floating thermometers?

what big box stores carry floating thermometers? I didn't find any at Target or Kroger.

None that I've seen. Any particular reason for a floating thermometer instead of a digital probe? Makes life a LOT easier.

I've heard a few bad stories about the floating thermometer shattering in the wort and ruining a batch.

the_bird said:

None that I've seen. Any particular reason for a floating thermometer instead of a digital probe? Makes life a LOT easier.

Click to expand...

My digital probe broke last night. I bought it on Sunday. The temp is way high.

Bake it (everything but the plastic connector) at 350° for 30 mins

olllllo said:

Bake it (everything but the plastic connector) at 350° for 30 mins

Click to expand...

even the actual probe part? How do I know this thing isn't going to break again next time when I'm heating up my sparge water?

They crap the bed like that when you get the braid part wet. Make sure that only the metal probe gets wet, and you'll be OK.

oh, i see. do you leave the probe in the water or do you take it out after you get a reading?

I suspend it in the water using a binder clip. I'll leave it in my mash, too (I don't know if that's possible with your MLT), so that I can keep an eye on mash temp without having to open it back up. The latter is, my my opinion, a huge advantage of the rectangular coolers, since the lid just closes instead of screwing on. My mash is thick enough where it'll be suspended four inches or so deep, but won't get wet.

I'd recommend getting yourself a floating thermometer from a homebrew store, the green-line ones work best.

My last brew session the floating thermometer broke in my mash tun. The glass was unbelievably thin. LHBS owner said they are a POS but didn't mention that fact when I was buying if from him.