The use of weighing scales dates back a few thousand years, with the oldest evidence pointing to balance scales being regularly used in the Indus River Valley around 2400 BCE. Throughout man's history, scales have been used to conduct business of all sorts. In fact, with only the exception of the abacus, the scale was the one major device that created the business of doing business.

As technology and society have advanced hand in hand, so has the weighing scale. At one time, if a dealer wanted to purchase gold, silver, or other precious metal, they had to lug along huge scales, including several sets of counter weights, to measure the weight of the metals they were buying. Accuracy was essential, and still is, whether determining the precious metals in jewelry, or weighing ingredients for a cake recipe. The scales these days may be digital and small enough to fit in your pocket, but they are useless if they are not accurate.

This guide takes a look at pocket digital scales and how the user can ensure that their pocket digital scale is calibrated correctly for accurate measuring. There is also information on how to find pocket digital scales on eBay.

The Pocket Digital Scale

A digital scale is a weight measuring device that measures the weight of an object or a substance. Digital scales are internal strain gauge scales that need an electric power supply to operate. A strain gauge is a thin strip of electrically-charged, deformation-sensitive foil. When objects are placed on digital scales, the strain gauge is pressed down, causing it to flex. This flexing of the gauge sends an electronic signal to the device's measuring program. This program interprets the degree to which the gauge has flexed and translates this into a weight measurement reading.

Uses for Pocket Digital Scales

In the past, weighing anything required sizeable measuring equipment. Pocket digital scales rose out of the need for a measuring device that was portable, yet durable enough, to be used both indoors and outdoors to weigh a variety of objects and substances. While these scales are very durable, they are still sensitive measuring device and they need to be cared for when being transported. It will be necessary to calibrate the scales regularly. Pocket digital scales are used to measure precious metals and gems, parcels before shipping, and ingredients for cooking, especially baking.

Weighing Gold, Gems, etc

The gold and precious jewels trade have always required that buyers and sellers have the most accurate scales possible. For the merchants, the requirement to lug that heavy equipment, almost made the effort not worth the profit. With pocket digital scales, all that buyers and sellers need to carry along now are their scales and their checkbooks. Many jewelry pocket digital scales used for weighing gold and gems are easily carried in a case or satchel.

Packages for Postage

Most small and home-based businesses today are processing their own postage. Businesses that do process their own postage need digital postal scales (or scales that have a postage setting) to determine how much postage to print and pay for. Unless the business is shipping boxes of 20 to 30 pounds or heavier, a space-saving pocket digital scale is a really good option. Since most small and home-based businesses are always looking for inexpensive ways to do businesses, pocket-sized digital scales can save on space and costs related to postage.

In the Kitchen

Pocket digital scales make for perfect kitchen scales. Not only are they accurate, but their small size makes them easy to store in even the most modestly-sized kitchen. Being preprogrammed for metric and standard weights and measures, amateur and professional chefs can get quick and accurate measures for recipes. Being compact, light, and battery-powered, pocket digital scales are perfect for cooking while camping and on vacation.

Care and Calibration of a Pocket Digital Scale

Regardless of what the scales will be used for, keeping the scales in good working order is important to ensure accuracy. This not only includes making sure that a pocket digital scale has a reliable power source, but that the scale is regularly cleaned and most importantly calibrated properly. It is vitally important that the scale be cleaned properly before being calibrated, as dirt and debris will adversely affect the calibration process. Depending on what the scales are used for and how often they are used, the need for cleaning, calibrating and changing or recharging batteries will vary.

Cleaning a Pocket Digital Scale

In order to be certain that your pocket digital scale is performing at its best, regular cleaning must be performed. If the scale is only used once in a while, cleaning after use and then a good cleaning every three months is adequate to keep the scale in great shape. If however, the scales are used several times per week to daily, then constant cleaning at least once a week is called for.

To clean a pocket digital scale, the first thing that should be done is to consult the owner's manual for any specific warnings or cleaning tips.