Digital Scale Accuracy

[mcleod13]

I have made three batches of soap thus far and the scale I have works o.k. because they have been relatively small batches. However, it is a small scale and I would like something bigger. The scale I have now measures to the .1 gram. I am having trouble finding a bigger scale that is as accurate. Does it need to be that accurate?

 

[dieSpinne]

You can make perfectly good soap as long as you round UP on the oils and other saponifiables and round DOWN on the lye.

That said, accuracy makes for better consistency if you are going to be selling. Also, you can make more consistent smaller batches for testing.

 

[mcleod13]

You can make perfectly good soap as long as you round UP on the oils and other saponifiables and round DOWN on the lye.

That said, accuracy makes for better consistency if you are going to be selling. Also, you can make more consistent smaller batches for testing.

THANKS!! How accurate is very accurate?

 

[dieSpinne]

usually measures to the 1/10 of a gram is considered pretty accurate. I have seen postal scales and dietary scales that are this accurate... most of them run about $45 - $60 in my area... online you may be able to find one cheaper.

 

[Dennis]

I use an Escali model P115WR because it's red. I like it, pretty accurate and inexpensive. About $25 on Ebay or just about anywhere else. It only measures to a full gram but when using ounces it measures to .1. Lots of scales out there. This one has been in use for about a year, found it at WalMart.
Yours weighs to .1 grams? I would keep using that one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Escali-Primo-Di ... _500wt_922

 

[mcleod13]

I am having a heck of a time finding a bigger one that measures that precise. The one I have now is a pocket scale. All of the bigger ones I have seen only go as precise as 1g or .01oz.

And the search continues!

 

[Dennis]

Have you tried Old Will Knott?

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/candl ... cales.html

 

[ToniD]

For soap I never find I need anything that measures with more precision than to the gram. I do use another one that measures to .01 gram for lotions.

 

[mcleod13]

If I am to start making lotion eventually, would I need a scale that goes to .01g?

 

[Hazel]

It would be helpful to have a scale that weighs in .01 g increments so you could make small test batches. I'd love to have one for lotions, too.

FYI - if you didn't already know, you can test the accuracy of your scales by putting 5 American quarters on it. 5 quarters weigh 1 oz or 28 g.

Have you checked at a Staples or a Office Depot for a postal scale? They're very accurate and would weigh a larger amount of weight. This is just a suggestion but I'd recommend a scale with an AC adapter. Then you don't have to worry about batteries dying on you in the middle of a batch.

 

[Evans]

There are 28 point something grams to every 1 ounce so the Metric System is much more accurate without a doubt. From there, my 5# batches I round everythng up becuase fractions of a gram is such a tiny amount in the soap MGF bizz. Now if we were jewelers...

So far we've used a $10 scale that worked great until it got doused with some errant h2o and now a WallyWorld $20 model. If you do small batches a $20 Walmart scale will be fine taking note of how protected the on/off buttons are. Also, it's nice to have an ounce scale function for gauging the sizes of ur bars when you slice them but they all seem to have g, oz., lbs & K with a few # max out.

My next scale I'll bump up to something w/ a remote read out. It's sometimes hard to see the read out on the less expensive scales when you have larger bowls.

 

[mcleod13]

It would be helpful to have a scale that weighs in .01 g increments so you could make small test batches. I'd love to have one for lotions, too.

FYI - if you didn't already know, you can test the accuracy of your scales by putting 5 American quarters on it. 5 quarters weigh 1 oz or 28 g.

Have you checked at a Staples or a Office Depot for a postal scale? They're very accurate and would weigh a larger amount of weight. This is just a suggestion but I'd recommend a scale with an AC adapter. Then you don't have to worry about batteries dying on you in the middle of a batch.

THANKS! I didn't know that! I will check it out!! I am taking it that I will need a couple of scales...

 

[Hazel]

THANKS! I didn't know that! I will check it out!! I am taking it that I will need a couple of scales...

Not necessarily. I've made lotions & creams for over 4 years with scales which only weigh in 1 g increments. They're just not as accurate for small batches. If you make larger batches (I'd say 16 oz or more), then it will be fine. It's just that I like to experiment and it's less wasteful to make a 4 oz batch. But I can't do such small batches on the scales I had originally and the current one I'm using.

That's why I'd love to have a scale just for lotions.

Evans is correct about 1 oz being 28.35 g but my scales only show 28 when I weigh the quarters.

 

[HenleyNatural]

Have you tried Old Will Knott?

http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/candl ... cales.html

I purchased two My Weigh WR-12K waterproof scales from Old Will Knot Scales and have been happy with them. The scales measure as little as 1 gram and as much as 26 lbs. I replaced the battery in the scale with one that holds a longer charge. The new battery fully charged lasts for 2 days before needing a new charge.

 

[Evans]

Oh yeah Hazel, I can see why you need to break grams down even further when dealing with a 4oz final product. I would prolly just make larger quanities because as long as the finished product is sound, I think we (I) get too critical of the aromas of the finished product. I've had stuff I thought came out only OK but some of those have been the most popular.

 

[Hazel]

Oh yeah Hazel, I can see why you need to break grams down even further when dealing with a 4oz final product. I would prolly just make larger quanities because as long as the finished product is sound, I think we (I) get too critical of the aromas of the finished product. I've had stuff I thought came out only OK but some of those have been the most popular.

I do make a larger amount if I'm happy with the recipe. However, I continue tweaking recipes. I like to find out how a lotion would turn out if I subbed one oil for another or how changing percentages affect the outcome. When I was experimenting with a massage lotion, I made quite a few batches before a friend who's a MT finally told me I'd finally gotten it right. Because I had to make larger batches, I'm still using some for body lotion. That's why I'd love to have scales which would allow me to make 4 oz batches.

 

[jackie2000]

From what I've seen most scales that go down to .1 or .01 grams are very small scales (usually for jewelry and such). I have good scales that go to 1 gram or .01oz that I use almost everyday (came from Old Will Knott) and I also have a small scale that goes down to .01 grams (I don't remember where I got that one)--I only use it when dealing with very small amounts. For most things, 1 gram is precise enough.

 

[Mystic]

When I was experimenting with a massage lotion, I made quite a few batches before a friend who's a MT finally told me I'd finally gotten it right.

Hazel, Would you mind Sharing this recipe with me? I am a MT student finishing up soon, I have been searching everywhere for a good recipe for a good massage lotion or cream.

Thanks

 

[Hazel]

I sent you a PM.