How to Weigh a Cue

[CaptainHook]

I just put a cue on a postal scale and the Butt was 13.3 and the shaft was 4.4 that is 17.7? this was supposed to be a 18.5oz cue?

I tried the postal scale down the hall and the butt weight was the same , and it said the shaft was 4.5

Yesterday I weighed a cue that was supposed to be a 20oz and the Butt was 15.7 and the shaft was 3.8 on the postal scale and shaft was 3.7 on the one down the hall.

Do you cue makers run into this with scales?

Is there a more accurate way to weigh the cues?

 

[qfancier]

I just put a cue on a postal scale and the Butt was 13.3 and the shaft was 4.4 that is 17.7? this was supposed to be a 18.5oz cue?

I tried the postal scale down the hall and the butt weight was the same , and it said the shaft was 4.5

Yesterday I weighed a cue that was supposed to be a 20oz and the Butt was 15.7 and the shaft was 3.8 on the postal scale and shaft was 3.7 on the one down the hall.

Do you cue makers run into this with scales?

Is there a more accurate way to weigh the cues?

I have seen a cue butt's weight vary as much as .5 oz. and a shaft .2 oz. due to weather (humidity and heat) changes. But, your variances appear to be extreme.

Differences between scales is not uncommon.

 

[BLACKHEARTCUES]

I'm guessing yours is a production Q. If you order a 20 oz. Q & they don't have one , they will pick the closest weight they have & send it off. I don't think you'll find that with custom Qs...JER

 

[TellsItLikeItIs]

Do you cue makers run into this with scales?

Some of the cheap postal scales do not read accurately in the lower weight range. That may be why the shafts registered differently.

Is there a more accurate way to weigh the cues?

Buy a better scale,
or,
If you're weighing a shaft, add an item to the scale that you know the weight of (maybe 10 ounces or so), then subtract that weight from the reading.

 

[CaptainHook]

I'm guessing yours is a production Q. If you order a 20 oz. Q & they don't have one , they will pick the closest weight they have & send it off. I don't think you'll find that with custom Qs...JER

Yes, so far the only two I have weighed are production cues.

I do have a few custom cues, but have forgot the exact weight.

 

[CaptainHook]

Some of the cheap postal scales do not read accurately in the lower weight range. That may be why the shafts registered differently.


Buy a better scale,
or,
If you're weighing a shaft, add an item to the scale that you know the weight of (maybe 10 ounces or so), then subtract that weight from the reading.

Great idea, Thank you.

 

[BarenbruggeCues]

O'haus triple beam.............the only way to weigh.

 

[Jack Flanagan]

Hey, Dude,,,my dope scales are accurate, man !

bought them (digital scales) from home depot,,,the reading is more sensitive in the gram calibration than in the oz. side.... j

 

[CaptainHook]

Hey, Dude,,,my dope scales are accurate, man !

bought them (digital scales) from home depot,,,the reading is more sensitive in the gram calibration than in the oz. side.... j

Good idea, I will check out the Home Depot, and the dope store across the street LOL. Really, directly across the street is one of those stores that sells the pipes & screens & stuff. LOL

It will be interesting to price shop the dope guys then the depot.
The dope shop probably buy them at the depot and double the price.

 

[ragbug74]

I picked up a good one on eBay a few years ago for about $25.00. I found one that has a capacity up to around 27 ounces, but it also weighs down to the 1/10th of a gram. This way, I can use it for weighing cues (17-21 oz. range) and much lighter things such as epoxy base and hardener for accurate mixing. Check out seller "oldwillknott---(great-scales!)". It looks as if you can get one for under $20.00 delivered these days.

 

[MVPCues]

I picked up a good one on eBay a few years ago for about $25.00. I found one that has a capacity up to around 27 ounces, but it also weighs down to the 1/10th of a gram. This way, I can use it for weighing cues (17-21 oz. range) and much lighter things such as epoxy base and hardener for accurate mixing. Check out seller "oldwillknott---(great-scales!)". It looks as if you can get one for under $20.00 delivered these days.

Which one would you recommend he sells? Most of them seem to be very small jewelry scales with a small capacity. The larger capacity ones do not have the fine resolution.

Does this one look ok? Is a .05 oz/ 1 gram resolution sufficient for cuemaking? I know my current postal scale jumps up and down in .4 oz increments.

