Scale Shootout

I wanted to do a review of scales for weighing bike parts a.k.a 'Weight Weenie Scale' for the longest time but I just never seemed to get around to it. I first had to decide on a certain criteria for the scales to meet to serve as some base standard. So I came up with four basic criteria that they scales had to match.

First they needed to come from a reputable company such as Acculab, Ohaus, My Weigh, Tanita, Jennings, Mettler, Gram Precision, CAS, and Sartorius.

Second they must be less then $50. Costs will vary depending on where you purchase the scales, so this is just a ballpark figure.

Third they must have a weight capacity greater then 2000g. It nice to have a scale that can weigh wheelsets and cranksets, even though the vast majority of parts are well within the usual 500g limits of the smaller scales. Scales capacities seem to hover in the 500g range, the 2000g-4000g range and then the 5000g-7000g range. The 2000g-4000g range is a good compromise between the extremes. Although its not much more expensive to get a scale that goes to the limits of bike parts (like heavy full suspension frames) I decided to stick with the medium scales a.k.a the 'Kitchen Scale'.

Fourth is that the scale must do accuracy within 1g or less.

Now I had to go order as many models as I could get that matched my criteria. I did not end up getting every manufactures that I wanted to get, but I got a couple from the big brands Jennings and My Weigh. My budget kept me from getting everything on the market. In the future I might revisit the test with additional products.

Where are scales made now? They are all pretty much made in China. Sometimes the companies are non-Chinese and sometimes the products might be engineered and/or designed outside of China, it varies with each company. One of the reasons to pick from the reputable company is that they have better quality control and they stand behind their product. Many of the $10 scales on ebay are just that, a $10 scale. They may or may not be accurate and they may or may not be durable. Its a total crap shoot. When the manufacturing went to China the prices for scales plummeted and once the quality got better you got an incredible value for the scales. The old adage that you what you paid for still applies. Hence I prefer to stick with the big players.

I ended up with the Jennings CJ-4000, the My Weigh 3001P and My Weigh i2500 scales for the shootout. I also added the My Weigh iBalance i2600 in the review to represent one of the more accurate scales you can buy for comparison. It's the scale I personally use for my weight weenie scale.


My Weigh 3001P

My Weigh 3001P - Silver or Black - Digital Postal Scale and Kitchen Scale
Weight Capacity: 6.6lb x 0.1oz
Weighing Modes: g, oz, lb, kg

My Weigh 3001P has a 3000g capacity with 1g resolution and weighs in lb/oz, lb, g, and kg. This multi purpose scale has an adjustable angle backlit display (a cool orange red color!), programmable auto off feature, and a last unit used memory. The scale comes with a weighing container (a square bowl), a ABS platform and three AA batteries are included.

Accuracy	+/- 0.1oz | 0.002lb | 0.001kg | 1.0g
Capacity 3001P	6lb:10oz | 6.650lb | 3.000kg | 3000g
Capacity 7001DX	15lb:7oz | 15.450lb | 7.000kg | 7000g
Modes	Pounds:Ounces, Pounds, Kilograms, Grams
Scale Size	6" x 8" (15cm x 20cm)
Tray/Platform Size	5.5" x 5.5" (14cm x 14cm)
Warranty	Lifetime/30 year worldwide warranty
Advanced Features	Programmable Auto-Off times, Audible Beep Function and backlight-off times
Included Accessories (7001)	Large Acrylic Bowl, Letter Tube Holder, Mail/Envelope Holder, Large Backlit Adjustable Angle Display
Included Accessories (3001)	Large Acrylic Bowl, Large Backlit Adjustable Angle Display
Power	3 AA Batteries (included) or AC Adaptor (optional)

Features:
- display that tilts to different angles
- red backlit display for low light conditions
- backlit can be turned on or off, the time the light stays on is user programmable
- holds the weight of oversize objects after package is removed
- saves last mode used
- nice square plastic weighing platform of 5.9 x 5.4 inches
- tare


Positives: square weighing platform, bright backlit display, weight hold
Negatives: no ac adapter

Price: around $30

Jennings/JScale CJ4000

Jennings CJ-4000
Weight Capacity: 8.8lbs x 0.02oz
Weighing Modes: g, oz, lb, count

The Jennings JScale CJ-4000 Scale is a 4000g scale with 0.5g resolution. It weighs in g, oz, dwt, and can count. The CJ comes complete with a stainless steel platform, a hard protective cover that doubles as an expansion tray (a very nice feature), an AC adapter (why don't they all include one?) and a set of batteries.

