I'm hoping to build my first self bow this winter after hunting season is done. I've got the wood and most of the hand tools and aids (shaving horse, tillering tree, etc), except one. The tool I'm missing is a scale for checking draw weight and I'm not sure where/how to proceed.

I've seen bow scales of various sorts from different suppliers and pictures of "other" kinds of scales (for weighing fish, luggage, etc).

What are some of your recommendations and why do you recommend "this" particular scale or type of scale? What has worked well for you and what has not? Cost is something of a factor since I don't want to spend hundreds of $$ for something I may only use once but I am also willing to spend a bit for something that works properly and can be used again if I like the bow when I finish.

As a complete newby, I'm not expecting to come close to building a hunting weight bow. I'm just hoping for something that works for me to have some backyard target fun and mostly to learn something. Any advice on scales (or any other aspect of bow building) would be greatly appreciated.

I have a digital bow scale from 3Rivers. You can use a luggage scale or fishing scale or a Hansen 100# spring scale. The older analog bathroom scales work well with a tiller stick.

Every bathroom scale I ever stepped onto was a notorious liar!

I used the luggage scale from Wally World, cheap but serviceable. Now I have a game scale that is for weighing deer.

Get this one.

http://www.3riversarchery.com/Digital+Bow+Scale_i5950_baseitem.html

I been wanting a digital myself but the reviews are scary so I been hold off.
I guess Roy has made a bow or two so
if Roy says it good, I'll buy one.

You could start a "Roys List" from breakfast cereal to spoke shaves!

Lou

Thanks for the information. Since it's not all that critical to me, I'll probably start with the 100# spring scale. If I like the bow work, I'll look to pick up the digital scale Roy recommended. I appreciate the advice.

I bought a digital from cabelas, think it was 20.00, checked it against the pro shops scale and was within a couple tenths. YMMV