Is my Hydrometer complete as purchased?

[MikeBergan]

I picked up a hydrometer from my LHBS shop.
The guy at the store was very helpful with all my questions and purchases that day, and did NOT say anything about needed any other items along with it.

The hydrometer came in a plastic tube and had an instruction sheet with it.
Is this tube what I need to use to test the gravities? or do I need something else?

I tried it on a sample from my first brew batch (see other threads) and even when I put enough liquid in the tube to be scared of spilling it out, the hydrometer sank straight to the bottom and rested there.

Can anyone help teach a new brewer what he may be missing, please?

 

[billl]

You'll want a test tube too. The only cost a couple bucks. The ones where the bottom comes off are easiest to clean.

 

[menerdari]

this is similar to what i use, the base on mine screws off for easy cleaning
http://stoolys.com/10-hydrometer-sample-tube.html
another option is the fermtech wine thief, you can put your hydrometer in it and return the sample right back to your fermenter when done
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...vpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&ref=pd_sl_5lg9ykx2kj_e

 

[menerdari]

ps: if you use the tube you will need a sanitized turkey baster to collect the sample with

 

[acidrain]

It's easiest to read if you DO let it spill over... fill the tube that it came in (take any foam protectors out) about 3/4 full. Hold it over the sink and slowly lower your hydrometer into the tube. The extra beer should spill over. Now you can read from the scale (read at the bottom of the meniscus... not he little bit that creeps up the glass).
After taking your reading, take a taste, and then pour it out (do not pour back into the fermentor, do not take readings directly in your fermentor).

 

[HopSong]

I don't understand this. You don't really need a hydrometer test tube.. although they are very handy and a bit more stable than the storage tube. If the storage tube fully contained the hydrometer it should be long enough to adequately measure beer. I frequently use mine filling it about 5/8 full.. Mine never sinks to the bottom. When you get the test tube, fill it about 3/4 full or a bit more with distilled water. The little paper with the numbers inside the hydrometer should have a calibration temperature on it.. probably either 60* or 68*. If you can get the water to your calibration temp great. If not, HERE is a temperature correction calculator. You have to know what your calibration number is and you have to know the temperature of your distilled water. The hydrometer should be VERY close to 1.000.. or the correction should bring it to that point. If it doesn't calibrate, I'd return it to the LHBS or bring it and the water sample to have them help you with it.

Now you do the same thing with your beer. Temperature of the beer.. drop the hydrometer in it and it should read something above 1.000 depending on how well your beer is doing.

Hope that helps... and yep.. as menderari said.. Sanitize the turkey baster or whatever you are using to draw your sample.

 

[MikeBergan]

Thanks for the advice all...

Maybe I was just not putting in enough of the liquid... worrying about spillage etc. I will try it again on the next brew.
If the included tube still fails, I'll get hold of a test tube.

Also, no baster needed for now... I am using a (Gasp!!! I know) Mr. Beer kit fermenter tank for now... and it has a pour spout, so I am not opening anything up or having to dip into the beer etc.

 

[iaefebs]

It's easiest to read if you DO let it spill over... fill the tube that it came in (take any foam protectors out) about 3/4 full. Hold it over the sink and slowly lower your hydrometer into the tube. The extra beer should spill over. Now you can read from the scale (read at the bottom of the meniscus... not he little bit that creeps up the glass).
After taking your reading, take a taste, and then pour it out (do not pour back into the fermentor, do not take readings directly in your fermentor).

That covers all the bases. Good post.

 

[Yooper]

Try it in plain water, right now. If it floats, and reads 1.000, it's good. If it floats, but reads a little more or less that's ok as tap water might not be right at 1.000.

Sometimes hydrometer get hairline cracks in them, and don't float properly. They are made out of glass, and easily broken. Also, sometimes that little slip of paper inside slides down, and then the hydrometer is inaccurate.

Just put some water in a tupperware pitcher or something, filling it up, and gently drop the hydrometer in it. If it floats and reads around 1.000, let us know and we can give you more advice. And if it doesn't, well, let us know that too and we can give you different advice!

 

[menerdari]

I don't understand this. You don't really need a hydrometer test tube.. although they are very handy and a bit more stable than the storage tube. If the storage tube fully contained the hydrometer it should be long enough to adequately measure beer.

I saw this same thought on several post when I started, it's why I didn't buy a sample tube at first.
I have 2 hydrometers, bought both brand new, neither of them came in a tube that can even remotely be used as a sample tube, too short (two part container), too narrow and cannot stand up on its own.