Accuracy	+/- 0.02oz | 0.001lb | 0.5g
Capacity	141.1oz | 8.8lb | 4000g
Modes	Ounces, Pounds, Grams
Scale Size	8" x 5.5" x 1.5" (20.3x14x3.8cm)
Tray/Platform Size	5.4 " diameter
Warranty	20 year worldwide warranty
Included Accessories	Acrylic Cover/Bowl, AC Adaptor
Power	3 AA Batteries (included) or AC Adaptor

Features:
- piece count
- plastic cover thats a weighing bowl
- stainless round platform 5.4 inches in diameter
- tare
- AC adapter
- backlit

Positives: plastic cover thats a weighing bowl, ac adaptor
Negatives: none

Price : around $45


MyWeigh i2500


My Weigh i2500- Digital Kitchen Scale and Food Scale
Weight Capacity: 2500g x 0.5g
Weighing Modes: g, oz, lb, count

My Weigh i2500 All-Purpose Scale has a 2500g x 0.5g or 5.5lb x 0.02oz capacity and it can count items as small as 1/2 gram. It can also calculate net weight and combined net gross weight. The scale comes with a large weighing container (a round bowl), a plastic platform and batteries.

Accuracy	+/- 0.5g / 0.02oz / 0.001lb // +/- 1.0g / 0.05oz / 0.002lb
Scale Size	8" x 5 1/2" (20cm x 14cm)
Bowl Size	9" x 4" (23cm x 10cm)
Operating Temperature	64f - 85f
Calibration	Digital Auto Calibration
Accessories	Acrylic Bowl, 4AAA batteries (included), AC Adaptor is optional (6v). Integrated Parts Counting Feature is included standard.
Warranty	Lifetime/30 year worldwide warranty

Features:
- piece count
- backlit display
- round plastic platform 5 3/4 inches in diameter
- large clear plastic weighing bowl
- tare
- net weight/gross weight, does cumulative and combined weight


Positives: large weighing bowl
Negatives: no ac adaptor

Price : around $47

Scales with their bowls attached:




My Weigh iBalance 2600 (i2600)

My Weigh i2600
Weight Capacity: 2600g x 0.1g
Weighing Modes: g, oz, ozt, dwt, ct, gn, lb, count

My Weigh i2600 Table Top Digital Jewelry / Lab Scale has a 2600 gram capacity with 10th gram resolution. It weighs in g, oz, lb, ozt, ct, gn, and it counts items. This scale has a backlit display, onboard leveling system and stainless steel platform. An AC adapter is included.

Accuracy	+/- 0.1g / 0.005oz / 0.05dwt / 0.005ozt / 0.5ct / 0.0005lb / 1gn
Max Capacity i500	500g / 18oz / 322dwt / 16ozt / 2500ct / 1.1lb / 7716gn
Max Capacity i1200	1200g / 42.5oz / 772dwt / 39ozt / 6000ct / 2.65lb / 18518gn
Max Capacity i2600	2600g / 91.71oz / 1672dwt / 83.6ozt / 13000ct / 5.75lb / 23.4n / 40124gn
Operating Temperature	32-104F (0-40C)
Calibration	Digital Auto with external mass: 500g (i500), 1200g (i1200), 2600g (i2600)
Parts Counting	Standard (built-in) with 10,20, 50 or 100 piece sample sizes
Platform Size	5¾" x 5¾" (145 cm x 145cm) Genuine Stainless Steel
Scale Size	5¾" x 8" (145cm x 20.5cm)
Power Source	6 AA batteries, or AC Adapter (included with some models)
Warranty	Lifetime/30 year worldwide warranty

Features:
- count
- bubble leveler
- program feature, like backlit on/off, etc
- backlit display
- AC adapter
- tare
- square stainless steel platform, 5.8 x 5.8 inches
- very accurate

Positives: ac adaptor, stainless steel platform, accuracy
Negatives: none

Price: around $130


The Shoot Out



For the shootout I used a 200g and 2000g calibrated weight for accuracy purposes. I moved the scales around to different places and at different times of day so that there was some temperature and surface fluctuations. I weighed each weight 15 times on the scales and came up with a variance and a overall accuracy. It was not the most scientific method but it does give a valid picture into the accuracy of the various scales. All scales were calibrated before the testing began.

