seca 700 - Mechanical Column Scale with Eye-Level Beam

First let me say that when I got on this scale for the first time I was disappointed. I measured my weight and when I wanted to tweak it to the accurate setting I had to step off of the scale and get back on again. The long arm would move up and down but then get stuck at one position; even when I moved the weight a little. My brother said, "Give it a day or two to break in." He was right. In a couple of days this thing turned into an accuracy dream. You can step on the scale hard, soft, jump on (hyperbole) or anywhere in between and it will give you the same exact reading. If when you first get on and the measuring weights are a little off, you can tap them, or move them in hairline increments and it will affect the moving bar/gauge. Some may complain that the bar slowly, and I mean slowly swaying up and down in a gentle arc makes it difficult to measure your weight, but not so. You simply move the fine weight over until the sway bar swings the small same amount above the line and below the line. This is one super fine dead on accurate scale. My old spring scale would give me readings all over the place. Depending on how I stepped on the scale it would vary as much as 5 to 7 pounds. I got tired of that so I bought this SECA 700. The point I am getting to here and the title of this review is now I can see a direct correlation between what I eat on a given day and the immediate result in my weight. If I eat a donut and have pancakes for breakfast and my weight is up 1/2 pound the next day I can see that. If I cheat a little bit I can see a 1/8th or 1/4 pound difference. Yesterday I went back on my program, for example fresh squeezed orange juice, fruit including honeydew melon and pineapple, all that I want in the morning, and then a big salad for lunch with a skinless chicken breast with mustard and no bread. Then for dinner I usually have some steamed vegetables with a piece of broiled fish. At night time my snack is either more fruit, or a big bowl of hot air popper popcorn no salt or butter added. Anyhow, yesterday I did breakfast and lunch that way, but by the time I got home; after 9PM I decided it was too late to eat so I had zero calorie yogurt in a frozen fruit shake with 1/3 cup of nuts blended into almond/walnut milk and added cinnamon. I got up this morning and I was down a pound and a half. I didn't even go to the bathroom yet. So back to the scale. The reason why a scale this accurate is so important is that you are constantly faced with the truth. You can't say, like you do when you have a crappy scale, "Oh it doesn't matter if I eat that donut and that pie, because the last time I did that I stepped on the scale the next day and I was down a pound. WRONG, the scale lied to you. So without accurate data you cannot ascertain the correct diagnosis. Scale specifics: Assembling it is a breeze. Just follow the directions exactly. This thing is well built. The only thing that I think is a weak point is the two screws that hold the two big tubes together. They are sheet metal screws and not large ones. When I installed the first one it stripped out with very little effort, the second one went in fine. I realize that by going to the local home center I can get two stainless sheet metal screws that are slightly larger and created a new tight fitting screw hold. The other parts of the tube have welded machine thread nuts on them. The one thing I have to say is that the two tubes fit together so precisely that you could actually use it without any screws and it won't have any play in it; so I am getting critical here. This is built well enough that I expect it to last a lifetime. There isn't any spring to wear out or get sticky at certain weights etc. so it not only will last a long time, it will also maintain its accuracy. Overall highly recommended.

