I Need A New Scale!

[ColdSVT]

My old eagle claw scale is inconsistant and dying after a few years of beatings

What is a good scale that wont break the bank?

[Senko lover]

If you're on the budget of budgets like I am, you'll automatically drift toward a mechanical scale, but don't. They are incredibly inaccurate. Both Rapala and Berkley have lower-end digital scales that should do well. But when you catch that fish of a lifetime, you don't want to be stuck with a junky scale. I need to bite the bullet and just get a nice one. 

[a1712]

I got a Baker scale and really like it. Not expensive and one of the only ones that don't eat batteries. Brian.

[Scott F]

If you're on the budget of budgets like I am, you'll automatically drift toward a mechanical scale, but don't. They are incredibly inaccurate. 

 

This statement is inaccurate. I work for a company that manufactures scales used in grocery stores. I bought a Chatillion scale 25 years ago and tested it using weights certified by Weights and Measures. It is as accurate as any digital scale. It's only drawback compared to a digital is that you can only read it to an eighth of a pound (2 oz).  They also cost double what a Rapala scale sells for.

 

[F14A-B]

A inaccurate statement about a mechanical scale, being inaccurate... That's funny, was that intentional ? Lol.. I gotta chuckle outta that.

[WRB]

Digital scales are as accurate as the battery is at full charge. The accuracy is measured in % of weight being weighed; laboratory scales measure in .1 % accuracy! recreational scales in 2 % accuracy! big difference!

Most spring scales are not linear in accuracy, the lower range differs from the upper range, the mid range is usually the sweet spot.

The 25 lb Chitillian scale above also has a parallax issue with the sliding indicator alignment to the scale graduations, in 2 oz increments. I have this scale and used it for decades. My current scale is digital Ultra Sport 30 accurate within 1% up to 60 Lbs., the batteries good for 5 years., scale is approx $25

Tom

[Catch and Grease]

My parents got me a tournament choice digital scale from academy, it was only 15$ so I figured it would be off a little but I took a 3lb weight and the scale said exactly 3lbs, so its a darn good scale for 15$!

[ColdSVT]

That ultra sport 30 looks pretty sweet!

[VtGr0wn]

This statement is inaccurate. I work for a company that manufactures scales used in grocery stores. I bought a Chatillion scale 25 years ago and tested it using weights certified by Weights and Measures. It is as accurate as any digital scale. It's only drawback compared to a digital is that you can only read it to an eighth of a pound (2 oz).  They also cost double what a Rapala scale sells for.

 

If the scale doesnt give you an exact weight to the ounce is it not the inaccurate one?

digital luggage scales are acurate to the gram, ounce, kilogram, or lb

i want an Exact weight when i land a trophy fish 2 oz is a difference between 9.8 and a 10 lber

[Goose52]

I use the Rapala digital scales. Compact, fit in the belt pack I wear when bank fishing, accurate enough.

 

I provided a detailed report on the accuracy performance of these scales here:  Rapala Mini Digital Scale - Load Test Report

[Team9nine]

All scales are just instruments, and the more accurate they claim to be (or try to be), the more "touchy" they can be when it comes to maintaining that level of accuracy and calibration. For example, things like the current temperature, extremes of heat or cold during storage or use, dust, dirt, moisture/relative humidity, vibrations (e.g., weighing a flopping fish in a boat on the water), shaking, dropping, operating near other electronic equipment (cell phones, cordless phones, computers, etc.), wind or air currents, and others, can all have an affect on the accuracy of any given reading. I keep two in the boat with me at all times. One is a Chatillon scale (as already shown) that was certified by the IGFA for exactness confirmation, and the other a Rapala touch screen digital for convenience. I also check each against a set of certified weights periodically. The Rapala tends to drift slightly because it tries to maintain accuracy to hundredths of a pound, while the Chatillon doesn't have any issues because it is accurate to ounces.

 

-T9

[Jon G]

Acu Cull is my favorite scale that i've had

[Scott F]

If the scale doesnt give you an exact weight to the ounce is it not the inaccurate one?

digital luggage scales are acurate to the gram, ounce, kilogram, or lb

i want an Exact weight when i land a trophy fish 2 oz is a difference between 9.8 and a 10 lber

 

Just because the scale shows grams, ounces or tenths of a pound, does not mean it is accurate. Accuracy is when you weigh a 5 pound weight, it reads 5.0lbs not 4.8.  The only digital scale I ever owned was off 3oz at 5lbs and 7oz off at 10lb. Todays scales are more accurate than they used to be, but the only way to know for sure is to check them against certified weights.

[VtGr0wn]

Touche sir

[A-Jay]

 

Accu-cull is decent

 

A-Jay

[Weld's Largemouth]

The more significant digits a scale can provide, the more accurate the scale is. Digital scales provide more significant digits than certain mechanical scales, therefore, digital scales are more accurate than certain mechanical scales.

[papajoe222]

An affordable, but accurate scale is a luggage scale. Along with a sturdy hook, many come with a built it handle. Check one out on eBay and you can pick it up for under $10

[ColdSVT]

Oh uh...sigfigs have been brought to the table...

[Thornback]

I used to use a Zebco mechanical spring scale. The little cheap black ones. I had to guess at the exact ounces of the bass. About 10 years back I purchased a digital Rapala scale from Kmart for just over $20. I hooked the two scales together and pulled -- I got the same number on each scale. I then lifted a 4 pound weight with each scale and they both showed 4 pounds.

[cyclops2]

 I have no cameras or cellphone cameras.  So everyone HAS to believe my honest weights.

 

No scale either.

[Team9nine]

The more significant digits a scale can provide, the more accurate the scale is. Digital scales provide more significant digits than certain mechanical scales, therefore, digital scales are more accurate than certain mechanical scales.

 

What? Just because your digital scale reads out to three decimal places doesn't mean it is anywhere close to accurate when I plop a fish on it. If it has no bias and has been certified/calibrated against known weights then it would likely be so versus a mechanical scale, but that is an assumption until proven otherwise. For example, If your digital scale with 3 places after the decimal point always reads a quarter pound light/heavy (for whatever reason), then my certified mechanical scale, accurate to just single ounces, will always be more accurate. Reword to "potentially more accurate" and I'll buy that statement. Don't confuse accuracy with precision.

 

-T9

[Dwight Hottle]

I have no cameras or cellphone cameras. So everyone HAS to believe my honest weights.

No scale either.

.

We will believe it even more if you don't provide a picture.

[cyclops2]

 Feels great to be accepted by  strangers. 

[F14A-B]

Reminds me of a carnival scam... " What number am I thinking of?

[kanasbassfisher08]

i have had this this problem my self but im in the process of saying for get any cheap scale im going certified like one other said and spending the money on a culmerite thats what the pros use and have and ill never need another again. one of the most accurate scale and its proven. i think all the cheap ones are fine and dandy but my experience is one day it will read fine and then the next its off and then back on and i have had a couple be this way. and i think there is something to say about making sure it has new batteries in it all the time. i think its more accurate. if you want a close messure go cheap it doesnt matter aslong as its close but if you want exact spend some money.