digital scale for composite work

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by Steve W, Mar 17, 2018.

  1. Steve W
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    Steve W Senior Member

    I'm looking for a new scale and would really like something with a remote readout but I'm coming up blank. At present I am using either an Ohaus CS 2000 or a postal scale with a remote readout but neither is ideal so I'm wondering what others are using. The problem with the CS2000 is that it is very difficult to read as the readout is tiny, its hard to even know if you are reading grams or ounces and you can not weigh fabric because it covers the readout. The postal scale ( I can't remember the brand) is better for fabric weighing because of the remote readout but it only reads in ounces, pounds and ounces and Kg and I'm not sure how accurate it is. What would be ideal would be a small platform scale with a remote readout and a reading in grams only but i have not found such a thing, maybe common outside the US. Some of the readability issues of the Ohaus stems from it having resin from fingers on its screen but even so the readout is tiny for old eyes. If i cant find anything more suitable i would buy the CS5000 but i really want something with a remote readout if possible but reading in gram like the CS. So, any suggestions?
     
  2. Tungsten
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    Tungsten Senior Member

    In the not to far off future,you'll just say,Hey Siri or Alexa, what does this weigh.Until then i cant help ya.
     
  3. jorgepease
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    jorgepease Senior Member

  4. Steve W
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    Steve W Senior Member

    Thanks Jorge, you're right, I should have included those things so lets say 20kg and under $1k, preferably less. Almost anything can be had with an unlimited budget. Currently I am weighing fabric on the platform scale in kg and resin on the other which does work but the readability of the CS2000 makes me want to get something else.
     
  5. Steve W
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    Steve W Senior Member

    I would be interested in what others are using and how it works for them.
     
  6. ondarvr
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    ondarvr Senior Member

  7. jorgepease
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    jorgepease Senior Member

    I've got the same problem as you, dim eyes, and even with a plastic shield I managed to dirty up the display. But these prices I am seeing are pretty steep, might be better to just put a bunch of low stick layers of tape over the display and peel them as it dirties.... Kind of like the motocross face shields, as mud builds up you scrap a layer.
     
  8. ondarvr
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    ondarvr Senior Member

    Clear packing tape over the screen works to keep it clean.
     
  9. alan craig
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    alan craig Senior Member

  10. Steve W
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    Steve W Senior Member

    Yeah, I need to use a jewelers loupe to see if i'm reading in grams or ounces so its time to replace. This scale has been used during wet lams in the past without protection so its pretty much toast and needs replacing. Something like that Kern scale is what i'm after but it shows 5g resolution which is too large, 1g would be ideal. It seems there are plenty for cheap if I wasn't after a larger platform and remote display for weighing rolled up fabric stacks and 1g resolution for resin. Mostly now we have clean hands with infusion so protecting the screen is less of an issue.
     
  11. alan craig
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    alan craig Senior Member

    Yes, I did wonder if the resolution would be an issue.
     
  12. fallguy
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    fallguy Senior Member

  13. Steve W
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    Steve W Senior Member

    That's an interesting solution, I had not even thought of a hanging scale, makes a lot of sense for weighing fabrics. The more I look around the more it appears that it is not easy to find one scale that will perform both tasks of weighing the glass and then weighing out the resin and hardener. A lot of the scales that weigh a higher amount don't go down to 1g increments. I have not yet figured out where the cutoff is. Another thing I would like would be measurements in grams, I don't need kgs when measuring out resin but most of the higher reading scales read in kgs. I did find a really good scale made for tinting paint so it read in the right mode but unfortunately was only a small platform for a 1 gallon can and the readout was not remote. It may be ideal for measuring out resin though. I'm kinda surprised that my composites suppliers don't have a selection specifically for our industry. They make scales specifically for weighing babies and birds and lots of other things.
     
  14. jorgepease
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    jorgepease Senior Member

    Might be worthwhile to get a cheaper platform scale for the glass and then invest in a 2 part metering/mixing system. It seems my most aggravating moments where the constant dispensing, drips, wiping up and making a general mess of things. That is what I am going to do on my next build and it will be worth every penny. lol!! You can always get a cheaper gram scale for the glass that doesn't have that resolution and a lower capacity gram scale for backup on the resin if you need to mix a different epoxy or something.
     

  15. fallguy
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    fallguy Senior Member

    I keep the basket/scale near my glass cutting area which is nowhere near epoxy. It hangs off a board cleated to the wall above head dinger height.

    I am going volume on epoxy, but had considered a separate platform scale before I decided to go vol.
     
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