Is there a best cartridge track force gauge?

Mikelavigne sez:

the Shure (...) works fine as a backup

Mike, how do you get round avoiding the (cartridge) magnets attracting the metal base?? Whenever I get the stylus in the slot, the whole metal pivot sticks to the cartridge:( Of course the reading is way off...
Thanks

Some of the Shure scales have a steel arm, while others, like mine, have aluminum. I simply cannot believe that Shure ever made such a mistake, but they did. Find another one if you plan to keep using a Shure gauge.

As an aside, I've compared the Shure to my digital scale and it is very accurate. But, the "repeatability" factor as accomplished by the digital is one that cannot be beaten by the Shure. Otherwise, they are about a wash and you should always do a final fine tune by ear anyway.

4yanx, you concerned me as my Shure is too shinny to be aluminum. It is not magnetic, however.

Tbg, I am not CERTAIN that my Shure is aluminum, I suppose. Someone said that those that aren't steel are aluminum, maybe nickel-plated. All I know is that mine is not magnetic while one that a friend once owned was magentic. In any event, this is a serious flaw in some of those scales and one would be wise to ensure that any they were interested in buying (ie used) was not magnetic. Otherwise, they work great.

Tbg...Stainless steel is non magnetic.