Myth Busting Digital Scales - 1 mg Analytical Lab Scale for $120?

I have decided to extend my myth busting of digital scales for reloading - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...tal-scale-accuracy.759750/page-4#post-9591790


American Weigh Scales Gemini-20 milligram scale has worked well for me the past several years since the initial myth busting digital scale thread - https://americanweigh.com/product_info.php?products_id=580

• 20 gram capacity / 308 grains
• .001 gram readability (displays grains in .02 increment)
• +/- .002 gram repeatability
• 2 AAA batteries
• Actual sensitivity down to .04 grains

WAOAW W-01-50 milligram scale has also worked well for me going on almost 3 years - https://www.amazon.com/WAOAW-Milligram-Reloading-Calibration-Batteries/dp/B06W5VXN53

• 50 gram capacity / 771 grains
• .001 gram readability (displays grains in .1 increment)
• +/- .005 gram repeatability (various internet sources)
• 2 AAA batteries
• Actual sensitivity down to .06 grains

Due to many positive member reviews, I thought about buying GemPro 250 but it went out of production. While A&D FX 120i would be nice, cost is beyond many reloaders' budget. And I seriously thought about buying Ohaus SPX123 Scout but at $390 on Amazon, it's also beyond many reloaders' budget, especially for new reloaders - https://www.amazon.com/Ohaus-SPX123-Portable-Balance-0-001g/dp/B01AJ089PS

So while browsing different digital scales and reading reviews, I came across this "Analytical Lab" scale on Amazon for $119.99 ($113.99 with $6 instant coupon applied) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087CCTZR9/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A12NCJ26NT4XUM&psc=1

• VEVOR Analytical Lab scale
• 100 gram capacity / 1543 grains
• .001 gram readability
• AC adapter

There is very little information on this scale I could find but found this about the company - https://www.vevor.com/

And this - https://www.walmart.com/browse/vevor/YnJhbmQ6VkVWT1Iie

Scale is due to be delivered first week of September so I will update with unboxing performance and check weight verification to see if this scale is good enough for reloading or unreliable scale that needs to be returned.

D Rock said:

I look forward to your review of the Analytical Lab scale.

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I am skeptical and will withhold the "Analytical Lab scale" usage until I get sensitivity and repeatability verification.

Reading through various reviews, it seemed like larger digital scales are built on $20 unit circuitry just with larger covers.

Unit I purchased caught my interest because it looks like a copy (or hopefully rebranding) of more expensive scales like this - https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Anal...7B8532W6FDE&psc=1&refRID=VD15K6KVR7B8532W6FDE

And like this (Sure looks the same and hopefully will have the same internals) - https://www.amazon.com/Bonvoisin-El...TDCWZVKGBM2&psc=1&refRID=JGJS54424TDCWZVKGBM2

Let's see if it will verify Ohaus 1 mg (.015 gr) check weight.

The VEVOR "Analytical Lab" scale was delivered today.

I placed Gemini-20, WAOAW and FA DS-750 scales next to the scale along with Ohaus check weights for size comparison.




But there's good and bad:

• Scale was nicely packed and did not show any obvious shipping damage
• There was no instructions/users manual
• Scale was shipped with 220V adapter (Uses 12V DC 300A)

So after I send a message to the seller using Amazon "Problem with order" button, I find my universal DC adapter I used for laptops and viola!, scale powered on.

I searched online for similar scale users manual for initial set up and calibration. The one that I found instructed to level the scale, plug in and warm up the scale for an hour and calibrate using calibration weight. It was after dinner time when I set up the scale (I am building my wife 8'x24' chicken house during the day) so I didn't want to wait an hour so after leveling the scale using the adjustable feet, I calibrated the scale using the included 100 gram weight.

Around 15 minutes had passed when I verified these check weights (Ohaus ASTM Class 6):

Check weight: Readings in gram - Readings in grain:

• 500 mg: 0.500 g - 7.72 gr
• 200 mg: 0.200 g - 3.09 gr
• 100 mg: 0.100 g - 1.54 gr
• 50 mg: 0.050 g - 0.77 gr
• 20 mg: 0.020 g - 0.31 gr
• 10 mg: 0.010 g - 0.15 gr
• 5 mg: 0.005 g - 0.08 gr
• 2 mg: 0.000 g - 0.00 gr (No reading - Placed second 2 mg check weight with no change in reading)
• 1 mg: 0.000 g - 0.00 gr (No reading)

Multiple attempts to verify 1 or 2 mg check weights failed to display any readings, even when the second 2 mg check weight was placed on the pan.

