How do you use your milligram scale? whats your set up

[INDK]

Hey just wondering what other people do for when measuring out those smaller amounts of mg. on a milligram scale and how they then remove all of what was measure. For me I would prefer to just use the scale by itself unfortunately alot of the things I use it for will stick.... so usually i just rip a small piece of foil and put that on top of the balance and it works like a tray and I can then pick up everything. But i think even with tarring the foil the scale would be less accurate maybe because of the foil or whatever is being used as a tray.... 8(

 

[Znegative]

I thought this would be more suitable for BDD so I'm going to move it there for now.

 

[Pjkt2501]

Your foil idea is solid - or one side of a baggie, or the capsule that I'm measuring into. To remove - scrape w. a card back into source bag.

If you need to measure lower than your scale allows, measure a known amount (that isn't too close to the margin or error - don't put .01 on a scale that reads .00), and use volumetric dilution to achieve the dosing you need. If you need help with this, check out PD (psychedelic drugs) as there are a bunch of threads on this (due to super-potent RC's like the NBOMe's around).

 

[Termino]

I use a holder & gelcap method.
Take a plastic screwtop from a soda bottle and drill a small hole, just large enough to snugly hold a 00 or 0 size gelcap. Then take a plastic drinking straw & cut the end at an angle to make a scoop. This size scoop fits quite nicely into the gelcap.

Turn on the milligram scale & let it zero out with just the tray it came with. Once ready, put the gelcap bottom (larger side) into the holder & place on the scale. Record the weight, then add the amount of chem you wish to measure. For example, my holder & cap usually weighs about 2.238 grams, so if I want to measure 15mg (0.015g), I just add to the start weight so I know I want to end up at 2.253g. I'll take the holder off & weigh again several times to be as sure as I can that my measurements are accurate. The nice thing is that I can dose right now or close the cap for later use. I also use a sharpie to mark the chem & dose right on the cap... I usually cap up a few doses of various chems at once & I don't want to make a mistake later by ingesting the wrong substance.

Keep in mind that cheap milligram scales may be off a bit, maybe 0.002 +/-, so plan accordingly. I have a Gemini 20, a really cheap scale but it works well provided I am careful. I haven't used it for super low dosage powders such as the NBOMe's.

 

[Pjkt2501]

^ A better idea than to worry about math, is to add the tray and whatever capsule or foil you want, then utilize the "tare" function on your scale. Zeros it out and will still properly mass your compound.

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

^Agreed. The "tare" function makes it that much easier...

 

[Nortyyyy]

i like scales with adjustable legs and a air bubble level built in. i also use an anti-vibration mat and calibrate accuracy and its linearity each use. then i always weight it on something non ferrous or magnetic. i dont think people realize even a credit card will immensly fuck with your scale. so dont wiegh by a computer i move down to the floor its the most sturdy draftless place in my house.

I use the same tray always so i now how off the scale is and i try to eyeball the dose with a scoop then put it all on at once. I deal with MDPV so i need a nice mid range mg scale. i have call weights of of 50mg, 100mg, 150mg, 200mg, 500mg, 1g,2g,5g, 10g, 20g, 50g, 100g. But the most overlooked thing with accuracy is dont use batteries i always get a scale with a power cord/battery combo. i love playing with my scale and dabbling with powder its so fun looking and dumping scooping the faint sounds it makes lol, how childish

 

[INDK]

yea...unless you take to long and the scale turns off on you. But ya without the being able to "tare" a scale I think alot of people would really mess up measurements, then again some people do think they can eye out some of the 2c's. Also do you guys notice a 1-2mg flux in your scales if there's more air flow I guess? I notice when I can feel a draft. I dunno probably the scale, because it was cheap, and from china, but everywhere here sells it for a lot more than its worth.

 

[Pjkt2501]

How much work are you doing that the scale turns off? If it needs to be on that long, take off all material and start over.

Drafts absolutely effect measurement - get a proper analytic scale if you need one - Denver Instruments is an excellent brand. Get a left-over from eBay. (Or gasp at the several thousand dollar price tag...)

Norty - why would someone use a credit card on a scale? I understand what you're saying about how / why it'll bugger things up.. (Nevermind, I'm asking about clueless people being clueless...)

 

[Termino]

^ A better idea than to worry about math, is to add the tray and whatever capsule or foil you want, then utilize the "tare" function on your scale. Zeros it out and will still properly mass your compound.

Easier perhaps, but not as accurate. Scales are less accurate at differences in very tiny starting weights (basically at the minimum end of the scales capability) than in differences at slightly higher starting weights. Another way to put it - scales are more accurate between 1 and 5 than between 0 and 1.

Ever put a bit of powder on the tray & it doesn't even register? But if you start off with 2g, you'll easily see the .003 difference that tiny bit of powder weighs.

By the way I always write down my measurements to help prevent problems.

Oh, and good batteries are a must!

 

[Pjkt2501]

^ Sound logic if the boat/tray/cover wasn't adding weight to the metering device before adding anything at all. I do see your point though, but it's nothing a small tap on my scale hasn't ever fixed. I do see your point.. I guess the only reason it's suggested to do so in chemistry classes is to get dunces onto the same page (0.000) before massing the compound.

However I do just tend to know (remember) that half of my capsules are .07g, so I just mentally add to that.

Writing down measurements is also a very good idea - especially when dealing with different dose sizes / compounds. Don't wanna make up a 10mg MDMA capsule and 100mg 2C-E.

Anyhow, I'm going to try to find a research paper on the efficiency of scales at different ranges of capability. Mine can measure 100.00g, and the boat/tray weighs 34.xxg, iirc. At least in practice I've never had a problem due to mass variation - all capsules I've prepped for myself have come out equal in terms of eye-balling and then in eventual effect.

And 30 seconds, if that, later... I realize that searching for something like this with google is like looking around the US govt. for someone who isn't an asshat. Guess we'll just have to practice some common sense then, eh?

 

[Allein]

I got these instructions from an RC site selling half decent scales :-

1) Turn on the unit, and calibrate it using the instructions included with the device. After callibrating, check again that the 10g calibration weight gives a reading 10.000g. If it doesnt, then re-calibrate, making sure there are no drafts or vibrations that are effecting it.



2) Next, place the "scale pan" (for want of a better term) on the weighing platform and make a note of this weight of the pan - it should be in the zone of 1.197g with the HA-20's pan but check what the reading is for your pan. And weigh it twice to double check the figure.



3)Take the pan OFF the weighing platform and then add some of the chemical onto it. This is the key bit of information - do not add material to the scale pan when it is on the weighing platform, it will most likely not register the weight accurately as the chemical is added! Only after that, place the scale pan back on the weighing platform.



4) Make a note of the new reading and then subtract the weight of the scale pan, (e.g. in this example 1.197g) from the total weight shown. So for example, if the scale now shows a reading of 1.215g, then you know you have 18mg of material on the pan.



5) If this is too much and you wanted to weigh out less, say you only want to weigh 13mg, then take the pan off the weighing platform and remove some material. Then place the pan back on the weighing platform and take a note of the new reading. If it now reads 1.210g then you know you have the desired 13mg!



6) But suppose you really wanted 20mg. Ok, take the scale pan off the weighing platform, add a little more chemical and place it back on the platform. If the new reading is now 2.217g then you've likely got your 20mg. If not then take the scale pan off again and repeat until you hit the target.