Scales for weight and balance.

[rwaltman]

Looking for inexpensive scales with a 400 or 500 pound capacity for W&B.
The best (load+price) I found so far is this: (~$80)

http://www.zieis.com/400-lb-180kg-Capacity-ZIEIS-Heavy-Duty-Digital-Platform-Scale-Z400-14-x-16-Stainless-Platform-Programmable-Power-TEN-10-Year-ZIEIS-Warranty-Accurate-to-01-lb-005kg-FREE-SHIPPING-P2074.aspx

Planning to get one, (maybe two,) plus my regular bathroom scale for the tail.
Can anybody recommend something better/cheaper?

Thanks,

Roberto.

[szicree]

My bathroom scale is off by five pounds at my weight. I wouldn't trust one for weight and balance.

[rwaltman]

Good point - Could cross-check/calibrate with one of the 'biggies', or known weights, etc.

[jamesmil]

look in the area for someone who races, even someone who races gokarts. knowing the weight on all 4 wheels is vital and scales are a must have for a team. you might be able to use or rent them and they are dead on.

[rogerh12]

Sweet unit, I think I will get one. The accuracy is listed at 0.1 lbs to boot.

Note: When you use a cheap bathroom type scales, you can't just roll the tire on the scale, you need to spread the weight out with a board or something. Also, it's best to lower the tire onto the scale, to avoid asymmetrical loading of the scale which can damage the cheaper units.

Also, you can use just one scale if you place spacers under the other tires, the same height as the scale, take a reading, then move the scale to the next tire.

Hope this helps

Roger

[rwaltman]

look in the area for someone who races...
Not aware of anybody around here, but I'll ask. Thanks.

[rwaltman]

Roger - Caveats noted, thanks.
I know I can rotate a single scale around, as long as I keep the plane level. (Hence the "one or two" in my original post.)
But since most likely I'll be working alone, I expect it will be much easier to roll the KF on two scales than on one and a matching wood pile under the other wheel, then swap, etc.

Roberto.

[FoxDB]

Here is higher capacity but I don't know about quality.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/660-lb-x-0-1-lb-Digital-Shipping-Scale-Stainless-steel-platform-warehouse-w-AC-/230841224197?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35bf358c05#ht_1037wt_1037

[rwaltman]

FoxDb, Thanks for that - I always check eBay for electronics, and always forget to check eBay for anything else.

Back to that scale - I can bid for it starting at 39.99, + 14.00 shipping, or I can bid for it starting at 55.00 with free shipping, or I can buy it now for 49.99 + 14.00 shipping, or I can buy it now for 67.00 with free shipping, all from the same vendor.

Surely can find the same product from other vendors at other different but still almost identical price points. Maybe that's why I forget about eBay.

Still, could buy three for what I was willing to pay for two, and avoid fighting with my wife over the grease stains on the bathroom scale...

Roberto.

[rwaltman]

And for measuring static thrust:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Electronic-300-KG-660-LBS-Digital-Portable-Hanging-Luggage-Shipping-Scale-/200790951677?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec012c6fd

Roberto.

[rwaltman]

Bought this one - Same model pointed to by FoxDB, from another vendor selling only a few scales.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/660lb-x-0-1lb-330lb-x-0-01lb-Waterproof-Shipping-Scale-Capacity-Switchable-NEW-/140665438639?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c05041af
May have to make a small ramp to roll the plane on top (Other places list is as 3" high)
Will report after I get a chance to use it.

Roberto.

[Paul Z]

Try Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Shipping-Postal-Parcel-Platform/dp/B008XAC7I2/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346024510&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=660+lb+Waterproof+shipping+scale

[bdemunck]

Just a thought here, but some local EAA chapters maintain a tool crib. If your chapter is heavy into building airplanes, they may have scales for loaning out.