So, I spent $120 on a digital scale that is sensitive down to 5 mg (.08 gr).

Well, the $20 WAOAW will also verify 5 mg check weight by displaying .005 g (.1 gr - Only has tenth grain readout) and Gemini-20 will verify 5 mg check weight with .005 g display (.08 gr).

D Rock said:

Thanks for starting this thread. I look forward to your review of the Analytical Lab scale.

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If a digital scale can't verify 1 mg check weight (And not even 2 mg check weight), I don't think I could call it "Analytical Lab" scale.

I could let the scale warm up further but by the time I got to 2 mg check weights, scale had been on for at least 30-40 minutes.

Mr. Zorg said:

Agreed. Hopefully you can obtain a full refund and no cost to you return shipping using the fact the scale as received was configured to require a 220VAC power source.

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Actually, the scale uses 12V DC so likely seller will offer to send the adapter for 110V.

I do like the scale, especially due to larger size and draft shields/cover, I can use a piece of acrylic with a hole drilled through to trickle powder with shields/cover closed.

Really was hoping the scale would verify 2 mg check weight (.03 gr).

But for practical reloading purposes, .08 gr sensitivity is good enough for me.

call1911 said:

The specs say: "Actual sensitivity down to .04 grains"

So it does what they promised.

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Where in the ad does it say "actual sensitivity down to .04 grains"?

This is the scale I ordered - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087CCTZR9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

call1911 said:

My err ... This is the second time I misread something

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Well, don't get old then.

Wife has painfully pointed out my "human errors" during our 26 years together that I "know" I make mistakes in all aspects of life so I double/triple/quadruple check everything now, especially for THR posting yet I still make mistakes.

LiveLife said:

I searched online for similar scale users manual for initial set up and calibration. The one that I found instructed to level the scale, plug in and warm up the scale for an hour and calibrate using calibration weight ... I didn't want to wait an hour so after ... Around 15 minutes had passed when I verified these check weights

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Since I only waited like 15 minutes to warm up the electronic circuitry and calibrate the scale before weighing check weights last night, I plugged in the scale this morning and allowed the scale to "warm up" for more than an hour before verifying the check weights.

Check weights were verified accurate from 500 mg down to 5 mg, but the scale would not detect 2 mg or 4 mg (2 mg x 2) check weights.

So at around $120 (Amazon now shows $126), comparably priced to some beam scales, I think this scale with better than .1 gr resolution of .08 gr sensitivity would be suitable for reloading.

And for trickling powder, a replacement draft shield should easily be made from a piece of plastic or even cardboard to insert the nozzle of trickler for weighing without influence from air movement.

rsnell said:

One mg is not good enough for analytical work.

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Yes, but to me, 5 mg (.077 gr) sensitivity is good enough for reloading work and likely for many reloaders.

Of course, if digital scales like $745 A&D FX-120i is more sensitive down to 2 mg (.03 gr) or even 1 mg (.015 gr), it would be better but this myth busting thread is for THR members with shallower pockets.

Due to good reviews from reloaders, I thought about buying GemPro 250 digital scale but when it went out of production, I looked around to see if there was another scale consideration for reloading and decided to test this $120 scale for THR members.

And like the original digital scale myth busting thread, where we demonstrated with measurable and repeatable data (Using Ohaus ASTM Class 6 check weights down to 1 mg) that even cheaper $20 digital scales like AWS Gemini-20 and WAOAW can be used for reloading with higher resolution than .1 gr resolution beam scales, this myth busting thread is trying to demonstrate whether relatively cheaper $120 digital scale is "good enough" for reloading.

call1911 said:

Those damn mobiles make it so easy to do so many things on the road away from home and a proper screen.

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Yes, they sure are versatile. I love the Caldwell chrono, target cam, shot group size, etc. apps for my phone.

They even have digital scale apps - https://play.google.com/store/search?q=digital scale&c=apps&hl=en_US

Nature Boy said:

LiveLife said:

5 mg (.077 gr) sensitivity is good enough for reloading work and likely for many reloaders.

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My thought is it probably is good enough.

If you’re competing in a precision rifle sport, you’ll probably want to measure to the kernel, but it’s not necessary for most people

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Thanks for the confirmation.

And you continue to impress us with your 600-1000 yard group sizes - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/tight-f-class-target.863175/

Nature Boy said:

I’m using an A&D fx120 and Autotrickler ... the biggest benefit for me is the speed, consistency and time saving

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And for the same reason why I wanted to test this scale for THR members (By replacing one of the side draft shield with plate/cardboard with hole for powder trickler) to weigh trickled charges without air movement.