Mistakes with the scale - mis-measuring

[RogueRose]

I just had an issue with a recipe I made which I was lucky enough to catch before I had a major problem. my oil weights were 50% more than what I had measured. I couldn't figure out what was going on so I got out an old scale and tested the calibration between them. The scale I was using (a newer model I recently aquired) was 43-54% off each time (on the light side!!) I ended up adjusting the rest of the ingredients so no problem.

Now, why was it off. I was tare'ing, then calbrating (auto button) and it said it was fine. I replaced batteries even though these were fine. Still 40-55% off. I put it away and thought it was a bad scale.

Days later I tried again after some thought. It was 100% correct each time now. The only difference that I could tell was that I was at a different location (a kitchen counter vs a card table).

The card table had an ever so slight droop towards the middle which caused this. The edges were the worst, which aggravated the issue. The droop was so minor that water really doesn't run towards the center so it is hard to see by the naked eye.

So, I hope this may help some people to realize how finicky some of these new digital scales can be and to make sure you have something FLAT AND LEVEL because they will both do you in on the accuracy issue!

 

[osso]

Good catch!

 

[KristaY]

Wow! That's a significant difference! I've had my scale read differently but not to that extent. Good to know these small things can make such a huge difference. Glad you caught it before the final mix. Good eye!

 

[normajean999]

When in doubt toss a nickel on. It should weigh 5g.

 

[Susie]

Or two pennies, weighs 5 g also.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

............I was tare'ing, then calbrating (auto button) and it said it was fine...............

I only ever tare between ingredients, never calibrate - I don't want the basis information to change from one ingredient to the next. I calibrate at the start and never again

 

[shunt2011]

I'm with Effy on this. I only calibrate before starting. And I tare between ingredients.

 

[Chefmom]

Also, when using a large pot to measure your fats and oils, be sure the back of the pot isn't touching anything to put off your scale as well. It just has to lightly touch something to screw up the weight.

Yup....I was making a huge 100 ounce batch and thought my crock pot looked overly full, more than usual. 100 ounces is the max oils for that crock pot. So, I'm sitting down and writing my notes and gathering all the ingredients and fragrances (breaking the batch into 4 parts) when I got to thinking. As I was putting my coconut and olive oils away during the cook I looked at the amount on the label and started doing the math in my head. I then pulled all my oils back out and started weighing the bottles and containers....then back to the calculator. My best guess was that I had 16 ounces TOO MUCH oils, shortening, coconut and olive oils.

What saved the day was the fact that the recipe was factored with a 3% superfat, so the excess fats made it a 20% superfat. Not unheard of as my favorite winter recipe is a 20% superfat.

I didn't used any of my planned after the cook superfat oils, but kept them as is and added the fragrances etc and went ahead with the soap as it was.

It cured well and makes a nice hand soap in the winter, the lather is thick and creamy and my skin is lovely, but it's too oily for my husband. It wasn't a total waste!! http://www.soapmakingforum.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/