Frank said:

> (I've been wanting to put a hive or two on scales, but have not yet
> found an affordable solution.)

I've yet to see the Maxant scale, but if you want affordable, you can
make a bottom board with 2 slats across the bottom, positioned to
be equidistant from the centerline of a $8.95 bathroom scale.
Where you would put your feet is where the slats want to be.

You need a firm platform for the scale to sit upon, and cleats to
keep the scale from sliding on its base, and cleats on the
aforementioned slats to encourage correct alignment.

Directly above the scale needle, one wants a mirror at a 45-degree
angle to the horizon so you can read the weight from the back of
the hive.  The numbers will be backwards and upside down, but
you'll get the hang of it.

I tried this a few seasons ago, and one drawback is that the springs
in the scale will corrode no matter what you do, and as a result,
the readings are nothing more than a relative indication of weight
gain/loss.  This is not a very big problem, unless you want more
than a general idea of "loss versus gain".

Other problems include:

a)  The space under the bottom board makes a fine home for small mammals.

b)  A flashlight is required to see the scale reading.

c)  The hive may develop a slight list to one side.  The springs in most
     cheap scales I have seen are independent, and one side can become
     more compressed that the other if the weight in the hive is uneven.

        jim