Stylus Force Gauge

Goatwuss,

Good question. Don't put your stylus directly on the platform of any digital gauge. That would indeed cause the problem you noted and also another. Many scales are magnetic and/or contain magnetic materials. The strong attraction would distort your measurement and might damage your cartridge.

Use a weighing step, which holds the stylus off to one side (no magnets) and down at typical LP height (no VTA problem).

The $800 (or $350) Winds scale includes one. So does the reasonably priced scale sold by Sorasound and others. Look at the pictures. I DIY'd a step years ago to use with my $75 jeweller's scale. Took 3 minutes, cost no money, works every time.

If I were buying today I'd buy the one sold by Sorasound.

Has anyone with a graded (dynamic) VTF e.g. SME-V ever confirmed whether the gauge or the arm's scale are well matched?

Same could be asked about e.g. SME-IV (static) VTF a.b.c.d.e.f. weight scaling.
A.

I use the Micro-Tech XMT-200 (200g/0.1g) digital scale which uses a weighing step off to one side as Doug suggests. The step height (surface for stylus) is approximately the same height as that of a thicker LP on the platter. It cost about $50 a couple years ago and works great. I did'nt know about possible magnets damaging the cartridge.

Axel, I have found that my scale reading and my SME V dynamic VTF dial are usually spot on. If they are off, it is never by more than the 0.1g accuracy of my scale and I just turn the dial very slightly and measure again.

Don't put your stylus directly on the platform of any digital gauge. That would indeed cause the problem you noted and also another. Many scales are magnetic and/or contain magnetic materials. The strong attraction would distort your measurement and might damage your cartridge

Does the AUDIO ADDITIVES - DIGITAL STYLUS FORCE GAUGE have a magnetic platform? Looks like the advertising

http://www.musicdirect.com/products/images.php?i=-1&p=31026&h=72700

shows it placed directly on the platform.

Here's the Canrong gauge accurate to within .01 grams for $13. You'll need to buy a calibration weight for a couple of bucks as well because at that price it doesn't come with it.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16269

I have the Canrong reading to within .001 grams and have had it for a number of years-paid about $65 for it. Non-magnetic weigh platform. Extremely accurate.

But if you can live with reads to within .01 I don't think you'll do much better. Buy 2 on the off chance that one goes bad and you'll still be way ahead of the game.