How can I best store my calibration weights?

It’s no secret that calibration weights can lose mass over time, but there’s a lot you can do to increase their longevity and help them retain their original weight. The best way to care for your calibration weights is to follow these guidelines:

• Proper storage: Keep them in a padded box or holder designed for this purpose. Even tiny dust particles can affect the weight, especially in the case of milligram weights or other highly sensitive weights.

• Handling carefully: For the same reason, always handle your weights with gloves or tweezers to prevent oils and dirt from your fingers from contaminating the weight. Remember that your fingers naturally leave oils, even after washing. If you use gloves, make sure the material doesn’t leave lint or dirt on the weights. Any dust or debris on the weight can be removed with a suitable brush. We offer a selection of gloves, tweezers, and cleaning brushes for this purpose.

• Temperature consideration: Ensure that the scale and the weights are at the same temperature. The temperature of a weight can matter more than you think, and if there’s a large difference between the weight and the scale, it can affect your calibration.

• Certification: It may also be necessary to choose certified calibration weights or send your weights for certification. Manufacturers like KERN and ADAM offer certificates for their calibration weights, which can be purchased with each order.

• Correct weight class: Make sure you purchase the correct class of weights for your application.

Taking the time to properly calibrate your weights is wasted if the calibration is unreliable. Following these guidelines will help ensure accurate results. How much dust, oils, and dirt affect the weight depends on both the precision class of the weight and its size. It can be difficult to judge when to handle a weight with gloves or tweezers, so it may be a good idea to establish fixed handling procedures to achieve the best results.

It’s no coincidence that our calibration weights are made from materials such as brass, aluminum, and cast iron. The surface of the weight can have a major impact on its durability and reliability. Imagine a rough or worn surface and then zoom in on the bumps and grooves. Many tiny particles can become trapped there, which can alter the weight. That’s why it’s important for the surface to be smooth and clean—and this is easiest to maintain on a metal weight.

If you have any questions about our range or need advice, you can, as always, contact our customer service.