Resolution on the display and accuracy are not necessarily synonymous. For example:

Resolution of 1 gram should cover accuracy for +/- 1 through +/- X grams
Resolution of .1 gram should cover accuracy for +/- .1 through +/- .9 grams

Resolution is meaningless in reality since the manufacture can put anything they want on their display. Most manufactures do keep the resolution in sync with the accuracy.

I was really looking for repeatability as close to the scales reported accuracy.

A lot of the features that the scales come with are not very applicable for the normal bike part weighing. Tare comes in handy, but some of the kitchen scale and counting functions just aren't very useful. All that really matters is that it weighs things and how accurate they are. And repeatability, repeatability and repeatability!



Weighing Statistics:

Jennings CJ-4000
2000g - 10@1999.5 and 5@1999.0 --> 1999.33
200g - 9@200.0 and 6 @199.5 --> 199.8

reported accuracy .5 gram: meets 200g fails on 2000g

My Weigh 3001P
2000g - 10@1999 and 5@1998 --> 1998.6
200g - 15@200 --> 200.0

reported accuracy 1 gram: meets 200g fails on 2000g

My Weigh i2500
2000g - 10@1999.5 and 5 @2000.0 --> 1999.66
200g - 4@199.5 and 11@200.0 --> 199.86

reported accuracy .5 gram: meets 200g and 2000g

For comparison here is what I consider the best accuracy per cost scale:

My Weigh iBalance i2600
2000g - 10@1999.9, 1@2000.0 and 2@1999.8 -->1999.89
200g - 1@199.9 and 13@200.0 --> 199.99

reported accuracy .1 gram: meets 200g and 2000g


And the winner is...drumroll please

First Place: My Weigh i2500
Second Place: Jennings CJ-4000
Third Place: My Weigh 3001P



If you want to purchase any of these scales go to the top of the website and you an order them. If you want anything made by My Weigh, Oahus or Jennings Email me!
and I will see what I can do.

Next up I will try and do a review on the big boy scales, those in the 5000-7000 gram range, such as the MyWeigh 7001DX and the Escali Primo.

Sharing the Trail

I remember there was a MTBR forum thread a while back about trail users and the last one was about the Park Rangers/Policeman giving tickets for not yielding to trail users. Wow, that was truly crazy and over the edge! A bit of Police state reaction in my opinion.

I always try and stop for non bike users but we all know that most of the time they step off the trail for us and tell us to go on by. Sometimes when you tell them to come on by they still tell you the same. An interesting relationship.

I wanted to share a old and new interaction that I have dealt with in regards to trail users.

The new one took place a week or so ago. When I am riding up one of my local trails I always bump into this one man and his 2 dogs. One dog likes to bark at me but thats the extent of it. The dog is not vicious in any sense of the word. I always say hello and how are things going and almost all the time I stop for a bit and let him pass. Its not like the world will end cause my aerobic levels have dropped. The other day he stopped for a short chat and he told me "you are the most courteous mountain biker I have ever dealt with". Wow, I was kind of stunned. It did feel pretty good of course! I introduced myself and learned his name and his dogs names. I now have a new friend.

Years ago (15+) in Palmer Park I stopped and let a Elderly couple pass me. They thanked me and said no biker had ever done that for them.

Its amazing that if we can try and do this as much as possible then perhaps we can keep as many trails as open as possible. And we can keep the other trail users with friendlier feelings about the mountain bike community.

We are always going to have some bad eggs on either side of the trail user community, but we are at the bottom of the rung as mountain bikers and its our community partnership that needs to be kept enrolled with the user groups that we deal with.

Peace.

IMBA - Rules of the Trail

1. Ride On Open Trails Only.

2. Leave No Trace.

3. Control Your Bicycle!

4. Always Yield Trail.

5. Never Scare Animals.

6. Plan Ahead