Hydrometer 101

Gentlemen,

Help,

I brewed my first batch of the year this evening.
8 Lbs of D.M.E. in 5 gallons of water, room temp. 70 degrees.
The hydrometer said 10 {under the 1000} you know,
10-20-30-40 under the 1.0000.
I looked it up and that should be the final gravity
not the starting gravity.
Hmmmm

No wonder I never use my hydrometer.
Sure is a hassle.
{I cain't never make 'heads ner tails' of the thang.}
But does anybody know what it all means?


Thank you


J. Knife

Did you stir your wort before you took the sample?

It's a common error with extract brewers. I would not worry about it.

Jack, check your wort temperature--the hydrometer needs to read at 60° F or you need to correct it. You should have a correction scale included with your hydrometer?

Also, make sure you stirred the wort--if you added water to your boiled wort to "top up", it may not be reading the sugars accurately if it wasn't mixed well enough.

Nice to see you back, Jack, missed your musings.

Knife, glad to see you around here again. Bet ya didn't stir well enough, like Ed says. You should be around 1.070-ish, I think. No worries, the yeast will find all the sugar, and your beer will be fine.

Gentlemen,

Thats it, I hadn't shook the carboy yet,
just the wort and the water poured in the primary.

{I sure appreciate it 'Ed Wort' sir and 'Dude'.}
& Yuri! ...

First batch of the year and I know,
this wouldn't have happened if I had some beer.
Seriously I ain't had a beer in a week.
I have been getting some work done mowing a 4 acre meadow
and cutting down an acre of trees for a guy.
Profiling 64 skinners which are now ready for heat treating.
{Need a knife?}
Finishing two big chicken coops and runs, home for 5 dozen birds.
Finding my horse and my mule who have booked.

It is amazing how much work one can get done
if one is broke and out of beer till the 3rd.
{Dern.}


Thanks again Ya'll,


J. Winters Knife

Jack--I'm actually interested in a knife! I saw your website(?) a while back and was intrigued.

Let's talk!

Dude,

Keep an eye on my 'site' and when the 64 skinners are ready
I will re-do the old site and post pictures of the new knife hoard.
Possibly enlarge the site too with lots of pictures.


Thanks for asking

J. Knife

jacktheknife

could you post a link to your site.

thanks

Sure,

jacksknifeshop.tripod.com

J. Knife