and may melt through, unless it’s a cast iron one. I got a melting ladle from the hardware store, and use a propane torch to do the melting. (Insert usual warnings about the dangers of lead and lead fumes here.)
I think enough guys have commented on where to get your scale. I’d like to make a suggestion about weights. I’ve found that pennies are great and a lot, lot cheaper than those stick on lead weights. Four pennies equals 1/2 oz…8 pennies equals 1 oz. Obviously, some cars will only need a couple to get them up to proper weight.
To glue them in place, use Alene’s Tacky Glue, available at craft stores such as Michael’s and Joanne’s Fabrics. The Tacky Glue is just like Elmer’s but is much thicker and doesn’t run all over the place. It also dries faster. I put a spot of glue where I want the penny stack to go. I first place a penny on that spot and then add a spot of glue to the top of the first penny. After I’ve got the stack done (only about 3-4 pennies on each end of a boxcar, I then drizzle from one side to the other over the whole stack. Dries in about 12 hours. Pennies are also a nice way to avoid handling lead, which can be dangerous.
For hoppers, I use the lead shot in the well of the hoppers and cover the shot with a small amount of Tacky Glue to hold them in place. I then sprinkle Woodland Scenic’s coal over the shot and pour in some Elmer’s glue. The “empty” hoppers have some weight to enable them to track properly and nobody really notices the little bit of coal left in the bottom.
Hope this helps.
Mondo
Garage sale. 25 cents. Diet scale at one and postage scale at another. Both accurate.
Old wheel weights. Cut to weight needed.
Flip
I found some for $1.00 at the Dollar Stores or Buck or Two stores and they seem to measure correctly. For weights, I use fishing tackle 1/4 to 1oz pcs I’m using, some of the 1 oz. I have cut in half to make better fits, hope this helps.
Cary
Ken
Yard sale for a Weight Watcher scale. Then go to a tire shop and offer to by a few sticks of their stick on mag wheel weights. They may look at you funny and ask why but hey, I get sticks of weights for $0.50 each. Same ones you buy from Aline and at hobby shops. I’ll take the funny looks for that price
Thanks for all the answers folks. I knew after I got home I should have looked in the kitchen supplys at Walmart.
I will hit up local servies stations and NTB for used weights, but I will beat them in to shape and stay away from the lead fumes. I have killed a lot of brain cells as it is with out adding lead to the mix!
As far as glue, I have been using a bottle of Liquid Nails, get at a dollar store by my store. Something like super glue but seems to hold better and dries fast. Only problem is it will gule it lid on and can be a pain. If i haad some finguer nail polish remover I am sure it could be keepet clean. Hum, wife is a sleep, will see if I can find some tonight![}:)]
Cuda Ken, wanting to added weight? Seems all my life I have been trying to remove it from either my self or 1:1 cars being a Drag Racer.
[:O]Just ask them nicely. I’m sure that will work plus you won’t get arrested. [8D]
If you weigh your car, figure out how much weight to add, then glue the weight(s) in, won’t the glue add to the weight of the car?
It will, but not enough to be significant. Water based glues have most of their weight in the water which evaporates as the glue dries.
Enjoy
Paul