Scrap yard scale accuracy

**sdakscrapper** · 04-27-2014, 12:29 AM

Last week I loaded up my pickup with misc. steel items and hauled it to Sioux Falls and sold it for tin price. I thought it weird that it just happened to be exactly 1000 Lbs. This morning I hauled another load in and they payed me for exactly 900 Lbs. While in the office waiting in line to get paid, I watched the scale readings as a couple of people drove across it and their scale appears to only be accurate to the nearest 20 Lbs. I expected it to be more accurate than that. I'm wondering how accurate those kinds of large scales normally are? Is that an industry standard?

**Russell** · 04-27-2014, 06:39 AM

Yes, from my experience they go by 20 pound increments. Every truck scale I've ever driven across has been that way.

**sledge** · 04-27-2014, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by Russell

Yes, from my experience they go by 20 pound increments. Every truck scale I've ever driven across has been that way.

+1
Every Yard I have ever been too.. clicks by 20lb increments.

**1956** · 04-27-2014, 09:03 AM

Industrial digital scales are calibrated in incuments of 20 Lbs, it's not a industry standard that's just how scales function.

**sdakscrapper** · 04-27-2014, 09:20 AM

Ok, that makes me feel better now that I know that. For some reason I was thinking they would be more accurate.

**NHscrapman** · 04-28-2014, 12:03 PM

Hmmm
Must tick by 5 here I have 535 625 ext ext

**sawmilleng** · 04-28-2014, 04:59 PM

Its worth watching the scale if you can...they should settle pretty fast...in a few seconds. I was at a yard where it took upwards of 30 seconds for the scales to settle. They had mud around the scales and it was getting in between the deck and the on/off ramps, affecting the load cells.

Their people weren't smart enough to understand what was going on when I told them, so off to another yard.

J.

**jw7783** · 04-29-2014, 08:36 AM

The yard I go to has the the scale reading right outside of the driver's window on the building when you stop. Also does 20# increments

**AdmiralAluminum** · 04-29-2014, 11:03 AM

Today I didn't even know if I got a proper weigh in or out or if it benefited me or the yard. The wind and rain were causing such a variation in weights that you couldn't get on it while it was zeroed. Oh well, still left with $30 from 220 lbs in clean steel.

**PickerBenny** · 04-29-2014, 08:05 PM

Ditto, 20lb truck scale increments. Sucks if you got 19 extra pounds, it won't read, but it gets the process done quicker. Can't really complain, especially if i am buying items and i find a minibike at 119lbs.. id be paying for 100 @ 50 cents a pound. Depends on the way you take it.

**MattInTheHat** · 04-29-2014, 08:30 PM

i believe 20lbs is the accepted standard.

I do my best to avoid using the truck scale for non ferous

**hobo finds** · 04-29-2014, 08:48 PM

10 pounds here, I am always chewing gum when I go to the yard when I weigh in but spit it out before I go back on the scale! LOL

**blacksteel** · 04-29-2014, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by AdmiralAluminum

Today I didn't even know if I got a proper weigh in or out or if it benefited me or the yard. The wind and rain were causing such a variation in weights that you couldn't get on it while it was zeroed. Oh well, still left with $30 from 220 lbs in clean steel.

We are at 950 to 9 25 pre 100 lbs. One place recently gave me 8 dollars per 100 lbs on cast iron. I had the heavier round corner tub . Too late to reload. Not good business that day

**12oclock** · 05-01-2014, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by hobo finds

10 pounds here, I am always chewing gum when I go to the yard when I weigh in but spit it out before I go back on the scale! LOL

Love this!!!!!! Matter of fact, I'll be chewing a pack from now on.

**rca987** · 05-03-2014, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by hobo finds

10 pounds here, I am always chewing gum when I go to the yard when I weigh in but spit it out before I go back on the scale! LOL

Haha, I don't chew gum but I do leave my cigarette butt behind before I weigh out

**sledge** · 05-03-2014, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by MattInTheHat

i believe 20lbs is the accepted standard.

I do my best to avoid using the truck scale for non ferous

Yes.. At my Non-Ferrous Core Buyer.. Their Scale is in 1lb increments.. Ahhhh

**F350scrapper** · 05-12-2014, 07:35 PM

Weird my local yard goes by the pound. Sometimes I will forget to put a pole or something in the bin and ill just go up and weight for like 4 pounds and add that to the total.

Scrap yard scale accuracy

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