Kelly

 

[ragbug74]

It's not the same one I have from a few years ago, but the "LUXE 600 x 0.1 GRAM DIGITAL POCKET SCALE JEWELRY SCALE" sounds like a candidate. It's got a top-end of 21.16 oz, so you should be OK weighing most cues. On the lighter end, it is accurate to .01 grams and .005 ounces which is pretty good. The best thing about it, which is what I looked for when I purchased a scale, is that it uses regular AAA batteries, not button watch batteries. This way, you can always find a set of fresh batteries, and they don't cost you more than the scale. For $17.00 (including S/H), this scale sounds like a good deal. Maybe this is the one you were asking about, but your post didn't specify.

I also discovered the same thing you did.....the larger capacity scales tend to loose their fine accuracy. This is why I stuck with a smaller "jewelers" scale as they are pretty accurate at these fine weights.

 

[manwon]

Keep in mind with production cues, when a production manufacture produces a cue by weight it can be + or - 3 grams. So a cue that says 19oz could be anywhere from 18.7 to 19.3 oz.

Have a good day!!!!!

 

[DaveK]

http://www.saveonscales.com/scale_calibration_weights_sets.html


Dave

 

[MVPCues]

It's not the same one I have from a few years ago, but the "LUXE 600 x 0.1 GRAM DIGITAL POCKET SCALE JEWELRY SCALE" sounds like a candidate. It's got a top-end of 21.16 oz, so you should be OK weighing most cues. On the lighter end, it is accurate to .01 grams and .005 ounces which is pretty good. The best thing about it, which is what I looked for when I purchased a scale, is that it uses regular AAA batteries, not button watch batteries. This way, you can always find a set of fresh batteries, and they don't cost you more than the scale. For $17.00 (including S/H), this scale sounds like a good deal. Maybe this is the one you were asking about, but your post didn't specify.

I also discovered the same thing you did.....the larger capacity scales tend to loose their fine accuracy. This is why I stuck with a smaller "jewelers" scale as they are pretty accurate at these fine weights.

Yeah, I forgot the link in mind I was asking about.

Thanks for the info.
Kelly

 

[macguy]

I just put a cue on a postal scale and the Butt was 13.3 and the shaft was 4.4 that is 17.7? this was supposed to be a 18.5oz cue?

I tried the postal scale down the hall and the butt weight was the same , and it said the shaft was 4.5

Yesterday I weighed a cue that was supposed to be a 20oz and the Butt was 15.7 and the shaft was 3.8 on the postal scale and shaft was 3.7 on the one down the hall.

Do you cue makers run into this with scales?

Is there a more accurate way to weigh the cues?

Set the scale to grams and divide by 28.35. Weigh the butt and shaft at the same time.

 

[wincue]

I just put a cue on a postal scale and the Butt was 13.3 and the shaft was 4.4 that is 17.7? this was supposed to be a 18.5oz cue?

I tried the postal scale down the hall and the butt weight was the same , and it said the shaft was 4.5

Yesterday I weighed a cue that was supposed to be a 20oz and the Butt was 15.7 and the shaft was 3.8 on the postal scale and shaft was 3.7 on the one down the hall.

Do you cue makers run into this with scales?

Is there a more accurate way to weigh the cues?

Two things. 1. I've seen people forget and weigh cues with the shaft and joint protectors on. 2. I found a good digital scale at Office Max that has both grams and ounces for less than $30.00Two comments.

 

[olsonsview]

A quick check of your postal scale

If you are wondering if your scale is accurate, take the cue to your local deli or butcher shop. They have scales certified accurate, and if you are a customer there they will most likely consent to weigh the cue so you can compare it to your reading.

 

[CaptainHook]

Free Scale

Two things. 1. I've seen people forget and weigh cues with the shaft and joint protectors on. 2. I found a good digital scale at Office Max that has both grams and ounces for less than $30.00Two comments.

I do take the joint caps off.

I just weighed another cue, 18.9 one the one scale and 19.1 on the other.
Close enough, I call it 19.

 

[tsp&b]

Your local body shop

If you are wondering if your scale is accurate, take the cue to your local deli or butcher shop. They have scales certified accurate, and if you are a customer there they will most likely consent to weigh the cue so you can compare it to your reading.

Another Place to check your scale is a Body Shop with paint mixing scales. You talk about accurate their scales are super accurate.