The Seca 700 with 220 measuring rod is of high quality design and build, beautiful to look at, accurate and unerring in its measurements when properly assembled and calibrated. Like many other reviewers of this product, I am one to research extensively before making expensive purchases. This device is absolutely worth the money and it is fairly priced compared to competition. Its design is better (specifically the balance beam and stabilization loop) and it measures to finer increments than others in its class. Yet it is far less expensive than Detecto scales and appropriately priced above Health-O-Meter models that do not offer the same fine features. I was initially a little concerned about purchasing this scale based on the 1 star reviews indicating accuracy and other problems after assembly, but I'm glad I decided to give it a try for myself. This scale is NOT that hard to assemble if you are willing and able to concentrate for about 10 minutes and follow the diagrams provided carefully. I'm convinced that those complaining about difficulty of assembly and quality problems (with the exception of those who called CS and received a true defective diagnosis) simply failed to concentrate and properly assemble and calibrate the device correctly. For me, the device went together easily enough and with a tiny bit of head scratching I was able to figure out which screws belonged to each step of the process. The most tricky part was in attaching the height rod because the fixture that attaches to the column has a sliding mechanism inside it (this allows for post install calibration) that obscures the screw holes. But with a bit of fiddling I realized and corrected my errors. After this, I spent about 20 minutes carefully calibrating both the weight and height readings because I want the most precise and accurate measurements I can get as I work in the fitness and fat loss industry and I track my own weight and height carefully each day (yes, folks... height DOES matter; even for adults because it does fluctuate based on rest/hydration levels and your height is a major factor in determining the appropriate amount to eat for various purposes). The balance beam is easy to calibrate, but to get it absolutely perfect, you'll want to spend some care and attention. As others have noted, using your thumb and forefinger to stabilize the beam balance indicator by pinching it level with the stabilizing loop (on the far right of the beam mechanism) is the secret to a perfect calibration and more speedy and precise weight measurements each day. My scale came very close to perfect out of the box, but I wanted it to be dead-on so I spent extra time adjusting it. After making my adjustments with the scale zeroed out I also weighed several dumbbells and weight plates and found it to be precisely accurate with all. To calibrate the height rod, I set it to 60", extended the measuring slide (this is the top piece that fits over the user's head), and then used a high quality electrician's tape measure that has a magnetized tip (which attached itself firmly to the platform) and measured from the platform to the measuring slide to determine the delta between the current assembled measurement and a true measured 60". This provided great accuracy as the magnets attached firmly to the metal platform so I was able to get a perfectly straight up and down (vertical) measurement between the platform and the measuring slide. Note the difference (e.g. tape measure results in 60.25" so you know you must adjust the rod .25" lower to get a true 60" reading). From there, you unscrew the screw that holds the measuring rod to to the attachment fixture slightly, adjust up or down as appropriate and remeasure. Rinse and repeat until satisfied. I have been using this scale for a few days now and I'm finding my ability to weigh myself with precision is getting better and faster as I begin to get a feel for the behaviors of the balance beam and the most appropriate reactions to the feedback it gives; basically I am improving my technique at working with the scale. If you have a bit of patience for assembly, calibration and general learning curve and you're looking for high quality materials, precise accuracy and absolute repeatability, I highly recommend this scale. It is not only beautiful, but I have complete confidence in its outputs, accuracy over time (i.e., this scale won't get "friendlier" as the batteries wear down), and durability.

I just assembled a Seca 700 and a Seca 220. The finished product is sturdy and well made. Unfortunately, I have to give the overall experience one star for the following reasons. First, the product packaging done by Seca is totally insufficient to protect the contents. Some of the parts were actually hanging out of the box. Second, in verifying all the parts were there, I ended up with a C washer in the bottom of the box with no instructions for use. I will call Seca to find out what to do with this part. Finally, the instructions for assembly are very confusing. Seca has done a good job of using common parts across all of their products to minimize cost, but a very bad job of putting together easy to use assembly instructions. They give universal assembly instructions across eight products and two manuals. Again, the assembled product is great. The journey to get the product into use was frustrating and not over yet.

