Just browsing thru ebay looking for a gram scale and prices seem pretty cheap. Any recomendations on what I should be looking for? AC vs DC, weight increments, total capacity, etc. I do not need anything extravagant with all the bells and whistles, just something to weigh silver and gold on. Thanks
From another thread here, my results: Well, I did it: I sprung for a scale. I got the one from Amos Advantage: http://www.amosadvantage.com:80/sco...art_no=&Tab=c and I'm very happy with it. Measures up to seven or eight ounces. Can display in grams, ounces, troy ounces, or pennyweight. Grams down to 0.1 g. Comes with a 200g weight for calibration. Also provides assurance the scale doesn't need calibration: every time I fire it up, it measures 200.0 g with the weight. You can also zero it out with a weight applied; for example, a small container. Then the display reflects the weight of the item in the container (and not the weight of the container). The web site shows a price of $150, but if you subscribe to Coin World Amos sells it for $125. I bought it to verify authenticity of gold coins I buy, but I also found it useful in my pocket change penny collection to figure out which 1982 cents are copper and which are copper-coated zinc.
I like the one offered by Amos Advantage also. Another option is: Gram 250 Precision Scale. Gram Precision Pocket Tech Both run about $100 to $125 at most coin shops.
OK, I'll admit I am a cheap son of gun, but $100 for a scale is a little more than I want to spend. I suppose the scales on ebay for $20 - $30 are junk, but do they work? I always tell my wife, you get what you pay for, so I do not want to put my foot in my mouth on this one.
I would highly suggest that you always "PAY" for your tools. Referrence material and coin tools will pay for themselves many many times. I am always amazed at the person who will spend good money on coins, yet buy the cheapest tools and refference material. Do not fall into that trap. Just as with buying the coins, buy the best that you can. Now this does not mean you have to buy the highest priced, but never skimp on quality.
I don't know about the ones on ebay. A consideration for me, though, was since I was using mine to authenticate the gold coins I buy, the cost of the scale seemed small compared to what I would lose buying bogus gold. Now if I can just find something to usefully measure in pennyweights.
I have a wonderful little pocket scale that weighs in grams, dwt (pennyweights), troy ounces and carats. Since I buy/sell scrap gold this is an invaluable tool. It's as accurate as any scale I've ever owned, uses a 9v battery and cost less than $50. The only problem is that I recently cleaned out my briefcase and now I can't find it. I love my little scale, whereever it is...
