16-2
EXAMPLES OF HOMEMADE SCALES
BEAM SCALES: This is the easiest kind to make,
and probably the most accurate. The beam can be
made of dry wood or bamboo. The movable weight
can be a bag, bottle, or tin filled with sand.
two hooks about 5 cm. apart
scale hangs from this hook
beam (1 meter long)
FOLDING SCALE: Easy to carry from place to
place. Works best if made of metal or plywood
strips.
joined with nuts
and bolts
plywood or sheet metal
30 cm.
child
holder
movable weight
(about 1 kilogramt)
Weight is correct when beam stays horizontal.
QUARTER-CIRCLE SCALE: If made with
plywood, use sheet metal to reinforce upper
corner. The weight should be between 1 and 2
kilograms. It can be made from scrap metal or a
piece of heavy pipe.
30 cm.
holes about 2
cm. apart
plywood or
sheet metal
weight
wire or cord
metal hook
metal
hook
weight
SPRING SCALE: This is made with a coil spring
inside a bamboo tube. The spring should be about
30 cm. long and squeeze to half its length with a
weight of 15 kilograms.
bent
nail
slot
bent nail
SIDE VIEW
washer
to mark
weight
bamboo
coil spring
Bind ends
of bamboo
to prevent
splitting.
FRONT VIEW
How to mark or calibrate the scales:
To do this, you will need some accurate standard weights. Perhaps you can . . .
borrow some weights from
a merchant at the market
or use his scale to prepare
several and weights
or borrow some 1-kilo
packages or cans of food.
To mark your scale:
1. Hang 2 kilos on it.
2. Balance the
movable weight
3. Mark the spot
with a small line
and write a ‘2’.
4. Now add one more kilo
and repeat the process.
Keep going until the
whole scale is marked.
To weigh children up to
age 5, mark your scale
up to 20 kilos.