Thursday, May 15, 2014

So...

Not only was there the measuring tape trick with the pistol the other day, but I just got a postal scale in the mail. And the Chrony.

I have the urge to go measure stuff now. I feel like I should have a lab coat. And a pocket protector. I bet my roommate has some dial calipers.

FWIW, an empty PPX weighs 26.9 ounces, while an empty FNS-9 comes in at 24.6. I had an empty Glock 19, but it had a Lightguard on it and I didn't think that was fair. I'll probably go weigh it, too.

I wonder if I could get Huck to stand still on the platform?


*Oh, and the trigger pull gauge. Thanks for reminding me, pdb!
.

21 comments:

joethefatman said...

What no slide rule?

pdb said...

Actually, even after acquiring all of those devices, the implement that raised my eyebrows the most was a recording trigger pull scale. Our fingers LIE.

Tam said...

Ah, yes, I have the fish scale, too. I want to measure ALL THE THINGS now.

Old Radar Tech said...

Cat weighing procedure:
Weigh random book, place on scale open. Pretend you're reading it.

Subtract weight of book from total once cat decides to 'assist' - usually immediately after said cat discovers open book.

og said...

Now you need a Planimeter.

http://www.engineersupply.com/Lasico-L10A-Planimeter.aspx?gdftrk=gdfV22645_a_7c983_a_7c4620_a_7cES54&gclid=CLL__96Srr4CFWNgMgodvBgAWA

Mine is about a hundred bloody years old but still looks like new in it's satin lined leatherette case.

Windy Wilson said...

Now I'm thinking about Bilbo Baggins measuring cleavage in "The Aviator" with a ruler!

Drang said...

I wonder if I could get Huck to stand still on the platform?
My money's on Huck. There's a reason the vet has a kitty scale scale with a great, big platform on it. I have mental images of senior year vet students getting graded on their cat weighing technique...

Brian said...

Just put a box on the scale. No cat can resist a box.

global village idiot said...

Welome to my world, Tam...

gvi

Bruce said...

Time to join the League of Mad Scientists, set up bubbling beakers in the background (they make great coffee makers), Tesla coils zapping for visual and sound effects, a drafting table with T-square, and an engineers pocket notebook to record your arcane data. Add a hunchbacked Igor as your minion and you're all set...

Kristophr said...

Does Huck count as a weapon?

Robert said...

What Brian said. Get a cardboard box.

NotClauswitz said...

If you can't find a lab-coat a shop-apron will do.

mikee said...

Cats are readily weighed by attaching and weighing a cat toy to the scale, then getting the cat to attack the toy.

While the cat is suspended in the air, attached to the cat toy, read the weight and subtract weight of toy.

Problem solved.

Joseph said...

How did you not already have these things???

Hat Trick said...

Better check the maximum weight on your scale before you try to weigh Huck. Wouldn't want to break it.

Alien said...

Feline gravitational attraction determination, Home Version.

Obtain:
1. Feline, qty 1
2. Cloth sack, qty 1
3. Fish scale, qty 1

Insert feline into cloth sack. Attach sack to fish scale, lift from floor. Read scale. Gently return sack to floor, open sack, release feline.

For some reason, popping the fuzzball into a soft cloth sack doesn't usually cause much in the way of undesirable random action by the involuntary participant. At least, not for the time required to obtain a gravitational atraction reading, but I would suggest all deliberate speed. Rubbing a little bit of catnip on the interior of the sack seems to help.

Kevin R.C. O'Brien said...

Cats are easily weighed in a cardboard box. You establish the tare weight of the box first, then insert the cat, couple whacks with strapping tape. You then have about 1:30 to get the weight before felix establishes a new egress point.

That's why you get the tare weight first. Because afterwards, the box has lost some weight in the form of ribbons and shards. Also, the cat may be cross at you for a while.

Don't ask how I know this.

Meanwhile -- I got a Lyman digital trigger pull gauge, but have not had good results with it. Maybe you've inspired me to pull it out and try some trigger pulls.

Drang said...

I have this sudden realization that Tam is sitting there, reading the comments and suggestions, and rolling her eyes and muttering "Tells jokes to Aspies..."

Anonymous said...

Pffft. Y'all are puttin' waaay too much work into weighing the cat.

There's a reason cats don't like to stand on scales. The scale platform moves, and cats *really* don't like the ground, or anything else, for that matter, moving under their feet. S'why they get off the scale as soon as you put them on it.

So. To weigh a cat:

1) Weigh yourself.

2) Pick up the cat and weigh yourself again.

3) Subtract result (1) from result (2).

Done.

BSR

Tango Juliet said...

Science Tam!

Molecules.