Electronic stylus force gauge question

Dear Doug,
Dougdeacon said :

Your assumption that, "Actus is experienced enough to know whether he needs to go plus or minus 1/100th of a gram", is belied by his own words. He clearly stated that he has no intention of doing so.

Where? Now you are the one making assumptions. Being experienced enough and acting upon it are 2 different things. He only states the obvious fact of being guided by the manufacturer's advice and he has been polite enough to admit to being "less golden eared than you", nothing more.

BTW I'm tracking mine at 1.759g - subject to tolerance of course. :o)
Kind regards....

I prefer the good old analog VTF gauge. I can see the counterweight and I know it works, but the scale shown on eBay intrigues me. I suggest for calibration purposes using a brand new shiny penny. The new pennies weigh 2.500 grams. That is close to the VTF values we all seek. Just get a new, untouched penny from the bank, don't touch it with fingers and get oils on it, or clean with alcohol first and see how accurate your gauge is with that.

Yuk...this "argument" is really getting silly. I offered my views because in MY experience, I found my posting to be absolutely accurate...but only for those who are looking for the very best their setup can bring to them. If that is not your goal zei gazundt. ( although its a puzzelment why you are on this forum)

Stringreen,
Whom are your comments directed at? No one challenged or took issue with your posts. It's puzzling to me why you would choose to post such an antagonizing reply, whomever you're referring to.

As a side note, please re-read my original post. I never asked for advice about tracking my cartridge. I simply asked a specific question about a digital scale. This whole "silly argument" began because some of the responses, I believe starting with yours, moved away from what was asked and began a whole other discussion that now has culminated in these unnecessary diatribes. I know you mean to provide beneficial advice to those who know less than you (and I personally have always valued your opinion), but I think it would serve us all better to simply address the questions asked only, or refrain from posting, rather than pontificate, however accurate it might be in your opinion.

Q: Can someone explain the problem with my stylus gauge; it's acting wonky when I take a reading for my cart at 1.75g?

A: Why on earth are you so obsessed with tracking at 1.75g?

I'm no logician, but I believe informally we can call that a non sequitur. I agree though that some non sequiturs can prove educational.

I had a similar experience recently with my cheap electronic gauge and a new cart. The reading would go negative as the stylus approached (but did not touch), and if I hover the stylus a bit above the gauge, the reading would go all over the place. This had never happened before with my other carts, so I naturally blamed first the fan that was on, then the air conditioning, and finally the batteries. None of the above. It was the new cart's interaction with the gauge. I know this because I just swapped back to an old cart and the reading is stable and repeatable (as usual)--with the air and fan on.

I have no idea what about the cart's interaction with the gauge is causing the disturbance, but I share Actusreus's concern about getting a repeatable number in such circumstances (my fluctuations were far more wild than his, but even so). The reasons are for this concern are none of your business ;-)