 

[BrewKnurd]

If the included tube still fails, I'll get hold of a test tube.

If its a single tube that holds liquid and can contain the entire length of the hydrometer, there's just no way it can fail. If you completely submerge a hydrometer, in water or anything denser than water, it simply has to float, unless its cracked or otherwise defective.

That said, test tubes are handy.

 

[AMonkey]

I actually use the tube my floating thermometor came in. It is a bit bigger and works well.

 

[gcdowd]

I use the tube mine came with and have had no issues.

 

[dstranger99]

I picked up a hydrometer from my LHBS shop.
The guy at the store was very helpful with all my questions and purchases that day, and did NOT say anything about needed any other items along with it.

The hydrometer came in a plastic tube and had an instruction sheet with it.
Is this tube what I need to use to test the gravities? or do I need something else?

I tried it on a sample from my first brew batch (see other threads) and even when I put enough liquid in the tube to be scared of spilling it out, the hydrometer sank straight to the bottom and rested there.

Can anyone help teach a new brewer what he may be missing, please?

Skip the tube, and just sanitize the hydro and drop it in your primary bucket.

 

[Dr. Francois]

Am I the only one who puts the hydrometer right in the primary?

 

[Matt3989]

He's using a Mr. beer kit, so he can't drop it right into his primary. Which i wouldn't do any... Just being anal about contamination, but it's also harder to read, and you don't get to taste the beer at different stages.

The reason people prefer a test tube is because the thick part of the hydrometer often sticks to the sides of the contain it came in, so it throws your reading off.

Don't return the beer back to the fermenter. Drink it, it'll teach you something about the flavors/stages.

And be sure to convert to the right temp, it takes away about .003 from the gravity for every 10dF you are above 60 (they're usually calibrated to 60 at least).

 

[MikeBergan]

I just tried the test with tap water in the supplied tube.

I think everything is fine; it read very close to right on 1.000, and I had not worried about temperature or anything.
Guess I just did not have enough fluid in the tube the first time.

 

[dallasdb]

The OP seems to have had his issue resolved but I was wondering how you properly calibrate a hydrometer. Any links or info would be great! Thanks

 

[menerdari]

The OP seems to have had his issue resolved but I was wondering how you properly calibrate a hydrometer. Any links or info would be great! Thanks

Easy, float it in distilled water, most hydrometers are calibrated at 60 Deg. so get your sample to 60 deg and it should read exactly 1.000 if it is off take note how far off and in what direction. you will have to correct all future readings by that amount.
Calibrating the hydrometer is really not an accurate term, it is more test the hydrometers accuracy.

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

I use the tube my hydrometer came in as a sample tube. I also found that instead of a wine thief I can use the outer tube of my racking cane to pull a sample and the one hydrometer I have is narrow enough I can float it right in the racking cane tube. If using my wider hydrometer I just dip the racking cane in the beer pull it out full then stick the end in the hydrometer tube and use the top of the hydrometer to press in the stop at the bottom of the racking cane to fill the tube until the hydrometer floats.

 

[HopSong]

?? Outer tube of the racking cane??? By this, do you mean an autosiphon tube?

 

[dallasdb]

Easy, float it in distilled water, most hydrometers are calibrated at 60 Deg. so get your sample to 60 deg and it should read exactly 1.000 if it is off take note how far off and in what direction. you will have to correct all future readings by that amount.
Calibrating the hydrometer is really not an accurate term, it is more test the hydrometers accuracy.

So if in the test it is off by .010 than it will always be off by .010?
In other words when I measure OG of say 1.050 it won't be off by .015 but measuring FG of 1.010 it would only be off by .010?

Thanks

 

[menerdari]

So if in the test it is off by .010 than it will always be off by .010?
In other words when I measure OG of say 1.050 it won't be off by .015 but measuring FG of 1.010 it would only be off by .010?

Thanks

Typically yes, the paper in the tube may have shifted which will throw all readings off by the same amount, that said if it is off by more than about .005 I would get a new one. I had one that was off by .008 but it varied then I noticed a small amount of water inside it. Definitely needed to be replaced.

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

?? Outer tube of the racking cane??? By this, do you mean an autosiphon tube?

Yeah sorry my bad

 

[dallasdb]

Typically yes, the paper in the tube may have shifted which will throw all readings off by the same amount, that said if it is off by more than about .005 I would get a new one. I had one that was off by .008 but it varied then I noticed a small amount of water inside it. Definitely needed to be replaced.

Just recently fave away my extra hydrometer. Really gonna be bummed if the one I have is off and I need a new one!
I do have a refractometer... but have never used it!