A Guide on How to Weigh Things without a Scale
Do you want to weigh something or an item, but you have no weighing scale, or the one you have is faulty? Are you limited or running out of time, and maybe you are required to weigh things immediately? Are you thinking of purchasing a weighing scale to use only one time? You can save money and use it to do other things. This article is a guide on weighing things without using a scale. Imagine in the olden days, there were no weighing scales but people still weighed whatever they needed to weigh. Note that there are various ways to measure/weigh big or small things without a scale, and just like the olden days, you can consider using these different ways to weigh items in the absence of a scale. Read on to find out how to go about it.
A detailed guide on how to weigh things without a scale
You can start by collecting already weighed items. Search through the items in your home and collect those whose weight is known. You can look for bottled, canned, or packaged dry items that have already been weighed, like a kg of sugar, salt, or 5 liters of water in a bottle, and use them to weigh. Remember all items packed and labeled with the amount of weight they have, either in grams, kg, pounds, ounce or liters, etc. This information will be very helpful when searching for equivalent weight to the weight of the items you already have. This will make your work simple.
1. How to use a hanger to weigh small things
Are you planning to bake, cook or send a parcel but do not have a weighing scale? Well, here are simple ways to measure various small items. According to the Euro Sender, it is possible to weigh a small package without a weighing scale using a hanger. You can use the following items to measure small things; these items include a strong hanger, a plain bag, and a strong support pole to hang the hangers-on.
Steps to follow
Tie the two bags each on one side of the hanger strongly, and place the hanger on the pole. You should then put the item you want to weigh in one bag, place the other item in the other bag and balance the two until the hanger is stable and on the same level.
2. Creating a homemade seesaw
Creating a seesaw might seem like a lot of work to do. However, did you know you can create one in a few simple ways and fast by using already available materials in your compound or home? Find the following materials to make a simple seesaw at home:
- A piece of flat rock or a brick
- A piece of wood
- How to make a seesaw
- Use the brick or rock as the pivot point by placing the wood in the middle and balancing it.
- How to weigh items using a seesaw
Take the items you want to weigh, for example, a parcel that you want to send of 3kgs find a packet of flour that weighs 2kgs and a bottle of water that has 1 liter of water place them on one side of the beam and the parcel on the other, balance them until they are at the same level by adding or removing items from the parcel package, once they are on the same level at 180 degrees or the wood will be flat, the desired scale would have been achieved. By following the mentioned simple steps, you will have achieved the amount of weight you desired to weigh and send without worrying about any additional charges. According to Life Hacks Stack Exchange, there are many other ways of creating a seesaw at home to help you weigh things without a scale.
3. Use simple mathematics
If it is a parcel that you want to send, you can do some simple math by calculating the length, width, and height of an object to get its weight. Alternatively, if you don’t have a ruler to help you get the exact measurements, you can use a piece of paper such as an A4, or A5 to get the measurement that you need. Every paper has a standard measurement. This will simplify your work by converting the measurement of the paper. Also, consider the fact that when sending something like a parcel, the packaging box or envelope is also counted in for. Making all these considerations will help you better understand the kind of packing you will use while sending your parcel. Every packaging you use to send your item will affect the weight of the parcel and will be added to your overall weight. It is important to take account of the packaging materials you will use and measure it too while weighing, but you should not worry much about this if you used the packaging while weighing your items.
4. Using a ruler or tape to measure
A ruler can measure things like the weight of a box by measuring the width, length, and height, and then calculating the approximate weight. However, this can only apply to small things. For bigger and larger things, you can use a tape measure. You can also take a ruler and create a beam balance that you can use to weigh small things like coffee and spices while cooking.
5. Use your mobile phone for weighing
With the advanced technology, you can download an app on your phone that can help you weigh different things on the screen. However, you need to think about what could destroy your screen or cause it to crack. Well, most items will not damage your screen, but this does not mean that you place a liter of milk on your phone to weigh. Some apps have been developed to help you measure small things on your phones, such as a ring, or a bracelet that may weigh a few grams. For that emergency cup of coffee, you want to make in the office, and the weighing scale is no longer functioning, you need to install an app that will help you measure the amount of coffee you need and sugar to make a delicious cup of latte.
