General hydrometer questions.

[vhanley]

Hey all,

I've found basic information on hydrometer use but what I've found is about as clear as the hydrometer instructions that came with my True Brew kit! Most were so confusing that I just brewed my first batch without taking the hydrometer out of its plastic tube. I'm hoping someone can answer some "noob" questions for me?

1: Exactly how do you use a foot long glass hydrometer with a carboy?

2: Once the hydrometer is in the carboy....how the heck do you get it out?!

3: Most people's advice on this forum advise spinning the hydrometer once inside the solution to rid it of any clinging air bubbles...again, how the heck do you do that in a carboy?


Thanks in advance!

Vic

 

[BansheeRider]

You can't use a hydro with a carboy unless you have a tool to get it out. Most people use them in their primary fermenting bucket. My hydro came with a testing tube. I use a beer thief to get a sample and pour it into the sample tube. A beer thief would be the only way to get a sample from the carboy without disturbing the beer.

Link for beer thief....http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00186ADYS/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Your LHBS may have them cheaper.

 

[logan3825]

1. You don't.
2. See #1
3. See #1

You should buy a test jar. Some people use the plastic tube the hydrometer came in. I use a turkey baster to draw a sample them measure in the test jar. I don't pour the sample back in.

Edit: I sanitize the turkey baster before drawing a sample.

 

[rilshoc]

you need to put a sample into a test cylinder with a thief or baster, sanitized, and take the reading from there.


http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/economy-test-jar.html

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/3-piece-thief-plastic.html

 

[unionrdr]

I also use the tube the hydrometer came in for testing. Spinning the hydrometer gets the bubbles off the bottom of the hydrometer to get an accurate reading. I even let it sit for a while to let it degass a little.

 

[vhanley]

Thanks for the quick responses!....I can't believe I didn't think of using the tube it came in. Guess I've earned my dumb$%&^ points for the day! Appreciate the beer thief advice too!

 

[grem135]

Noobs get extra points for Christmas, you still have some left

 

[unionrdr]

^^Yes they do,but use them wisely padowan...

 

[vhanley]

Noobs get extra points for Christmas, you still have some left

^^Yes they do,but use them wisely padowan...

Well that's good to know! I have a feeling I may use my share getting this down!

 

[unionrdr]

Probably,but don't sweat it. We were all there at one point. It's def a learning curve.

 

[BansheeRider]

I would rather use the actual test tube than the case it comes in. Or just buy a beer thief that also serves as a test tube.

 

[unionrdr]

My tube has worked just fine,never a problem. I would like to find something that would form a base I could press onto one end of it though. Gotta check out lowe's & see what kind of do it yourself furniture parts they still carry for something that'll work.

 

[logan3825]

A test jar is like $5. Add one on to your next order. I don't like using the case the hydrometer came in because I would have to let it dry before putting it away. This way I just clean off and dry my hydrometer right away. Less chance it gets broken. Not that a new hydrometer is exactly expensive.

 

[unionrdr]

I just take the caps off the ends & shake it out. Put it away till next time when I use some starsan with the hydrometer in it before testing. Been fine so far...from what I've seen at the lhbs,the tubes made for testing use a lot more beer to fill. Even the smallest ones.

 

[qzpm150]

+1 for the thief

 

[vhanley]

My tube has worked just fine,never a problem. I would like to find something that would form a base I could press onto one end of it though. Gotta check out lowe's & see what kind of do it yourself furniture parts they still carry for something that'll work.

Ever thought about using one of the wall plates (forgetting the name right now....even though I JUST finished remodeling my bathroom) that covers where the water feeds into the toilet tank from the floor? Could use some liquid nails to hold the tube to it. That way you're not piercing the bottom of the tube. It just slides in and has an edge that's beveled up a bit for support.

 

[unionrdr]

I've seen something like that made out of black plastic somewhere. I think they're for holding the shower curtain rod against the wall real tight. Maybe one of those would fit?

 

[vhanley]

I've seen something like that made out of black plastic somewhere. I think they're for holding the shower curtain rod against the wall real tight. Maybe one of those would fit?

That's pretty similar to what I'm talking about. Most of the items I use for projects like that are obtainable from the plumbing department. I don't know why I can't remember the name for them, but if you go look at your shower head, there should be a "decorative" piece the covers where the shower pipe comes out of the wall. That's the piece I was referring to. Not sure it'll work but something like that would be a cheap, easy way to add a base.

If you look at the link below and look at the "Faucet Repair & Parts" link you'll see three disks stacked on each other. That's the part I'm referring to. Would make a GREAT base....if it fits.

http://www.lowes.com/Plumbing/Faucets/_/N-1z11oyf/pl?Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1

 

[passedpawn]

I built a wooden base for my hydrometer tube way back. Eventually, I realized that test jars were available and they were dirt cheap and they didn't trap mold and dirt. There's a moral hidden in that story. But good luck with your escutcheon plate from Lowes

 

[unionrdr]

I know what you're referring to. Done that stuff before. forget the name,but the plastic rod bases for shower curtains are similar & look more like the ones sold on the tubes at the lhbs.

 

[vhanley]

I built a wooden base for my hydrometer tube way back. Eventually, I realized that test jars were available and they were dirt cheap and they didn't trap mold and dirt. There's a moral hidden in that story. But good luck with your escutcheon plate from Lowes

How did you get around having to pierce the tube with a wood base? Did you just use liquid nails to adhere it?

 

[passedpawn]

How did you get around having to pierce the tube with a wood base? Did you just use liquid nails to adhere it?

I used a hole saw (or wood bit, can't remember) to put a circle, almost perfect size, in the wood, then set the tube in the hole and used hot glue to keep it there. It was a stopgap solution until the obvious one hit me.