The scale, once assembled, is very nice. It's well finished, and attractive to look at I guess, as scales go. It seems accurate and repeatable, but hey...were not talking advanced physics here. Simple beam scales are pretty hard to mess up. I bought this one because it measures in 2oz increments, and that was my biggest criteria. As far as assembly instructions go, you're pretty much on your own. There was a picture which, I think, had a blown-up parts list. But it was in some language other than English, so I only glanced at it. The only other instructions were a separate pamphlet that only dealt with attaching the height rod. But thankfully, THAT had 8 or 10 different languages... The point is, nothing tells you how to assemble the scale itself. The only real issue is that of the 7 screws, there are four types, and three of them are similar enough in size and pitch that it's not obvious which ones go where. But still, it only took about 10 minutes to unbox and assemble it... Here's the skinny... put the column in the base first, then put the top of the scale into that column... gently lay the scale down on it's back and connect the rod to the hook in the base. Pick it up and attach the height rod. Calibrate the height rod with a tape measure and tighten it's attachment screw. Done. I get the impression that the scale was designed to be 'stylish' as well as functional. And what makes me say that is the rather modern look of the head and beam. This is most noticeable when you see how you're supposed to know the beam is at 'zero'. Instead of putting a series of lines on the scale head, and a single line or arrow on the beam, they simply have a protrusion on each that, when zeroed, line up with one another. On the picture, these protrusions are the little 'finger' sticking out to the right. It works, but frankly I'd rather have a more traditional type of indicator. It's made a little more complicated by the fact that this scale does take a while to settle down and stop bouncing. But the main thing that stops the bouncing is friction between the parts, and less of that will result in a more accurate measurement. Eventually. Hey, you might burn a few extra calories while you wait. In spite of this, I still think it's a nice scale, and I'd still buy it if I'd known all this before I made the decision.

Read through some of the previous reviews, which made me a little nervous before purchasing this scale. Turns out my fears were unfounded. Mine arrived well packaged in a factory box with no less than 13 steel packing staples holding the top closed. Inside, everything was neatly packed in the form fitting styrofoam, and sealed in plastic bags. Basic assembly uses 4 screws, and hook the rod over the platform lever underneath. Add 3 more screws if you want to attach the height rod as well. Took all of about 15 minutes, 5 of which was spent looking for the right screwdriver in my toolbox, and 5 was spent calibrating the height rod. The instructions were pretty clear to me. Written in several languages, but if you can assemble simple Ikea furniture, you can follow the pictograms as well. Once assembled, the unit is very sturdy. Weight calibration is simple with a screwdriver and a little patience: Put the scale where you're going to use it. Set the weights to zero. Make sure there's nothing on the scale/platform. Check if it's at zero. If not, use the coarse and fine adjustment points on the counterweight until it is. That's it. Height calibration is even easier: Set a height on the rod, use a tape-measure or other verifiable measuring source and check the reading versus what is set. Just make sure you're measuring from the platform to the bottom of the height "hat". Loosen the calibration screw, and adjust the rod up or down as necessary and re-tighten. Done. All of these instructions are in the manual as well. It's a big unit. You don't realize how big doctor's office scales are until it's sitting in your tiny bathroom. The wheels make it fairly easy to move around, but ideally you shouldn't be wheeling it all over the place anyway. It's not so heavy that you couldn't just pick it up and move it if you needed to. 1/8 pound accuracy is a little ridiculous if you think about it. 2 ounces is not significant versus your overall weight. If you're trying to track down that far, you're losing sight of the big picture. I've compared it against the weight I get at the doctor's office, as well as the scale at the gym (which coincidentally is a Seca), and all three match up well. I suppose if you're weighing something like a cat or small dog, it would be very significant, but, then why are you using a human scale rated for up to 500lbs for weighing a cat? Even for children, 2 oz is not very significant. The balance is very sensitive, and if you shift around alot, it will never settle down. This is partially due to the 1/8 pound resolution, and also there's minimal dampening in the system. This increases accuracy since there's minimal friction to overcome, but it also means it moves alot. There are two easy ways to address this (besides not fidgeting). One: when you've got the weight set close to where your weight is, reach over to the indicator, and gently hold it at the level point for a second then let go. Two: If it's gently bouncing evenly around the level mark, then it's probably good. If it's bouncing below or above the line, you need to adjust until it's even. Overall I'm very pleased with this scale. It was a tad more expensive, but it's well built, seems very durable, and seems like it will last for a long time. Only time will tell, I guess, but so far so good.

