18 replies to this topic

[stellarbrew]

I'm looking to buy a new scale to weigh grains and hops. Ideally I would like one that can handle the weight of grains in the quantities you'd measure out for 5-gallon batches, yet still have the precision and accuracy needed to measure down to the tenth of an ounce for hop additions. Is it possible to get one scale suitable for both? Can anybody recommend a scale that they have found to be reliable and a good value?

[DuncanDad]

I bought one of the cheap eBay "American Weigh" ones. It works fine.Goes to 30#Down to 0.01 oz, (I think)I've had it a number of years and use it to ship stuff to my clients. I've seen some people post that they've had problems with them. I haven't.

[Lagerdemain]

I'm looking to buy a new scale to weigh grains and hops. Ideally I would like one that can handle the weight of grains in the quantities you'd measure out for 5-gallon batches, yet still have the precision and accuracy needed to measure down to the tenth of an ounce for hop additions. Is it possible to get one scale suitable for both? Can anybody recommend a scale that they have found to be reliable and a good value?

I use the same scale for grains and hops and it works great - accurate enough for my purposes, anyway. I bought it from Old Will Knott on eBay:https://stores.ebay....LDWILLKNOTT-comMy scale is most similar to the #35 pound postage scale.

[BikeBrewer]

I've also got an American Weigh and it's been fine for me. I do use a smaller scale that goes up to 7 lbs for hops.

[BFB]

I have a cheap one I bought at a large discount store. It weighs hops just fine and I weigh grains in 5# batches. Tws like $15 if I remember right.

[stellarbrew]

Thanks, guys. That's just what I was looking for. It hadn't occured to me to check eBay.

[trimpy]

Ive been using a 30$ scale from ebay for 3 years now with no problems. It maxes out at 15lbs and reads to the 1/10th of an oz. I shows units in grams, kg, lb, lb/oz, and oz. If you search for "postal scale" there is almost 10 pages of similar scales.Edit: found the exact model... great qualityhttps://tinyurl.com/ctfgru

[chuck_d]

Just make sure you've got the precision you want. Your digital scale might display two decimals after the ounces but that doesn't mean it can measure hundredths of an ounce. Most of the cheapo scale will actually only increment every 20th of an ounce (0.05) even though they display two digits past the decimal. I used to have a cheapo escali that is sold at like every homebrew shop, but it is one of those 1/20 incrementals. I decided to get the high precision escali for measuring hops, salts, coffee, whatever that was small, and a bigger one that I use for grains and kegs and the like.Escali Primo (you'll notice they say it has a resolution of .1 ounce, this is the one I have that actually does 20ths instead of tenths, but displays two digits past the decimal.https://pivo.norther...earchTerm=primoThe high precision Escali that I replaced the Primo with, I'd have to double check to be sure, but it displays 3 digits past the decimal and i think its resolution is actually 500ths of an ounce.https://www.amazon.c...duct/B000LPLI6YThis is the high capacity Escali that I picked up for weighing big heavy objects, definitely not suitable for hops, etc. But useful if you want to weigh large heavy items.https://www.amazon.c...duct/B000CH9OHQEdit: Note that with a 20th of an ounce resolution, it's easy to measure a quarter of an ounce (.25) but very difficult to measure an eighth of an ounce (since .125 lands smack in the middle of your increment between .10 and .15).

Edited by chuck_d, 01 April 2009 - 10:55 AM.

[stellarbrew]

Just make sure you've got the precision you want. Your digital scale might display two decimals after the ounces but that doesn't mean it can measure hundredths of an ounce. Most of the cheapo scale will actually only increment every 20th of an ounce (0.05) even though they display two digits past the decimal. I used to have a cheapo escali that is sold at like every homebrew shop, but it is one of those 1/20 incrementals. I decided to get the high precision escali for measuring hops, salts, coffee, whatever that was small, and a bigger one that I use for grains and kegs and the like.Escali Primo (you'll notice they say it has a resolution of .1 ounce, this is the one I have that actually does 20ths instead of tenths, but displays two digits past the decimal.https://pivo.norther...earchTerm=primoThe high precision Escali that I replaced the Primo with, I'd have to double check to be sure, but it displays 3 digits past the decimal and i think its resolution is actually 500ths of an ounce.https://www.amazon.c...duct/B000LPLI6YThis is the high capacity Escali that I picked up for weighing big heavy objects, definitely not suitable for hops, etc. But useful if you want to weigh large heavy items.https://www.amazon.c...duct/B000CH9OHQEdit: Note that with a 20th of an ounce resolution, it's easy to measure a quarter of an ounce (.25) but very difficult to measure an eighth of an ounce (since .125 lands smack in the middle of your increment between .10 and .15).