6. Weigh using water
Did you know you can measure things using water? Well yes, you can follow the following guideline to assist you to weigh things using water. Get a bucket, fill it with water. Mark the water level. Then place an empty tin inside the bucket let it flow Add for example 1 liter of cooking oil in the tin let the water flow mark to where the tin has a sink Add the water to the water level it was previously then return the tin in water and add the items let say the beans you want to weigh in the tin Watch until the tin sinks to the mark you had marked earlier this way you will have obtained the same measurement you desired to get.
7. Weigh using volume
There are different volumes of different objects, understanding the basic principles will help you get to know how items are weighted by volumes and how it affects their weight. Knowing the difference between the water density and the seawater density will help you vary between the two and get more accurate measurements while weighing them since they have different concentrations. The density of water is 1.0 while that of seawater is 1.03. the density of ice on the other hand is 0.9. These variations are worth noting as you measure other different items.
8. Using the eyeballing technique
In the opinion of Learn Compact Appliance, you can train yourself to measure ingredients like salt, sugar, and spices among others just by looking at them. Try weighing things on a scale and using your palm to pour them while cooking or preparing food. This way, you will master the amount you pour on your palm frequently and use it to weigh the amount you need while cooking. Alternatively, you can start out with measurement utensils like a tea or tablespoon of salt, and pour it on your hand’s palm. Attempt to memorize the way the substance feels and appears on your hand. Try this with most of the ingredients you use in your kitchen and with different measurements. Familiarizing yourself with the appearances and weights of the ingredients will assist you in understanding how to weigh ingredients better without relying on measuring cups and spoons. This method saves more time while cooking or baking.
9. Use different cups to weigh
Have you ever wondered if all liquid and dry measuring cups are the same? The answer is no. You might need to use liquid cups to measure liquids and dry cups to measure dry items. Here is why. Each cup has been designed to measure the number of ingredients accurately. Thus, using either of them to measure the other might give you inaccurate measurements. Both cups might have the same volume. However, they are made to carry each of their works of measurements.
The next time you go into a store to purchase a measuring cup, ensure that you get both the liquid and dry measuring cups. It is of essence to understand the marks on the measuring cylinders and cups you’re using. If a cup has been marked to weigh a liter and you decide to add the material you are measuring to the brim, you will have missed the measurement. The additional space was designed to allow you to move your content without spilling, read correctly and follow the marked parts for accurate measurements.
When using the dry cups to measure the amount of an ingredient, you need to avoid shaking the cup or squeezing down or packing the ingredients since this will add more weight to the ingredients and change their quantity. Add the ingredients using a spoon into the cup or pour the ingredients slowly to avoid spillage. Please note that in every eight-ounce; there is a cup. This will come in handy when doing some math concerning the weight of ingredients.
10. Use a spoon to weigh
Using a teaspoon to weigh a large number of things can be very difficult and tiring although, using it to measure small things that weigh to a gram or an ounce can be achieved easily. Converting an ounce to a tablespoon is simple by mastering the following; six teaspoons are equivalent to one fluid ounce thus if you need three ounces of a certain liquid you will measure it using a teaspoon. 18 teaspoons are equal to three ounces. While keeping in mind the difference between an ounce in a teaspoon and an ounce in a tablespoon. When it comes to a tablespoon, an ounce equals two tablespoons.
11. Calculating body weight without weighing scale
Losing weight can sometimes be very stressful for individuals who are doing their best to lose weight. However, it is advisable not to stand on the weighing scale every day, but this should not limit you in knowing your weight progress. By using a measuring tape or water displacement method, you can know and weigh the progress you have had of the day before you stand again on the scale to get the exact weight.
One final word
You will use the correct quantity and tools to get accurate measurements without using a weigh scale. This method might not be 100% effective, but it might be very close to the accurate estimation you need at the time of use. Before purchasing a scale, think of how to use the above method to weigh things since this will save you money and time. Be creative and use the items already in your home.
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