This is an extremely high quality professional scale. My budget was unlimited, and I was determined to find the absolute best balance-style scale, whether on or off Amazon, including looking at multiple professional supply companies. My research showed this was the best I could find (at any price), and I’m extremely happy with this scale! It is noticeably more accurate and consistent than my old digital floor scale (which seemed to change based on temperature, barometric pressure, the phase of the moon, and I don’t know what else)! Great features include an almost all metal design, large sharp and legible black laser-etched numbers (not tiny numbers and markings on a cheap sticker), markings on both sides for reading by yourself or by someone on the other side of the scale, the ability to calibrate the weight and height, and the ingenious thumb-pinch design (more on this below). Many reviewers have complained about it taking forever to get the scale to stop bouncing up and down. This just means your technique could use improvement! You don’t set a weight and wait for it to stop moving. You set your best guess at your weight to start, while pinching the tab at the right with your thumb and finger. Now slide your thumb and finger off the mechanism toward the right (this prevents you from accidentally pressing up or down as you release), and note whether the tab moves up or down. If it moves up, increase the weight; if it moves down, decrease the weight. Also note how fast it moves away from centered; if it moves quickly you need to add/subtract a lot, and if it moves away slowly you just need to tweak it a little. Don’t wait for it to bounce around at all—if it moves away from centered AT ALL, simply pinch it together again, readjust the weight, and let it go again. This clever thumb-pinching design is what the scale was designed for, and with a little practice you can find your exact weight (down to within 1 ounce if you want) within a matter of a few seconds. The only negative I found was that the bracket that holds the height measuring arm wobbled due to a poor design (too loose). This allowed the angle of the extended arm to vary considerably, leading to a possibly significant variation in height readings. The solution (which hopefully you can see in my photo) was to cut a piece of cardboard from a cereal box, fold it over about four times, and wedge it inside the front of the bracket. Problem solved!

I bought this because I didn't trust my digital scale. It's one of those cheaper ones that slightly rounds up numbers to give the effect that it's incredibly accurate, but is in fact simply telling you what you want to hear by not allowing the number to move until your weight changes by a fairly large amount. I want more increments than that, and not a locking digital thing where you can't tell if it's programmed to give you a rounded up or down number. So, I wanted to buy one of these. Funnily having this scale did in fact tell me that the digital scale was pretty accurate to roughly a quarter of a pound, but until it crossed those thresholds, it would usually give the former weight, and that isn't helpful with weight loss. It seems very nicely made and finished. I chose this one over a square tube version, because this one was frankly a little heavier, and that seems to suit these old fashioned scales. The less they flex the better, but on putting this together, I'm wondering if the square tube design might not have been the one to go for over this.. On installing the upper main head piece, one of the tiny self tapping screws stripped immediately, and the other went in seemingly fine. I notice one other reviewer said exactly the same. It took so little force, I feel I never obtained any grip or over extended too much force at all to even say it stripped exactly, more that the screw is in fact too small for the drilled hole and simply couldn't bite. These aren't mega money, but aren't cheap either, so, for a brand new thing, this is a tiny bit irritating. I'll contact the manufacturers and see if they can recommend a larger screw size. It seems to be a piece that stops the top rotating, and so one is likely enough either way, but again, disappointing. Other than that, it seems incredibly accurate. One notable thing.. The measuring rod setup is rather counter intuitive. And even when setup, isn't as robust in feel as the scale is. It's designed to have the measurement taken from underneath the plastic sleeve once the patient steps away, (I suppose that would make sense if you were taking the height of someone fairly tall, and you were a ways shorter) yet the point of the bar that touches the top of your head is almost an inch higher. That wasn't obvious at first, and so I attempted to calibrate the measure to a measure held right next to it, only to find it wouldn't calibrate to it, and my initial thought was, the measure was manufactured poorly. The point of contact is not the same as the point of measure itself for calibration, or the point of reading :D It's best to set it up in the one of two locking positions that allows calibration to your scale (only one worked for me - the other was too far out), loosen the fine tuning screw that allows you some free movement in each direction. Measure say, 35" on a locking tape measure and hold it up to the bar that will touch your head, then adjust at the fine tuning bracket until both numbers correspond at the point where you will be reading the number from. (this only seems obtainable from underneath the measuring bracket. Above again seemed to make neither setting on the bracket allow calibration. Finally lock the screw down when you find the right spot. Seems a little ott to me, but I guess once you get it done, it's done forever. I'll update the stars when I hear back from the manufacturer. I think they would do themselves a big favor to have the same beefiness of bolts as the rest of the setup on that section of tubing.. Once you've installed the other bolts, it wouldn't be particularly surprising to find yourself stripping them out, just assuming a decent hold could be obtained, similar in feel to the larger bolts. I really babied my install, and still had that one strip out. The measure is so, odd.. It seems to have been designed with the ability to return it to a smaller size more in mind far outweighing the usefulness or accuracy. If your patient is taller than the lower setting, the upper part of the measure must be extended. Upon extending this lower part, the measurement is then displayed from the point above where the stick extends up from, and no longer from underneath the flip down stop. The stop itself, is incredibly flexible, and not particularly straight in the first place, yet the lower gauge is aluminum and robust. Once you extend the upper to a great deal of height, the amount it can move back and forth, combined with allowable flex in the stop makes the entire method frankly, pointless and not accurate. We should remind ourselves that having this as an option on something like this scale, means it should work, not be a pointless thrown on addition to make it competitive to other brands. If it isn't easy to calibrate, or accurate, and gives varying results, it's better off that you don't have it at all, as it makes your product look inferior. At this stage of purchase, I find myself very solidly of the opinion that I will be holding onto the box, just in case I need to return. I'm going to continue using and see how accurate the scale presents itself as being. It does thankfully seem to be of a higher quality than the measure, and also the problematic issue with the self tapping screws being too small.

