Digital scales

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I bought mine off eBay - cheap as chips Chinese, but work perfectly. They are branded "RoyalTec" (probably totally meaningless, possibly even extinct by now!) and weigh up to 200g with a purported 0.01g accuracy.
Perhaps surprisingly, they are very accurate, certainly more so than I'll ever need. Oh, and don't go buying calibration weights. Use coins:
5p = 3.25g, 10p = 6.50g 2p = 7.12g, £1 = 9.50g, £2 = 12.00g (I think I'm up to date on the £1 coin)
That's great info! Unfortunately for me I needed the calibration weight to show to Trading Standards for my business scales. They might not like them, but at least I am showing willing.
 
The common eBay, Chinese, postage stamp size scales for £10-14 that claim to weigh 0.01g are really cr&p. Not just the outrageous accuracy claims, but many will disintegrate when they've been in contact with water treatment salts (the stainless steel ones go rusty!). I've got through a few of these.

0.01g is about the weight of a piece of paper the size of a printed full stop (as it was described to me). Analytical scales will weigh to four decimal places! Analytical scales are in a big box to protest them from slight draughts. Obviously you don't want four decimal places, and probably not two either. But I did stumble into the need to weigh (reliably) to 0.01g, and it was brewing related! I got these Digital Scales. Sold out but that (dodgy?) site has plenty of alternatives and some good "buying" information.

My use (apart from weighing hops and water salts) is:
20200505_184658_WEB.jpg

Pyknometers! Well I have issues with hydrometers and refractometers (visual issues). It was getting this sorted that convinced me the "postage stamp" sized Chinese/eBay ones are cr&p.
 
The common eBay, Chinese, postage stamp size scales for £10-14 that claim to weigh 0.01g are really cr&p. Not just the outrageous accuracy claims, but many will disintegrate when they've been in contact with water treatment salts (the stainless steel ones go rusty!). I've got through a few of these.

0.01g is about the weight of a piece of paper the size of a printed full stop (as it was described to me). Analytical scales will weigh to four decimal places! Analytical scales are in a big box to protest them from slight draughts. Obviously you don't want four decimal places, and probably not two either. But I did stumble into the need to weigh (reliably) to 0.01g, and it was brewing related! I got these Digital Scales. Sold out but that (dodgy?) site has plenty of alternatives and some good "buying" information.

My use (apart from weighing hops and water salts) is:
View attachment 27729
Pyknometers! Well I have issues with hydrometers and refractometers (visual issues). It was getting this sorted that convinced me the "postage stamp" sized Chinese/eBay ones are cr&p.
Thanks, yes it seems a bit of a lottery but I have now settled on and ordered some, also bought a set of measuring spoons as suggested by @strange-steve along with a GH & KH test kit and a pH meter, buying was the easy part, all I need now is a basic understanding of water treatment, but bafter many hours of reading and watching videos it is starting to make some sense :)
 
I bought one of the generic 200g scales similar to this
1592304147825.png

Can't recall the exact make.

While they seem accurate enough all the contacts inside are beginning to rust. The case screws, the battery contacts, and I suspect the switch contacts are too as I can no longer switch o/off with the button and the "tare" function takes a great deal of pressing before it finally registers. I usually take one of the batteries out and back in and quickly place on a measuring pot so as to do my own "tare" function.

These cheap scales need to be put away absolutely dry and stored in a dry environment, i.e. not in my garage.
 

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