Scales

[mws_1984]

Can anyone suggest a reasonably priced digital scale for weighing coins? I've been told that weighing some coins helps in determining whether they are just clad or do contain some silver.
Would a normal postage scale work at all? I'd almost prefer something that I could put to a dual use.

 

[ImpurestStewart]

I have a 8 dollar scale from wallyworld works just fine. If it weighs over 226 I get excited. 225 is iffy. This is for halves of course.

 

[ArkieBassMan]

Harbor Freight has a decent little scale for around $8 as well.

 

[kennedyfan]

I bought this digital scale from Amazon and I'm very pleased with it. Accurate (to 0.01 gram) and capacity up to 300g - enough to cover a roll of half dollars. Useful to have that capacity in case I suddenly find an extra loose half when I'm re-rolling and I wonder which roll has only 19 coins in it! :-)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004X8BOTG?tag=treasurenet01-20

I think somebody else here bought this one on my recommendation and is happy with theirs too.

 

[captainfwiffo]

Definitely spend the 10-15 bucks to get one with 0.01g accuracy - a postal scale won't do the job for numismatic purposes.

 

[mws_1984]

Harbor Freight has a decent little scale for around $8 as well.

Harbor freight would be good for me. One right in town and I have tons of 20% off coupons. Only could find this one. Looks pretty nice. Nothing on the site for $8 like you mentioned, but still cheap enough. Weighing down to 0.1g is good I imagine. Not good at all with measures, saw someone mention within a 10th of a gram is good.

http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-gram-digital-scale-97920.html

 

[Goldmanford]

I bought this digital scale from Amazon and I'm very pleased with it. Accurate (to 0.01 gram) and capacity up to 300g - enough to cover a roll of half dollars. Useful to have that capacity in case I suddenly find an extra loose half when I'm re-rolling and I wonder which roll has only 19 coins in it! :-)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004X8BOTG?tag=treasurenet01-20

I think somebody else here bought this one on my recommendation and is happy with theirs too.

I have this exact same scale but got mine from a company in Hong Kong off of eBay. I spent only a few bucks with free shipping a while back to get it and figured I would take my chances ordering from over seas. I got it within about a week which is not that much different than buying locally sometimes. I really like mine.

 

[Lawrence]

I bought this digital scale from Amazon and I'm very pleased with it. Accurate (to 0.01 gram) and capacity up to 300g - enough to cover a roll of half dollars. Useful to have that capacity in case I suddenly find an extra loose half when I'm re-rolling and I wonder which roll has only 19 coins in it! :-)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004X8BOTG?tag=treasurenet01-20

I think somebody else here bought this one on my recommendation and is happy with theirs too.

I like how the "also bought" sections of any scales on Amazon are full of plastic baggies, leaf grinders, herbs, and rolling papers. They must have more interesting hobbies than coin collecting.

 

[usandthem]

^ I noticed that too.

 

[Bigheed]

to funny!

 

[dossier]

Check ebay for scale that measure down to .01g. I picked one up for 12$ on ebay a few years back. Made/shipped from China is usually the cheapest option. But I've had it all these years and it's always been reliable. Except the batteries fall out inside of it'self if you're move it too hard lol

 

[mws_1984]

Check ebay for scale that measure down to .01g. I picked one up for 12$ on ebay a few years back. Made/shipped from China is usually the cheapest option. But I've had it all these years and it's always been reliable. Except the batteries fall out inside of it'self if you're move it too hard lol

How much of a difference would it really make if I got one that is 0.1 than one that is .01 I'm just thinking I can get a 0.1 right down the street at Harbor Freight and avoid ebay crap. But also don't want something that isn't going to be efficient enough.

 

[madwest]

Check ebay for scale that measure down to .01g. I picked one up for 12$ on ebay a few years back. Made/shipped from China is usually the cheapest option. But I've had it all these years and it's always been reliable. Except the batteries fall out inside of it'self if you're move it too hard lol

How much of a difference would it really make if I got one that is 0.1 than one that is .01 I'm just thinking I can get a 0.1 right down the street at Harbor Freight and avoid ebay crap. But also don't want something that isn't going to be efficient enough.

If you are weighing rolls of coin, 0.1g resolution is perfect for that.

If you are weighing individual coins, 0.1g resolution is probably good enough. Think about what you would be weighing and what those weights are. 0.1g is enough resolution to know the difference between a 12.5g 90% half and an 11.5g 40% half dollar. 0.1g is enough to know the difference between a 2.5g Zn cent and 3.11g Cu cent.

0.01g resolution is great and all, but weighing a circulated coin to 0.01g doesn't mean much if that coin has lost any amount of its nominal mass through normal wear.

I say, buy the HF scale (I have that same one as my only scale). If you decide it's not enough resolution, then shop for something else.

 

[mws_1984]

I'll likely just get that one, on a budget so to buy locally is better than dealing with shipping and I'll be dealing with circulated coins so finding the difference shouldn't be too bad.

Check ebay for scale that measure down to .01g. I picked one up for 12$ on ebay a few years back. Made/shipped from China is usually the cheapest option. But I've had it all these years and it's always been reliable. Except the batteries fall out inside of it'self if you're move it too hard lol

How much of a difference would it really make if I got one that is 0.1 than one that is .01 I'm just thinking I can get a 0.1 right down the street at Harbor Freight and avoid ebay crap. But also don't want something that isn't going to be efficient enough.

If you are weighing rolls of coin, 0.1g resolution is perfect for that.

If you are weighing individual coins, 0.1g resolution is probably good enough. Think about what you would be weighing and what those weights are. 0.1g is enough resolution to know the difference between a 12.5g 90% half and an 11.5g 40% half dollar. 0.1g is enough to know the difference between a 2.5g Zn cent and 3.11g Cu cent.

0.01g resolution is great and all, but weighing a circulated coin to 0.01g doesn't mean much if that coin has lost any amount of its nominal mass through normal wear.

I say, buy the HF scale (I have that same one as my only scale). If you decide it's not enough resolution, then shop for something else.

 

[captainfwiffo]

Yeah, you can probably get away with 0.1g resolution. 0.01 is only really important for anal-rententive types like me! (for the five bucks or so difference, it's worth it for the novelty factor for me, seeing the scale jump around if I accidentally breathe on it).

 

[quiksilver]

Get a coin scale from ebay or a coin show.They are pretty cheap and accurate.

 

[mts]

Harbor Freight has a decent little scale for around $8 as well.

Harbor freight would be good for me. One right in town and I have tons of 20% off coupons. Only could find this one. Looks pretty nice. Nothing on the site for $8 like you mentioned, but still cheap enough. Weighing down to 0.1g is good I imagine. Not good at all with measures, saw someone mention within a 10th of a gram is good.

http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-gram-digital-scale-97920.html

I bought this same scale at Harbor Freight and I love it. 0.1g is fine for individual coins. This scale will often go on sale for $11.99 or so. Take your 20% off coupon and pick up a free flashlight while you are at it. I love Harbor Freight for some things.

 

[mws_1984]

Harbor Freight has a decent little scale for around $8 as well.

Harbor freight would be good for me. One right in town and I have tons of 20% off coupons. Only could find this one. Looks pretty nice. Nothing on the site for $8 like you mentioned, but still cheap enough. Weighing down to 0.1g is good I imagine. Not good at all with measures, saw someone mention within a 10th of a gram is good.

http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-gram-digital-scale-97920.html

I bought this same scale at Harbor Freight and I love it. 0.1g is fine for individual coins. This scale will often go on sale for $11.99 or so. Take your 20% off coupon and pick up a free flashlight while you are at it. I love Harbor Freight for some things.

Yeah they are good on some stuff, except it isn't always going to last forever. But if its cheaper that way and does last then I'm happy. I've got tons of coupons for free stuff. One day I bought some cheap item and turned in a coupon for a Clamp/Spreader valued at like $10. I only spent like under $2 on the purchased item.