Need to weigh a 6000lb. machine...
 

I have a machine that I need to get a fairly accurate weight on (within 100lbs or so). It is about 6' wide by 12' long and we think it is around 6000 lbs. Would like to get weight at the four corners if possible. Anybody have any ideas or know where I can rent scales reasonably. Reno Scales wants $260 per pair of scales for 3 days (min. rental). Seems expensive to me, especially since I only need the scales for an hour or two.

Um, who's got the Reno SCCA car scales? They might work.

Dean, you know who's got 'em, and you think you or I could borrow them to help out Matt for a few hours?

I'd be afraid of overloading 1 scale as you set it down. Don't know what they are rated to. I would assume they are in Dave's garage, but don't know for sure.

Weigh a truck, put the item in the truck, weigh the truck, subtract.

Some cranes/hoists and maybe fork lifts have a "scale" built into the lifting system. Lift each end and each side and do the math.

Yeah, 6000 lbs is probably too much for the SCCA scales.

Can you put on a trailer and drive to a truck stop w/ scale? Alamo has one between Vista & Sparks Blvd on Greg.

We have neither a truck big enough nor a way to lift the machine onto it. One of the reasons I need the weight is to figure out how we are going to load, unload, and move these things around the shop floor.

I think I figured out something. It will only give me weight of the two ends (not 4 corners) but that will be good enough. Turns out our shipping scale is good for 5000# so I have to figure out how to get each end onto it while keeping the machine fairly level.

Forklift and 3 blocks of wood the same height as the scale?

3445lbs on one end and 3555lbs on the other = 7000lbs. Used wood blocks and the 5k#shipping scale along with two pallet jacks. Did it by myself too. :D

And you still have all your toes!?! Amazing!