Check Weighers

The current maple sap boiling was mentioned here:

https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2026/03/maple-syrup-update.html

I still would like to improve the process if possible at reasonable expense.  

The internet (and the real world, too) is an easier place when you get to know the specialized vocabulary of an area of interest.  In the case of measuring the mass of distilled water the term I needed is: check weigher.  A check weigher is a scale with a light or alarm when the item being weighed (massed) is either too heavy, too light or just right.

This is what I need for monitoring the distilled water output of the still while boiling the maple sap down to maple syrup.  Here are some examples from McMaster-Carr and Ebay:

love the stop light type design

$847.06 (plus shipping and tax): https://www.mcmaster.com/products/check-weighers/go-no-go-digital-display-bench-top-scales~~/

$188.85 (but Fedex): https://www.ebay.com/itm/305239215849

$153.78 (USPS): https://www.ebay.com/itm/227255153130

The present method for measuring the distilled water works OK but has two problems.  First, the scale times out either after 2 minutes or 5 minutes.  So I have to lift up the 8 pound pitcher of water to turn on the scale and then set the pitcher back down - gently.  The second problem is that I have to stand around watching the boil at the end.  It would be nice to just plug in a scale and not worry about timeouts AND rely on an alarm to let me know when the target mass of water has been distilled.

Unfortunately the check weighers are expensive - possibly this might be where a home project check weigher would be justified ?   I'll have to think about it.

The current method is much better than last maple season.  But at least I now know that I don't just want a digital scale - I want a check weigher !  :)

Best Regards,
Chuck, WB9KZY
http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm