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Weighing scales

Brian Willson

Brian Willson

Senior Member & Supporter
With so many digital scales on the market, it does get confusing as what to buy,i have a couple of sets of Berkley Digitals,i want to get another set of scales, some people have told me to get some Reubin Heatons, whilst other are telling me to get Fox Stalkers, i do not want a massive set that is too heavy and too big,can any of you recomend any,first and formost they must be accurate.
many thanks.
Brian Willson.
 
Hi Brian,

Have a look at the Ron Thompson ones. Smaller in size than the Ruben's / Chub's but seem to be accurate (against my Avon's and Weighmasters). I have had mine for two years now and the are very reliable. If your local shop does not stock them The Tackle Box (Kent) have them in their catalogue.
 
Les Jones said:
Hi Brian,

Have a look at the Ron Thompson ones. Smaller in size than the Ruben's / Chub's but seem to be accurate (against my Avon's and Weighmasters).
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Interesting to see you check the accuracy of your digi's against old fashioned analogue scales - me too! :rolleyes:
 
Brian, I have already told you that you won't beat the Ron Thommpson ones. Not a great believer in digitals but got them at Johns recommendation. Have tested them from 3lb to 18lb against my Reubin Heaton non digitals and they are within 1oz at all weights, good enough for me. Richie also tested them against his calibrated weights when I bought them and they were spot on. Keith had a set of fox digitals when he was down, we did a testing and weighed the same thing (about 8lb) 3 times and obtained 3 different weights varying 5oz, on the Ron Thompsons all 3 weighings were the same.
 
Many thanks for your reply's, i will take in all that you have said, i do take notice of all the advice given, i needed to make comparisons before i buy.
Brian.
 
Something to bear in mind. I had a recent piking session with site member Graham Hunt and had a nice double early doors. I went to get my digital scales....they didn't work. Graham went for his...same result! Even though I had a spare battery, the cover required a tiny cross-head screwdiver which I hadn't got. Fortunately there was another angler close by and we used his. Digitals are great but can have their downsides! I've since acquired a set of Reuben Heaton Specimen Hunter Scales. I don't want to be guessing the weight of the fish of a lifetime...mine or anyone else's (chance would be a fine thing!).
 
Salter Digital Samsons. Very accurate to the half-ounce, batteries last years, about 6-7 ozs in carrying weight and durable. Had mine over 5 years without issue, tested annually at a Scales Shop, spot on. Several friends have identical experience.

One of the best tackle investments I've made. :)
 
IMO get some Reuben Heaton specimen scales, and dont bother with digitals, or you will always have something, always eating away at yourself. I always think if you was part of the BRFC what would they use as a Datum? or to weigh your catch.

IMO
 
Jon Frisby said:
IMO get some Reuben Heaton specimen scales, and dont bother with digitals, or you will always have something, always eating away at yourself. I always think if you was part of the BRFC what would they use as a Datum? or to weigh your catch.

IMO
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What has your experience with digitals been Jon, to bring such a damning statement forth?

If you test your scales properly ansd regularly (as many don't) you have peace of mind.

I'm sure the BRFC will use whatever each individual member feels is the best. Whether digital or springs?
 
I've got a set of Fox stalkers but ALWAYS carry some spare batteries just in case.They are accurate and light so ok to put in a small bag.I have a set of Reubon Heatons Specimen Scales in the car put I reckon they are to big and heavy for everyday river work.Especially with the weigh bar!!It is good to know though that if I am lucky enough to catch something really special I have them in the car!!!
 
Its just my opinion Simon, not a damning statement. i have had experience with digitals and there limitations. If people are happy with their digitals, thats fine, but for me i will stick with my Reubens. Maybe its just watching the dial go around, that gives me confidence on the weight, also you have your datum, then if you so wish to check the weight against another scale.
 
Jon Frisby said:
and dont bother with digitals, or you will always have something, always eating away at yourself.

IMO
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I can understand this opinion with some cheap digitals, I've binned some rubbish ones myself (as well as cheap dials), many years ago when they were in their infancy, but just like dials, there are reliable and unreliable.

I don't understand your mention of this "datum" which you appear to put forward as dial-specific? You can check any scales against any other, at any weight, provided you know your "control" set are accurate.
Many people check against Post Office scales as a reliable baseline.....

They're digital? :confused:
 
Simon King said:
I can understand this opinion with some cheap digitals, I've binned some rubbish ones myself (as well as cheap dials), many years ago when they were in their infancy, but just like dials, there are reliable and unreliable.

I don't understand your mention of this "datum" which you appear to put forward as dial-specific? You can check any scales against any other, at any weight, provided you know your "control" set are accurate.
Many people check against Post Office scales as a reliable baseline.....

They're digital? :confused:
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You obviously use a different post office to me then:D My P.O use proper scales..;)
I've had problems in the past with Digitals (Rapalas) not the most expensive I grant you but for £40 I'd expect a consistent reading, but didn't get one.
 
Three of us that frequent this forum compared our scales (Reuben analogue, Fox digital and Chub digital IIRC) on an end of season trip recently. They were all within 1oz of each other. It certainly gave me a lot of confidence in my Chub scales.
 
Steve Holt said:
You obviously use a different post office to me then:D My P.O use proper scales..;)
I've had problems in the past with Digitals (Rapalas) not the most expensive I grant you but for £40 I'd expect a consistent reading, but didn't get one.
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Lol. I'm lucky enough to have a Specialist Scales Wholesaler 4 doors from my business and I test there. A bunch of us in the Specimen Group I belong to bought Salter Digitals at the same time (on a good deal and a recommendation...) and we've all had an error-free and glitch-free experience.

The £30-40 mark is, these days, what I'd call the Cheap End of the market. Similarly for the Dials e.g. Flyweights are notoriously fickle in their accuracy (about £30+/-) and are in common ownership.

My own opinion is that if you want any piece of reliable, quality kit you have to pay more for it. The plus side should mean that it lasts many times as long, so you should save money too, not replacing every couple of years?

Fortunately with the likes of e-bay etc now, much good stuff is available cheaper than RRP.

I've heard the Fox's are OK, but eat up batteries?
I don't remember replacing mine since purchase and I've weighed a fair number of fish in 5 years? :D
 
Chris I thought that it was Fox digitals, your Chub ones and my Salter Electro Samsons? Anyhow they were all within an ounce of each other. I had a problem with my digital Electro Samsons when the ribbon cable to the display and the membrane switches had worked loose due to rapid temperature variations. I have modified the scales so that that problem cannot happen again. The Electro Samson's are quite accurate and until recently were calibrated (well checked because they needed no adjustment) against a lab standard at different temperatures. They worked well at -20 to +75 degrees C. I suspect that it is the thermal cycling done in my friends old lab that caused the problem with the cable. He doesn't work there any more and so I can't get the free calibration checks done. Anyway just in case I carry a set of Avon Mk7 dial scales. The Rueben Heaten specialist scales are really nice but you know what, the stuff I have is good enough for me. I won't be claiming any records so the only person that I need to satisfy is me

Conrad
 
Conrad Farlow said:
Chris I thought that it was Fox digitals, your Chub ones and my Salter Electro Samsons?
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My memory is damned awful so whatever you say!:eek: Besides, you should know what scales you've got.;) On the bright side, two out of three isn't bad.;):D
 
once again,many thanks,i have now bought a brand new set of Fox Stalkers with a protective case at a very good price,i was told that the problem with the ordinary Fox Digital's was that the batteries ran down quickly due to the fact that it has a clock which can't be turned off,so we will now see what happens IF and when we start using them,one thing is for sure,they must be an improvement on my existing digitals.
Brian.
 
So long as your scales are accurate within an ounce or two and you always use the same scales and the same technique for weighing your fish you won't go far wrong....If you do catch something a bit special the man from angling times will have a calibrated set.
 
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