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 Replies: 25 / Views: 22,719 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Just for information purposes someone on a forum somewhere recommended a company called Top Line Digital Scales. I've always wanted one to weigh accurately coins. So I ordered one for almost a hundred dollars from them. The one on the web site was not the one I received and the one I did receive gave out differnt answers every time. I tried it on a cent 24 times and it never gave the same results. I tried the calibration step and that also didn't work. I returned the thing in the mail. I contacted the company via email, phone and faxes for 2 days. Only when I mentioned I was contacting the credit card company did the answer. There answer is they will send me an upgrade but I will have to pay for that and then get credit on me credit card when and if they receive one from me. I mentioned I just wanted to weigh coins. Gave an example of a cent weighs 3.11 grams. He suggested for such accuacy I should order one for about $400. I copy all such communications and am now up to well over 60 pages of ducuments and still no scale.
Summation if you want to weigh coins, keep away from that place.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1703 Posts |
Carl, You can get one of these scales at https://www.cabelas.com for $50 and their deadly accurate.They have to be for measuring reloading componets. It's a U.S.Scale Magnum Digital scale.They are more than accurate for any coin weights.  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
 with Terry. There is a LOT more danger when reloading cartridges, so a powder scale needs to be highly accurate and measure to a very fine degree, i.e., in tenths of a grain. I believe most modern digital powder scales will also switch to grams which would then measure down to at least 1/100th or 1/1000th of a gram. ebay also offers a number of powder scales http://search.ebay.com/powder-scale...QQsofocusZbsIt is not necessary to pay 400 bucks on a coin scale or any other scale for that matter unless one is weighing out chemicals in a pharmacy. |
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Valued Member
United States
62 Posts |
You know, you guys can just look up the weights of your coins in a reference guide.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
547 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by TLS5933
Carl,
You can get one of these scales at https://www.cabelas.com for $50 and their deadly accurate.They have to be for measuring reloading componets. It's a U.S.Scale Magnum Digital scale.They are more than accurate for any coin weights.
I have the same one and I agree 100%. |
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New Member
31 Posts |
digital scales are nice and can be convenient... but if you ever find one of those old science-lab tripple-beam scales at a flea-market or anywhere else they are really reliable
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Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
i just bought a digital scale off of ebay for $39.95. I used a reloading scale for years and this new scale from ebay is quite an improvement. It weighs in grams, ounces, troy ounces or pennyweight. It has a 1000 gram capability. Highly accurate and easy to use. |
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Valued Member
United States
179 Posts |
The Dillon Precision scale is available from the ANA for $150, I believe...It is super for coins, measures in grains or grams, accurate to the tenth of a grain or hundredth of a gram. And by the way, Bitters, the book only tells you how much a coin should weigh, but if you want to know how much a Trade dollar actually weighs, in hand, a scale is absolutely essential...detecting a single counterfeit will save you more than the cost of the scale. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by p91
digital scales are nice and can be convenient... but if you ever find one of those old science-lab tripple-beam scales at a flea-market or anywhere else they are really reliable
Excellent idea, but they're few and far between. The lab in which I worked many years ago surplussed off some triple-beam scales. The grad students snarfed them up before they got out the door. I use an old (25+ yrs) RCBS 5-10 single beam balance powder scale to weigh my coins. It's been around the block many times, takes lots of abuse during travel, but keeps on ticking. I'm not sure of the life span of modern digital scales with delicate electronics and the need for batteries or wall warts for power (I'm off the grid). That said, I do have an el cheapo postal scale which is OK for outgoing parcels, but certainly not fine enough for coins (measures only to 1/10th gram or ounce). For what little I paid for it (ten bucks), I don't expect it to last for much more than a year. |
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Valued Member
United States
235 Posts |
I got a digital scale for about $20 at a "head shop" (dope dealers weigh their wares in grams). I weighed my XF Trade dollar on it --- correct weight is 420 grains -- and found my cheap scale accurate, as it recorded the weight at 418 grains. It also recorded my Morgan dollars, oin AU-50 and G-4, accurately. I think that the average collector, who should buy only from reputable dealers if buying more expensive coins, needs nothing more elaborate in a scale. If I ever get enough money to buy a draped bust dolllar, I will buy it from Harlan Berk who will guarantee authenticity. |
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New Member
31 Posts |
quote:
Excellent idea, but they're few and far between. The lab in which I worked many years ago surplussed off some triple-beam scales. The grad students snarfed them up before they got out the door.
I'm not sure of the life span of modern digital scales with delicate electronics and the need for batteries or wall warts for power (I'm off the grid).
wow! Off the grid. that is really great. my brother works in the solar industry. Edited by p91
01/10/2007 04:45 am
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
208 Posts |
Believe it or not, in some districts triple beam scales are considered drug paraphernalia. I got one from my Chemistry class and that is what our teacher told us. I do not have it any longer....
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
20753 Posts |
Good grief. Why didn't I ask here first? Thanks TL55933 for the tip about Cabila's. I have been getting their catalog for many, many years and never thought of them for a scale. I'm amazed at how many people have all this info on scales. I too have a few scales from chem classes but I just wanted to update to something more modern.
As for the sceptics I find it interesting to find out how much wear a coin has or how much additional weight was formed by toning or accumulated dirt. Also, interesting to see if the Mint is really using what they claim. Again, Thanks for all the web sites on scales. Now I just have to figure out which one to try.
Update from Top Line Digital Scales was one more email saying for sure no upgrade, no scale, no charge. However, I paid for return postage and almost 60 pages of paper.
As to Harlan J. Berk. I live in the general area. I USED to go there all the time. USED to be my favorite place. I was in there so often they knew me as soon as I walked in. In the last few years they have become over priced, lots of cleaned coins, rude salespeople, shotage of decent merchandise. I think this latest coin craze has made them goofy. I don't go there anymore.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by Silver Dollar
i just bought a digital scale off of ebay for $39.95. I used a reloading scale for years and this new scale from ebay is quite an improvement. It weighs in grams, ounces, troy ounces or pennyweight. It has a 1000 gram capability. Highly accurate and easy to use.
Which one did you buy?? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by Morgan Fred
with Terry. There is a LOT more danger when reloading cartridges, so a powder scale needs to be highly accurate and measure to a very fine degree, i.e., in tenths of a grain. I believe most modern digital powder scales will also switch to grams which would then measure down to at least 1/100th or 1/1000th of a gram. ebay also offers a number of powder scales
Hope your right. I just ordered one of those. With everything it comes out to be about half of what that other non working one would have cost. Thanks for the info. |
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Replies: 25 / Views: 22,719 |
Posted 01/08/2007 10:28 pm
