1. Building a Small Scale Balance  Start with the support posts. Holes are punched through the straws with a standard hole punch.

2. A Small Scale Balance  Heat a piece of piano wire and melt a small a hole as possible through the pointer straw. This hole should be above the beam straw. (note in the photo it is below – this is wrong)  Press the piano wire through the support straws to create holes in those.

3. A Small Scale Balance  Use a hole punch below the wire hole to create a hole in the pointer straw for the beam straw. Slide the beam straw half-way through the pointer straw.  Create “stops” for the pointer straw using two short supports and a cross piece. Make one for each side

4. A Small Scale Balance  Melt three holes, 120 degrees apart, in two plastic “salsa” cups.  Tie thread to each of these that will act as supports and connect with the beam straw.

5. A Small Scale Balance  Sensitivity - Your finished balance should be able to measure as little as.002 grams!  Capacity – Your balance should be able to measure as much as 10 grams, a difference in 4 orders of magnitude!