I have only had this scale for several days, but so far it has been great. It is seemingly both accurate and precise. The readings seem consistent over time even with moving the riders back to zero each time. The zero stays the same each time too. Standing with both feet in the center vs. spread apart changed the weight reading very slightly, maybe a few oz difference. I didn't have any problems with the moving parts getting hung up and giving bad readings as some other reviewers reported. The build quality of the scale is good. It seems very robust and the look is of a high quality professional instrument. Assembly was pretty easy. It probably took me about an hour to put it together and zero everything. The unit comes in 5 main parts: The base, the riser tube, the balance head, the height rod, and the height-rod-spacer. These pieces are secured together with a few simple bolts and screws. The instructions are pictographic and a little hard to decipher but I was able to get them sorted out pretty quickly. Make sure you're looking at the correct manual for the main scale assembly first, then use the separate manual for the height rod assembly instructions. Zeroing/taring was easy to do but hard to understand from the manual. You simply use the horizontal adjustment screw. If the range of adjustment in that screw is not enough then you can take further steps to move the counter weight. I did not have to move the counter weight. On the negative side of things: the height rod paddle is a bit floppy and does not sit parallel to the base. Depending on how much downward pressure you apply and where you stand the measurements could be different by a few fractions of an inch. Also, the roller wheels used to move the scale around are very close together so when using them the scale it is prone to tipping over to the side when going over ground that is not perfectly smooth. Overall I am very happy with this scale and am glad to be rid of the crummy electronic home scales I was previously using. I expect this will last me the rest of my life and do a better job.

I finally have an accurate scale! It’s the real thing. My son put it together for me and said it wasn’t difficult. I read the previous reviews about the issues with height measure so I left that out. It’s a really nice solid big scale and yes it’s in American pounds not kilos. Canadians are expert at going back and forth between metric and imperial. For a savings of at least 50% I can tolerate the imperial.

Me gustó mucho

Love this scale! It was a cinch to assemble with pictorial instructions. Weight measurements were exact, to fractions of a pound and the price was great.

La báscula es de excelente calidad y el precio es muy bueno, lo único que hay que tomar muy en cuenta es que viene graduada en LIBRAS, si compran desde México no viene en kilogramos, por lo demás el envío llegó muy rápido y el producto es excelente

I hated the inconsistent and inaccurate readings of my digital scale so much that I bought this. I have since lost 6 pounds and being able to actually track my weight loss properly has been very encouraging.