Fuzzy Refractometer

[RDWHAHB]

So I have a new refractometer. I measured my OG the other day, and it wasn't too fuzzy, but today I tried to take another reading. The "blue/white" line was crazy fuzzy. I didn't have bubbles. What can cause this?
Thanks, Jeff

 

[itsme6582]

I would say it's CO2. Maybe you can't see the bubbles but there is dissolved CO2 in there. There are other things though. The way a refractometer works is by measuring how the light is refracted through the substance. The light bends according to how much stuff is dissolved in the water. Yeast, alcohol, that stuff you spilled in there, dirty lens could all effect your reading. If there are solids or gasses mixed into the beer you will not get a clear reading. You should be able to make a pretty good guess. Try to find the middle. That should be your reading. Oh, and RDWHAHB.

 

[greenbirds]

Make sure the flap/cover is completely flush on the lens, to make sure that the depth of your liquid beneath is consistent. Also, the brighter the light shining into it (I find daylight to be by far the best), the clearer it will be.

 

[RDWHAHB]

I wondered about the yeast. Didn't even think about the CO2. That could be it. I'll try daylight. It seems to be hard to come by these days.

 

[Shooter]

I had the same thing with a wheat beer I just kegged. Normally the line is nice and crisp. I assumed it could be a result of all the yeast in suspension. I estimated the reading and confirmed I was fairly close with a hydrometer prior to kegging.

 

[Conodor]

Time for contacts? Or maybe you drank a few to many?

 

[AiredAle]

Your refractometer may be out of focus. Turn the eye piece in or out to refocus. I need to do this each time I use mine, because I invariably turn the eyepiece when I clean the sample off and wipe it dry.

 

[Shooter]

Your refractometer may be out of focus. Turn the eye piece in or out to refocus. I need to do this each time I use mine, because I invariably turn the eyepiece when I clean the sample off and wipe it dry.

Well, the scale lines were in focus, but I suppose that's possible.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Sounds like focus to me.

 

[RDWHAHB]

I tried adjusting focus. All that did was the focus the scale lines.

 

[Bobby_M]

I have the same problem if I have a lot of break material in my sample. It puts the cover further away from the sample window. Sometimes putting a little pressure on the cover plate helps focus that line.