those are good for "guesstimating", i'd think there are lots more accurate scales available. Not sure how you buy wire or the kind of package it comes in. I got lucky in getting one in a surplus auction, that was used in a VA shipping dept. The shipping rates were changing, and instead of them getting a new "chip" that had the updated prices, they just bought a whole new scale, and I wound up with the old one, i think for about 25 dollars. It weighs up to 30 lbs in 1/10th oz increments, but goes on up to 70 lbs by 1/2 oz