What kind of scales do those of you who grow giant pumpkins use?
We have a mechanical platform set which has to have weights hung on it,
if that makes sense. I don't think it is very accurate and we were thinking
of buying a new one, probably digital. Last year my 237lb pumpkin had to
be cut and weighed in two separate halves because the scale only goes
up to 200lb.
I've been looking online and they seem to vary quite a lot in price.
Can anyone recommend one?
I have just used the measuring method. You take three measurements add them together and look up the weight. Not entirely accurate.
I've been looking on ebay and found this -
http://tinyurl.com/9t7osum
The platform measures 14" x 14", I don't suppose it would matter if the
pumpkin overhangs it? Or would it?
Scrap merchants have sensitive weighbridges. Maybe you can take some scrap metal to sell and beg to drive the car loaded and unloaded with pumpkin on to the weighbridge.
Quote from: Toshofthe Wuffingas on October 19, 2012, 17:36:02
Scrap merchants have sensitive weighbridges. Maybe you can take some scrap metal to sell and beg to drive the car loaded and unloaded with pumpkin on to the weighbridge.
The problem is that we need to weigh quite a few pumpkins for
our competition so it wouldn't be practical to load and unload
that many. But thanks for the suggestion.
Weight Watchers Slimming World scales would weigh them. Do you have a WW class near you. Might be worth a phone call. The local paper might be interested too.
If all you care about is the weight of the heaviest (or a limited number of the winners, say first through fourth) then a simple see-saw balance will allow comparison... someone puts what they think is the biggest on the end and you all put your pumpkins on until someone beats it at which point you carry on with the rest of the pumpkins until you have a winner... at that point folks will have their "eye" in and most will withdraw, then repeat the process to get 2nd, 3rd etc... then you use a weighbridge.... Or ask around anyone who works in a manufacturing business that ships big things out overseas.... we've got an electronic thing that does half a ton at work, to the nearest 100 grammes....
chrisc
I used my old bathroom scales :toothy10: :happy7:
Had to balance the pumpkins on the back of the scales so i could see the dial with the weight :happy7: :toothy10: