Where Do You Buy Calibration Weights?

Phoenix_Tom · Post by **Phoenix_Tom** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:43 pm

Right in the middle of working on a batch of hunting arrows (there I'm on topic

) my scale died on me and says I need to recalibrate. To recalibrate I need a 200 gram weight.

Where the heck would you go to buy calibration weights? I've called and checked websites for scientific supply shops, spam stores, and stationary stores (Staples, G & T).

I called Lee Valley Hardware where the scale came from last Christmas and they don't sell calibration weights and the guy said it was the first time anyone has called in asking about weights to recalibrate those scales but that the scales are very popular. I bet they are... if people have to buy another one every time they need calibrating.

I'm sure I could order a weight online from Amazon.com or ebay but I would have liked to be able to get one on the way home today.

Any idea what kind of store would sell these weights?

Stash · Post by **Stash** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:48 pm

Google...

http://www.canadianweigh.com/scales/calibration-weights

roly · Post by **roly** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 6:24 pm

That's what I like about you Mr. bstout, your always thinking

Phoenix_Tom · Post by **Phoenix_Tom** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:34 pm

Stash wrote:Google...

http://www.canadianweigh.com/scales/calibration-weights

I was hoping for something I could pick up on the way home today. But this site is great except they wanted $51 for shipping!

Granted that was overnight express and I had added another scale to the purchase. I figured I might as well make it worth my while...

Phoenix_Tom · Post by **Phoenix_Tom** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:38 pm

bstout wrote:In the past I've gone to grocery stores that sell bulk candy by weight. I scoop the amount I need and check the weight on their digital scale that's calibrated for trade (accurate). I print the label off on their printer and head for the check out.

Then when I get the candy home I place it on my digital scale, calibrate my scale to the known weight, then eat the candy.

Haha! I thought the same thing. A buddy at work found a website that lists the weights of Cdn coins. For $27 and some change I could have my $6 200 gram weight! LOL.

So I'm off to buy candy. Thanks guys!

snapperdan · Post by **snapperdan** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 8:02 pm

Ok how much does a nickle weight ? 5 grams!!!

VixChix · Post by **VixChix** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 8:10 pm

Can you go to the local jewelry shop and get it calibrated there? I'm sure they have the weights.

Real McCoy · Post by **Real McCoy** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 8:59 pm

I think Cabelas sells weights.

Meat Hunter · Post by **Meat Hunter** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:27 pm

For Calibration Weights try:

Ben Meadows, Inc
Janesville, WI
www.benmeadows.com

Forestry Suppliers, Inc.
Jackson, MS
www.forestry-syppliers.com

Hi5 · Post by **Hi5** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:39 am

You could contact a reloader friend and borrow a good quality bullet. Get the heaviest large caliber one you can find so that if it is a bit off, the percentage of error should be small. If he's a reloader, he'll have a scale too, and he could weigh the bullet as a double check on its weight.

Now that I think about it, my RCBS powder scale has a verifier weight that came with the scale. I don't know if the newer models have that feature.

Lyman used to sell verifier weights for reloaders, but I don't know if they still do. However, I don't think you need to spend any money to get a reasonable verification.

Phoenix_Tom · Post by **Phoenix_Tom** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:08 am

Thanks guys.

Hi5: the weight has to be 200 grams. The scale automatically recalibrates based on that 200g. Like wabi said, all I really need for the moment is 200g of candy - as long as the candy fits on the small scale it'll work. Stash found a great site here in Canada and I'm going to order a weight and a whole new scale since I'm tired of converting grams to grains anyways. The new scale also uses 200g to recalibrate. The only problem is that the order will come in while I'm gone hunting for 2 weeks. I was kind of hoping to have these arrows done before then so I could test them and maybe use them for the hunt. Actually, I just thought of this, my butcher has given me exactly 200g of shaved ham perfectly the last 3 times I've been there. That'll probably fit on the scale better than candy.

awshucks · Post by **awshucks** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:21 am

U.S. nickels are 5 gm each. Not much help where you're at, lol.

Hi5 · Post by **Hi5** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 2:27 pm

Phoenix_Tom wrote:.................. I was kind of hoping to have these arrows done before then so I could test them and maybe use them for the hunt........

I say this with respect, so please don't be offended.

To heck with weighing your arrows. Put on the broadhead that you will use hunting and go shoot them into a target. That's the ONLY test that matters! Sort out the ones that group well and go hunting.

Put a permanent mark on each vane and always place that vane into the channel. That's one variable that is often overlooked. Arrows can have various imperfections which affect flight, so you want to eliminate changes in how the arrow aligns to the string. Differences in arrow weight from one to another may have less effect than you would expect.

GO hunting & Good Hunting!!

Phoenix_Tom · Post by **Phoenix_Tom** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 2:59 pm

Hi5 wrote:
Phoenix_Tom wrote:.................. I was kind of hoping to have these arrows done before then so I could test them and maybe use them for the hunt........

I say this with respect, so please don't be offended.

To heck with weighing your arrows. Put on the broadhead that you will use hunting and go shoot them into a target. That's the ONLY test that matters! Sort out the ones that group well and go hunting.

Put a permanent mark on each vane and always place that vane into the channel. That's one variable that is often overlooked. Arrows can have various imperfections which affect flight, so you want to eliminate changes in how the arrow aligns to the string. Differences in arrow weight from one to another may have less effect than you would expect.

GO hunting & Good Hunting!!

No offense taken at all buddy! I know I'm AR when it comes to my arrows. And that the only thing that matters in the end is how they shoot.

Everything you suggested I do already with one thing in addition: I number every arrow in the batch. That's something I learned from the old compound days - I'd always have one arrow that didn't group with the others so which one was it? Nowadays I'm extremely (overly?) systematic.

It's just that for this batch I'm cutting heads off of 2" machine screws and using them to add weight to the front inserts and just wanted to ensure they're all the same weight before locking everything in place. Since I'm redoing a set of Firebolts I just wanted to make sure I'm consistent.

Thanks again for the input Hi5. It's appreciated.