Author Topic: Digital scale accuracy? (Read 2426 times)

Hdale85 · « **on:** November 21, 2011, 08:45:36 PM »

I bought a digital scale from Walmart, I think it's brand is OXO or something of the sorts. The problem is I can't seem to measure out 1 gram on it, I was curious if this is a common issue? Or did I just get a crappy scale?

scott123 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2011, 04:07:10 AM »

The packaging should specify the increments. If it's gram increments, you should be able to measure one gram. Is what you're measuring light enough to easily measure out a gram? I can't measure out a gram of liquid- it's usually +/- 1 g. Slowly sprinkling flour should give you a single gram.

Hdale85 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2011, 04:44:06 AM »

Yeah it's light enough. I can't seem to get down to a gram accuracy, I keep adding a bit of flour at a time and eventually it jumps up to 2 or 3 grams it seems. Same with like ounces, I can't weight out a single ounce. Just doesn't seem to be that sensitive. It does Ounces, pounds, grams.

The Dough Doctor · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2011, 10:18:42 AM »

What is the stated range and accuracy of your scale? Exactly how does it read on the box?
Tom Lehmann/The Dough Doctor

Hdale85 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2011, 11:43:45 AM »

On the box it says "Scale accurately measures weight up to 11lbs" and "measures and displays grams, lbs, ounces" does english and metric. It's an Oneida scale.

The Dough Doctor · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2011, 12:12:25 PM »

Normally it will also give an accuracy range, such as 11-pounds X -ounces, so I looked it up on the internet and found your Model #7918 listed as a Walmart item, and absolutely no specifics are given. If you read the reviews you will see that one review isn't very complimentary, citing lack of accuracy as an issue. It states that this scale will not weigh less than 0.6-ounce/17-grams (sound familiar?) With this range of accuracy I wouldn't post it on the box either. For all practical purposes, this scale has a maximum capacity of 11-pounds X 0.5-ounce/16.5-grams. Meaning that it will weigh in ounces to the nearest half ounce to a maximum of 11-pounds, or in metric to a maximum of 5-kilograms in 16.5-gram increments. This is NOT a very good scale for the advertised application. I hope you saved your receipt.
Tom Lehmann/The Dough Doctor

Hdale85 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2011, 12:35:44 PM »

Yeah I have it around here somewhere, I have been planning on returning it. I wonder if any of the other scales at walmart are any good, going to have to look online this time before I purchase I guess. Maybe K-Mart or something has something better. Thanks.

c0mpl3x · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2011, 01:24:02 PM »

11lb x.6oz

also, amazon.com

Hdale85 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2011, 04:10:39 PM »

Ok it's returned, what do you guys think is the best scale online I can get for like 20-30 bucks? Be nice if it was accurate enough to weight yeast, but that's asking a lot maybe.

Jet_deck · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2011, 04:34:51 PM »

I purchased a scale that has a resolution down to .01 at a local "herb" shop. I get it home and the entire instructions are in Spanish. It is wanting me to use some type of Spanish coin (that I don't have) for calibration. So, in case you ever need to know....http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/index.cfm?action=coin_specifications

Hdale85 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2011, 05:08:36 PM »

Jet, that's interesting.

How about one of these?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001N07KUE?gclid=CLrX57qey6wCFdAEQAodYHdpqQ
http://www.amazon.com/Threatened-competitor-Scale-Capacity-Stainless/dp/B004G7IRN0/ref=sr_1_20?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1321999473&sr=1-20
http://www.amazon.com/Micca-Precision-Digital-Tempered-Capacity/dp/B003EI91TQ/ref=sr_1_23?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1321999473&sr=1-23

Should anything in the .05oz/1gram range with a 10 or so lb capacity be good?

scaleguy · « **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2011, 05:18:03 PM »

Well, our scales would certainly provide the accuracy you are looking for, and would last a lifetime. But I can't meet that budget.

If you can afford a little out of that range, take a look at this professional portion control scale.

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/taylor-te10c-10lb-compact-digital-scale/608TE10C.html

- Mark A.
Doran Scales, Inc.

Mmmph · « **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2011, 05:24:17 PM »

Chack out this post:

http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,15321.msg151128.html#msg151128

A couple of lines down, you'll see member Jackie Tran uses the same sales as me.

I dig'em.

Hdale85 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2011, 05:27:40 PM »

That OXO looks really nice, as does the one scaleguy posted. I only have 40 bucks at the moment though and was hoping to make pizza again this week! lol. Hmm......

scott123 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 22, 2011, 05:33:24 PM »

Some of this repeats what others have said here and have linked to, but, because I've already typed it, I'm going to go ahead and post it.

This is the highest rated Kitchen Scale on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/EatSmart-Precision-Digital-Kitchen-Silver/dp/B001N07KUE/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1322000497&sr=1-1

and this is the highest rated kitchen scale with the pull out display:

http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-Stainless-Pull-Out-Display/dp/B000WJMTNA/ref=sr_1_11?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1322000688&sr=1-11

The pull out display is, imo, critical, unless you're getting a much higher profile scale and those are, imo, kind of clunky and hard to store.

Oxo has a 5 lb. version of the pull out that's fairly high rated. I make do with a 5 lb. version myself, sometimes splitting recipes in half, and I survive, but the next scale I get will be 11 lb.

http://www.amazon.com/Grips-5-Pound-Black-Pull-Out-Display/dp/B0020L6T7K/ref=sr_1_37?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1322000815&sr=1-37

This is what you want to use for yeast:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B002SC3LLS/ref=dp_image_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=1055398&s=home-garden

Hdale85 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 22, 2011, 06:34:16 PM »

Yeah definitely have to pick up that fine measurement unit. Probably just wait until after I get paid and get the OXO unit I guess.

Jet_deck · « **Reply #16 on:** November 22, 2011, 07:35:42 PM »

Mikey (Essen1) and PizzaEater101 I believe, both bought this one. 10 year warranty and priced right. http://www.amazon.com/American-Weigh-Signature-AWS-100-Digital/dp/B0012LOQUQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316472792&sr=8-1

Story is here: http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,14928.msg153736.html#msg153736

Hdale85 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 22, 2011, 08:34:06 PM »

Nearly the same scale it seems? Just the other one will do a bit more weight.

The Dough Doctor · « **Reply #18 on:** November 23, 2011, 12:27:45 PM »

Mark;
So, what is the scaling accuracy of the Taylor 10-C scale that you list for just under $50.00? I sure wish manufacturers and merchants would show the specs on their scales. How is one supposed to know if the scale is appropriate for what they want to use if for without that vital information???
I think for what most home bakers do, a scale that has a capacity of 5-pounds/2.27 Kg. and will weigh to the nearest 1-gram in the metric mode would work well. This Will allow the user to scale the half gram increment by watching the display screen, and when it flashes between two numbers, such as between 7 and 8, this would indicate "approximately" 7.5 grams, close enough for our work.
Tom Lehmann/The Dough Doctor

scott123 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 23, 2011, 12:35:06 PM »

Tom, on the page that Mark posted there's a link towards the bottom of the page marked 'Spec Sheet'.

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/specsheets/608TE10C.pdf

According to that, the scale has the following accuracy:

Quote

TE10C – 10 lbs x 0.1 oz / 5kgs x 1g