Homemade Kitchen Scales.

Worth1 · June 20, 2016

I opened my big mouth up and said I could make my own weighing scales.
I am sure some of you thought, 'yeah right.

For a coupe of days now I have thought it over and decided I needed to start somewhere and I needed stock materials to start the project.
My full intention is to make these scales out of as much, scrap as I can find around the place.
If I cant find or make what I need I will use other parts I can buy locally and use them for intentions other than what they were meant to be used for.
I have no idea how long this will take or if it will even end but this will be the thread for posting pictures of the failures and successes if there are any of the latter.

I really do need a set of good kitchen scales and the ones I want are close to $300.
Could I by good scales for less of course I can but doing these things helps me keep my sanity, IF there is any left.
First up is some scrap I am turning down into usable stock.

Worth.
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dmforcier · June 20, 2016

Cheez don't you have enough projects going?

What type of scale? You mentioned beam scale, but it seems to me that a balance scale would be much easier.

Worth1 · June 20, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmforcier

Cheez don't you have enough projects going?

What type of scale? You mentioned beam scale, but it seems to me that a balance scale would be much easier.

Yes I always have projects going and I have to take time off from them to well take a break or make my mind up about things.

These will be beam type balance scales that are like this more or less on the same principle.

I want to test out my not yet patented air dampening system.

Worth1 · June 28, 2016

Started making parts they turned out to be a total flop, back to the drawing board.

If you cant laugh at failure life isn't worth living.

Worth

dmforcier · June 28, 2016

Hey, I want to see drawings first.

oakley · June 28, 2016

I get obsessive and pick my projects...made a cold smoker and a 12 tray dehydrator ...then some garden chairs one day and obsessed and made a few more to get it right.

My scale is simple from Amazon.

oakley · June 28, 2016

Need more chairs in the garden...
Made from scraps.

Worth1 · June 28, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by oakley

Need more chairs in the garden...
Made from scraps.

Love scraps.

Worth

Worth1 · July 10, 2016

Haven't gave up on the scales yet and found what I need for bearings at the store.
One of the things I am dealing with is mass VS weight and a bunch of other complicated stuff I have never had to deal with on this level before, but it will happen.
This idea was ((not)) just a flash in the pan.
This is why I have so many things going on at one time.
I simply get burned out on one and have to step back and think about it.
Like last night it dawned on me I can use my height gauge to make a graduated scale.
While grubbing around for something else for another project I found what I need for the base.

Worth.

Worth1 · July 11, 2016

Here is a start over and humble beginnings.
Starting from the foundation up.

My next step is to make the adjusting jack and feet to level it.
The center fulcrum wont be welled on until I am ready as I have holes to drill and ream and bearings to install plus a few more things.

Worth
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Worth1 · July 11, 2016

Not sure if I like this or not may have to go bigger and make it look better.
Worth

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AlittleSalt · July 11, 2016

Worth, what is that metal used for? (Besides a scale)

Worth1 · July 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

Worth, what is that metal used for? (Besides a scale)

Salt the two small pieces are the last of some channel iron I have.
The big chunk I dug out of a dumpster somewhere and still have about 3 feet of it left.

Just bracing and so on is all it is.

And yes I trashed the homemade adjustment screw and built another one.

A much better one.
Now all I have to do is turn what I dont need off.

When I dont like something I dont like it.

Here is the new one custom tight threads and all turned on the lathe.

Worth
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AlittleSalt · July 12, 2016

Worth, between you and adashofpepper - I need to learn more about what you two are doing.

And I will call things by the wrong names along the way, but I'll try not to.

I like the finger grip on the screw head. We have some 40+ year old SK socket sets that have them. They come in very handy and are much easier to use.

I can see the reason for the tight thread. Much more precision.

Worth1 · July 12, 2016

Salt the knob came from a huge stainless valve stem and the rod is from a wire cart someone tossed it is very hard.

I cut the threads so they would be tight with the tap I have to use.

Now I need to use that same rod to make feet for the other end.
The grip surface on the knob is called knurling.

Worth

June 20, 2016	#1
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Homemade Kitchen Scales. I opened my big mouth up and said I could make my own weighing scales. I am sure some of you thought, 'yeah right. For a coupe of days now I have thought it over and decided I needed to start somewhere and I needed stock materials to start the project. My full intention is to make these scales out of as much, scrap as I can find around the place. If I cant find or make what I need I will use other parts I can buy locally and use them for intentions other than what they were meant to be used for. I have no idea how long this will take or if it will even end but this will be the thread for posting pictures of the failures and successes if there are any of the latter. I really do need a set of good kitchen scales and the ones I want are close to $300. Could I by good scales for less of course I can but doing these things helps me keep my sanity, IF there is any left. First up is some scrap I am turning down into usable stock. Worth. IMG_20160620_52.jpg IMG_20160620_13676.jpg IMG_20160620_26751.jpg IMG_20160620_39771.jpg Last edited by Worth1; June 20, 2016 at 06:05 PM.

July 11, 2016	#10
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Here is a start over and humble beginnings. Starting from the foundation up. My next step is to make the adjusting jack and feet to level it. The center fulcrum wont be welled on until I am ready as I have holes to drill and ream and bearings to install plus a few more things. Worth IMG_20160711_45487.jpg IMG_20160711_54506.jpg Last edited by Worth1; July 11, 2016 at 08:28 PM.

June 20, 2016	#2
dmforcier Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,825	Cheez don't you have enough projects going? What type of scale? You mentioned beam scale, but it seems to me that a balance scale would be much easier.

June 28, 2016	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Started making parts they turned out to be a total flop, back to the drawing board. If you cant laugh at failure life isn't worth living. Worth

July 10, 2016	#9
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Haven't gave up on the scales yet and found what I need for bearings at the store. One of the things I am dealing with is mass VS weight and a bunch of other complicated stuff I have never had to deal with on this level before, but it will happen. This idea was ((not)) just a flash in the pan. This is why I have so many things going on at one time. I simply get burned out on one and have to step back and think about it. Like last night it dawned on me I can use my height gauge to make a graduated scale. While grubbing around for something else for another project I found what I need for the base. Worth.

July 11, 2016	#12
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Worth, what is that metal used for? (Besides a scale)

July 12, 2016	#14
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Worth, between you and adashofpepper - I need to learn more about what you two are doing. And I will call things by the wrong names along the way, but I'll try not to. I like the finger grip on the screw head. We have some 40+ year old SK socket sets that have them. They come in very handy and are much easier to use. I can see the reason for the tight thread. Much more precision.