Triple beam balance or digital balance scale?

[jenL]

This may sound like a silly question, but I'm curious as to what the Hive thinks would be best. Next year's science curriculum calls for a triple beam balance scale, so I've begun researching them. Home Science Tools sells both traditional and digital, so now I've gotten myself confused. I want what will be best for the long term. Any thoughts?

[happygrrl]

I am sitting here this.very.minute with my science text and a Home Science Tools Window open! I need to decide this too.

 

:lurk5:

[nmoira]

If you only need to be accurate to the nearest gram, I'd get a good kitchen or postage scale, like this one (I have an earlier model and love it... don't stress about the AC adaptor, the batteries last for ages). :) IMHO, it's not worth the extra money for a good triple beam balance.

 

Edited to add: I'm assuming this is for the elementary years. However, even for high school, I'd still choose a more precise digital over a triple beam balance. *Good* triple beam balances aren't cheap.

Edited May 3, 2010 by nmoira

[happygrrl]

If you only need to be accurate to the nearest gram, I'd get a good kitchen or postage scale, like this one. :) IMHO, it's not worth the extra money for a good triple beam scale.

 

Thanks!

[Pippen]

I've not ordered one myself, but I've heard some very positive reviews from hobbyists about the digital scales from Harbor Freight.

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result/?category=&q=digital+scale

[jenL]

Thanks, ladies! I was hung up on having a "science scale", not even thinking that other scales for hobbyists, etc. would be as good or better for our schooling purposes. My step-dad is an avid coin collector... he may even have an extra we could borrow! :)