Official Broken Hydrometer Count

492.

No good story, just a "butterfingers" moment.

Not sure how, but the very top of mine broke. Was getting ready to wash it, and seen it busted, All the readings are still visible. I rolled up some paper towel, stuffed it in the broken end, then taped it up. This should still work fine, shouldn't it?

494

No broken hydrometer, but the $#@% measurement tube broke. Somehow it became stuck on the drying rack and shattered when I tried to pull it loose. Rage rage rage rage rage... the $#%@#^ drying rack is lucky my kids were around or it'd have met an unpleasant end.

495

My second broken in under 15 batches total. Good thing I had a backup this time.

+1 496

Balls_25 said:

Not sure how, but the very top of mine broke. Was getting ready to wash it, and seen it busted, All the readings are still visible. I rolled up some paper towel, stuffed it in the broken end, then taped it up. This should still work fine, shouldn't it?

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The weight of the paper is probably different than the weight of the missing glass, so your readings won't be accurate.

497

Sadly, after 2 years of service, my first hydrometer is broken. My 21 month old son was down in the basement and accidents happen. He was not hurt, so lesson learned by dad.

+2

499

Damn !!!

This thread is making me paranoid..... I've had the same one for 17 years.

Better pick up a spare........

I'll take #500
Broke my first one a couple weeks ago.
Ordered 2 to replace it.

Deric said:

This thread is making me paranoid..... I've had the same one for 17 years.

Better pick up a spare........

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Damn don't know how you've pulled that off! Nice.

+1 for the 501st

Dropped mine on the floor after putting it in the case, (bottom fell out of the case sending my hydrometer to the floor.) Stupid me.

+2 for me I broke one two weeks ago and one yesterday. Both after cleaning em.

+1 brings it to 504... My dog ate it! (He's fine)

Ok, I just saw this thread. Broke mine 2 months ago. I will take #505

+1 I guess I'm #506, I broke my first one while brewing my very first batch of beer (the beer turned out ok though!)

JefeTheVol said:

I figured at because so many of brewers are completely clumsy ...

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How do you know me?

I've broken 2 so far. The first, I knocked off the counter. The second, I dropped it in the tube it came in, and the bottom broke out.

+1. Broke mine while cleaning it. At least it lasted 6 months. #507

i've broken about 5 now in my 2 years of brewing. #512

Had the same one for almost 5 years. Broke it and another this past year. Ordered 2 to replace.

Curtis2010 said:

Had the same one for almost 5 years. Broke it and another this past year. Ordered 2 to replace.

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This takes it to 514.

And i'm in for 1 to make it 515.

Well add mine to the count cleaning up and fell right out of my hands. Add it to the other bills this month

bassassassin772 said:

Well add mine to the count cleaning up and fell right out of my hands. Add it to the other bills this month

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=516

+5 broken for us = new total of 521.

An aside that's sure to jinx me, but what the heck...

I've never broken a hydrometer. I have broken four sampling tubes - including two acrylic ones - which shatter just like glass.

Carry on...

Cheers!

+1

522

Geez, 522....anyone know of any stainless steel or acrylic hydrometers?

homebeerbrewer said:

I've broken 2 so far. The first, I knocked off the counter. The second, I dropped it in the tube it came in, and the bottom broke out.

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I guess I didn't follow the rules, and my post didn't make it into the count.

So, the total is 524.

525. Broke my 1st after 83 batches

526 fell right off the counter

527, smashed on the edge of kitchen sink during post clean up and sanitation of very first batched brewed

528 - slipped out of my hand and onto the concrete floor, right as I was thinking "I need to be careful with this - first time with a mill and I really want to know the efficiency."

Whoops.

BIGCUNN60 said:

527, smashed on the edge of kitchen sink during post clean up and sanitation of very first batched brewed

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WELCOME ABOARD! (and sorry for your loss)

529... I am sticking to a refractometer from now on. This will be my last post on this thread!

530 - my OG was way lower than my BG . . . took me a minute to realize that the glass had cracked just ever so slightly and had let a little liquid inside.

531! Countertop kaboom!

chask31 said:

--- This will be my last post on this thread!

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Famous last words...

532...took og set on the counter and rolled off. Down to the LHBS tomorrow. Never broke one until reading this thread...lol...

Lid fell off the tube and it fell out. 533.

Do floating thermometers count? I broke mine because I am stupid, I had it in the wort while I was using my immersion chiller and I was stirring to distribute the heat to the IC... craaaack. In the wort. Not cool.

Also, I had a hydrometer testing cylinder that I managed to break... a while ago, I had left some beer in it, and SWMBO thought it'd be a good idea to pour it out, leaving a sticky residue that clouded up the bottom of the cylinder. I never bothered with it but today I got fed up seeing it so I poured acetone into the plastic cylinder. Every part the acetone touched basically cracked and lost all integrity, so I could crush it with barely a tap. Also, when I poured out the acetone it left a weird white residue all inside of the cylinder, which I am guessing was the degraded plastic.

One more sacrifice to the beer gods.

534