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How to Weigh Gold Without a Scale

If you're curious about the weight of your gold, but don't have a scale, you can fabricate a simple balance using materials readily available from your grocery or hobby store. You can determine measurements by comparing standard coin weights to those of gold samples. According to the United States Mint, a U.S. penny weighs 2.5 grams and a nickel is 5 grams. Add more coins for heavier weights, or purchase a chemistry weight set that can offer a greater range of weights for more accurate readings.

Things You'll Need

U.S. penny
U.S. nickel
Chemistry weight set (optional)
2 tin cans, 12-oz.
Lever-type can opener
Roll of string
Ruler
Scissors
Round dowel, 1-inch by 12-inch
Power drill
¼-inch drill bit
Wood square 4-inches by 4-inches
Round dowel, 2-inches by 18-inches
Wood glue
1 Nail 3-inch
Hammer
Gold sample

Instructions

- 1
  Empty, wash and dry two of the same type tin cans to serve as trays for the balance. Use short-walled cans, such as 12-oz. tuna cans.
- 2
  Punch three equidistant holes around the sides of the tin cans, using a lever-type can opener. Make holes large enough to thread string through.
- 3
  Cut six 10-inch lengths of string that will hold the tin can trays onto the pole. Measure string using a ruler, and cut with scissors.
- 4
  Drill two ¼-inch holes into the small dowel. Position the drill 1 inch from each edge and drill straight through the diameter of the dowel.
- 5
  Thread one string through each hole on one can. Make tight knots. Gather the opposite ends of the three strings and one by one, thread them through the hole at one end of the dowel. Tie a secure knot on the top of the dowel. Repeat the same string threading and knotting for the second tin can at the other end of the dowel.
- 6
  Glue the 2-inch wide dowel onto the 4-inch by 4-inch block base for the stand. Allow to dry for 30 minutes, or according to packaging recommendations.
- 7
  Nail the center of the small dowel onto the vertical column, placing it 1 inch from the top. Using the hammer, work out the nail and then back in to wide the hole. This will produce a swinging pivot, a requirement for a working balance.
- 8
  Place gold in one tray and a weight in the other. Add weight to the measuring tray until the balance becomes steady.
- 9
  Multiply the number of pennies in the tray by 2.5, the number of nickels by 5, and add those values together. Add the total value of metal weights, if you chose that option. This will give you the final weight of your gold sample.

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