Jordan1 said:
Hi,
I want opinions on the purchases of new or used equipment when purchasing a xrf and an analytical balance.
I have found prices varying from 1000 us - 5000+ us .
I have also found used equipment websites that offer warranties with the products they are selling.
Please let me know your opinions.
Thanks,
Jordan
I'm an old timer with 50 years in this business and, personally, I would never have a desire or a need for an xrf. I wouldn't have one unless I were sorting base metal alloys on a large scale. I certainly wouldn't use one for precious metals. There are other ways to do things, much better ways, in my humble opinion. Precious metals are too valuable to trust a digital readout. I like fire assay because I can see, hold, and weigh the actual gold.
I see 100s of used .0001g analytical balances on Ebay ranging from $50 to $3000. I have used about every type, from those where you balance the left-right swings to chain-o-matics to those with changeable internal weights to the newer ones where you just put what you're weighing on the pan and read it out. I still could get along with the old Christian-Becker Chain-O-Matic, but I think my favorite is a Mettler or Satorious of the type with internal weights. They're almost as fast as the newer ones, where you just put it on the pan and read it out. Being old, I'm definitely an analog guy. For example, I hate computerized AAs or digital rectifiers. I like to watch those meter needles move.
The biggest problem with a used balance, especially one that has movable parts, is the shipping, unless it's purchased from a balance company. An individual usually has no idea how to pack a mechanical balance. For example, if he doesn't know how to stabalize the beam or the internal weights, the balance will probably be severely damaged during transit. Some of the better internal weight balances had built-in devices for locking down the beam and the weights. Some of those used mechanical balances could be bought for a song if the seller could convince you that he knows what he's doing.
I've had 2 balances that were wrecked in shipping. One wasn't packed right and the other one was dropped by the UPS driver.
I noticed on eBay that there are new .0001g balances for $418. China, no doubt. I have no idea about their accuracy, etc.
Things like accuracy, linearity, and repeatability are everything.
https://watermark.silverchair.com/labmed35-0048.pdf?token=AQECAHi208BE49Ooan9kkhW_Ercy7Dm3ZL_9Cf3qfKAc485ysgAAAbAwggGsBgkqhkiG9w0BBwagggGdMIIBmQIBADCCAZIGCSqGSIb3DQEHATAeBglghkgBZQMEAS4wEQQMr7jSbkuE4vzGMg8-AgEQgIIBYyi8Ic5Zd3cX2U-mAjrpcJ00tnlWGASNUZVg_CReNZC_-YLp3RhPCXlprnROTDpJH0PXPeWJAEE61VVTrkhA9sj7YWRFxyrGmbBhGDx16YIDVjDLVAtwpgzQSvNfhuBGqeUc7o4QOQrc4LlVoZaQJC4nyU5urIThmeTEN-b6VLg7sVRqVl9AE1gOSM1n6MlvqZ92MhVmQPiISTcTdqYlz42uzf7q6dgkZqAjCcbrXTCsg3ALD3EP6S1-Sm8yfHVFoUuWwRaBCxKpggJTOQanzB_7O5JlHatncWLE-g6m8qdDnsCsuoYGeUPGd8eYYOYg6Rogc6SpS8HLh-TbyhCaZGBneVEfwrhOrnlE8MPjCO-2MTvXscYj5W0t-x7DQ5h7_MgrytIz8wvWj_B0COBBGokHBJR5_AM41eSl5MSYSAOXa5ZEWhtjmy773fLnhXUkDd1B7dKhy1p0stIHToeFdfq-iCs
In the past, I have bought highly calibrated mg weights to check out an analytical balance, but a highest grade one, say a tiny, aluminum, 1mg one, might cost $50-$100. You can't touch them with your fingers (oils) or you'll ruin them.