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digital scale question

updated sun 23 jan 05

 

Maurice Weitman on fri 21 jan 05


Hello, Leslie,

For test-sized (and maybe even 3-gallon) batches, I think you will
want a 0.1g resolution scale.

I think a 6.6 pound scale is too small for large batches and one with
1.0 gram resolution is too insensitive for the smaller batches.

It seems like the proverbial compromise where neither party (or use)
is satisfied.

Perhaps I'm unimaginative and inexperienced, but I've been using a
2,600g., 0.1g. resolution scale for small batches or precious oxides,
and a 30# (I wish I'd gotten a 50#), 0.1 - 0.2 oz. resolution scale
for larger quantities.

I wish you luck in figuring this all out for yourself. It took me a
while, but I'm very happy.

Regards,
Maurice "Free advice worth every penny (sm)" Weitman
(apologies to Bruce "he does this better than I" Girrell)


At 6:19 PM -0500 on 1/21/05, leslie wrote:
>I'm new to mixing glazes, and I was given a myweigh 3001P digital scale
>(www.myweigh.com).It has 6 lb:10oz. capacity, and is accurate to +/- 0.1
>oz. or 1.0 g. I want to use it for test batches and for mixing 3 or 5
>gallon buckets of glaze. Is this scale adequate? I've searched the
>archives, and either there are conflicting opinions, or I'm not
>understanding them.

leslie on fri 21 jan 05


I'm new to mixing glazes, and I was given a myweigh 3001P digital scale
(www.myweigh.com).It has 6 lb:10oz. capacity, and is accurate to +/- 0.1
oz. or 1.0 g. I want to use it for test batches and for mixing 3 or 5
gallon buckets of glaze. Is this scale adequate? I've searched the
archives, and either there are conflicting opinions, or I'm not
understanding them.

In appreciation of any advice, Leslie

Michael Wendt on sat 22 jan 05


Leslie,
We use Ohaus D50 and D100 scales here. They are trade legal digitals. The
weights and measures representative from the state recommended that we make
our own set of weights to verify the calibration on the scales at regular
intervals. Get an object like a steel bar and saw it into uniform size
lengths or plastic bottles filled with sand. If you have a gram scale, each
block can be made to weigh the same as the others by drilling out a little
weight at a time ( or adding sand to the jars) until they are all the same.
Then in use, piles of the weights can be placed on the scale to obtain an
accurate reading for higher values even if the scale is out of calibration
so that it gives nonlinear readings of weight. The fact that the readout
says 4.8 lbs when it means 5 lbs is important in glaze formulation.
If I were doing it, I would buy a good quality glaze scale and use it this
way to calibrate a cheaper gross value scale like an ordinary bathroom scale
with the exact weights of the ingredients I need for a particular glaze. Do
it once and it will repeat every time.
Regards,
Michael Wendt
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Ave
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
USA
wendtpot@lewiston.com
www.wendtpottery.com