Pulling a refractormeter sample during boil

gungadin · 12-22-2010, 09:14 PM

Any tips on not burning myself or melting the equipment?

**Ohio-Ed** · 12-22-2010, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gungadin

Any tips on not burning myself or melting the equipment?

You only need a couple drops for a refractometer sample.

I just dip a big SS spoon I use for stirring in and pull it out and let it drip on the refractometer.

Ed

gungadin · 12-22-2010, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohio-Ed

I just dip a big SS spoon I use for stirring in and pull it out and let it drip on the refractometer.

Good idea, thanks

Mparsons327 · 12-27-2010, 11:27 PM

Also make sure you use a refractometer that corrects for temperature. Most do but i have seen a few that do not. I'm new to home brewing but I have a serious addiction to saltwater aquariums. We use refractometers to measure the amount of salt in the water.
Matt

Chipster27 · 12-28-2010, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mparsons327

I'm new to home brewing but I have a serious addiction to saltwater aquariums. We use refractometers to measure the amount of salt in the water.
Matt

Many have said a saltwater refractometer won't work for beer. The one I had worked just fine as long as my SG was below 1.070, which most are

**BMan1029** · 12-28-2010, 12:47 AM

Is during the boil the appropriate time to use the refractometer? I only use a hydrometer now, but when used a refractometer when i first started out...always took a sample from my cooled wort. Now I am wondering if I had been doing it wrong.

**Ohio-Ed** · 12-28-2010, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMan1029

Is during the boil the appropriate time to use the refractometer? I only use a hydrometer now, but when used a refractometer when i first started out...always took a sample from my cooled wort. Now I am wondering if I had been doing it wrong.

Your original gravity should be taken after the boil and any top off water is added, when the wort is cooled, just before you pitch the yeast.

You can however extend or shorten the boil if you are more concerned about hitting the OG than you are about hop utilization. In this case, you can check the gravity during the boil to see where you are against your expected gravity.

Personally, I don't check the gravity during the boil. I check the gravity of the runoff from the mash to determine when to stop sparging. I check the gravity of the wort pre-boil (this is when I use the ss spoon I mentioned in my post), and I check the OG post boil and cool.

**weirdboy** · 12-28-2010, 01:29 AM

I just stick an eye dropper in there to pull a sample.

Sawdustguy · 12-29-2010, 06:53 PM

If you use a pipette, which usually comes with your refractomer, the sample of wort you pull is very small and usually cools in less than a minute. I then bought some disposable glass capilliaries for $5.00 qty. 25 from a local laboratory supply company and found they work just fine also.

MBasile · 12-29-2010, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohio-Ed

Your original gravity should be taken after the boil and any top off water is added, when the wort is cooled, just before you pitch the yeast.

You can however extend or shorten the boil if you are more concerned about hitting the OG than you are about hop utilization. In this case, you can check the gravity during the boil to see where you are against your expected gravity.

Personally, I don't check the gravity during the boil. I check the gravity of the runoff from the mash to determine when to stop sparging. I check the gravity of the wort pre-boil (this is when I use the ss spoon I mentioned in my post), and I check the OG post boil and cool.

So what reading do you look for when measuring the runoff?