That's a good point you make, it's kind of misleading that it reads to two decimal places, yet has a precison only to 0.2 oz. I normally use hops in 0.5 ounce increments in my recipes, but I need to decide if I would ever want to use smaller increments befor I buy a scale like that. hmmmm...

[rockon]

I also have an American Weigh that goes to 30lbs. I like it a lot for grains, but not so much for hops even though I use it. I would ideally like something smaller and more accurate for hops.

[japh]

I'd be worried about the accuracy of something with too large of a range, personally. I'd get a grain one and a hop one, so you can have good accuracy on both ends.

[chuck_d]

That's a good point you make, it's kind of misleading that it reads to two decimal places, yet has a precison only to 0.2 oz. I normally use hops in 0.5 ounce increments in my recipes, but I need to decide if I would ever want to use smaller increments befor I buy a scale like that. hmmmm...

I think it's worth the cash up front, but I don't just use the scale for brewing, but any other tasks where I want to know weights (like making my coffee, measuring my meals for controlling my diet, etc). The cheapo scale from ebay linked above is going to be $33.33 total. For $21.62 more total you'd get a far superior scale and never be stuck with the decision to upgrade later on. The capacity on the L600 is 600 grams (1.3 pounds) so it's not really suitable for weighing your grains though. Through searching, you might even be able to find better deals than the Amazon I linked for Escali L600. That's just my opinion, I found the lower resolution scales to be limiting, so I gifted mine away and bought this one. The Escali Primo goes up to 11 pounds. Like japhmi mentioned though, scales with smaller ranges tend to be more accurate over their range than scales with wider ranges. Which is another reason I split the functionality of my scales into light & heavy tasks.

[ChefLamont]

I'd be worried about the accuracy of something with too large of a range, personally. I'd get a grain one and a hop one, so you can have good accuracy on both ends.

I have this. To get high accuracy AND high capacity you have to pay a HIGH price.I have a 130# capacity scale from the same Old Will knot guy (shipping scale with the separate little readout box so no getting on the floor to read the scale) and a small accurate digital benchtop model for hops and specialties.

[ncbeerbrewer]

I went to Walmart and bought a digital food scale. I can weight pounds or ounces with it too. It goes by a quarter of an ounce as it counts up. It works great for me, was like $20. By the time you pay shipping EBay isn't worth it to me. You can have a usable scale this afternoon if you wanted.

[CaptRon]

I got a food scale from Costco that weighs grams/oz's up to 5lbs I think. Not sure if I'd want to use it for grain measuring, but might not be too bad measuring out in increments.

[zymot]

I bought it from Old Will Knott on eBay:https://stores.ebay....LDWILLKNOTT-comMy scale is most similar to the #35 pound postage scale.

I have one of his scales I use for hops. I weigh my grains at teh LHBS, so a few ounces is all I need.https://oldwillknott.com/

[MetlGuy]

I have 2 scales - the Escali Primo for grains and Proscale MP3-Weigh for hops.

[HarvInSTL]

I use the same scale for grains and hops and it works great - accurate enough for my purposes, anyway. I bought it from Old Will Knott on eBay:https://stores.ebay....LDWILLKNOTT-comMy scale is most similar to the #35 pound postage scale.

Thanks a lot! Now I just spent $40 on two new scales. Where to hide them from the wife?

[BikeBrewer]

Thanks a lot! Now I just spent $40 on two new scales. Where to hide them from the wife?

Basement. It works for me.