last hydrometer I'll ever buy?

[shafferpilot]

Anyone have any experience with plastic hydrometers? I found these:

http://www.coleparmer.com/catalog/product_index.asp?cls=2414

They're not toys. Maybe not perfectly accurate, but neither are the cheapo hydros that I keep buying at $12 a pop. Heck I've already spent close to $50 on now broken hydrometers.... why not spend the next $50 on a hydro that'll never break?

 

[mrkristofo]

Cole Palmer produces very reputable lab equipment. I wouldn't hesistate to buy one of those....except I don't have $55.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Only review on there for it

Cons:
Inaccurate
Describe Yourself:
Lab Assistant
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

After using for a couple weeks the hydrometer plastic housing leaked to the inside of the unit. It was handled as if it was glass.

 

[Bobby_M]

That's the price of a refractometer. Store your hydro in a length of rubber tubing. Stop setting it down on hard flat surfaces that pitch toward the floor ;-)

 

[RegionalChaos]

I'm on my 3rd hydrometer and just put my 3rd batch into primary.... Damn hydrometers.....

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Get a rubber grip refractometer for the brewing measures and save the hydro for post fermentation readings.

 

[shafferpilot]

refractometers are at least as fragile as glass hydrometers but probably more. I break hydros a lot... i don't want to break a $50 refractometer. I had a glass hydro break from simply giving it the old thermometer whip like mom used to do. I was holding onto the weighted end, but the top just popped off and flew across the room. I understand that one guy had a bad plastic hydro, but I'm sure he could have gotten it replaced if he wanted to. Is it innaccurate? sure. To get a calibrated hydro costs around $250. I just want a hydro that doesn't go to peices the moment I breathe on it wrong. Is that so much to ask? Why aren't there any pryex hydros? or just hydros that are made out of glass that is more than 1 micron thick????

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

refractometers are at least as fragile as glass hydrometers but probably more. I break hydros a lot... i don't want to break a $50 refractometer. I had a glass hydro break from simply giving it the old thermometer whip like mom used to do. I was holding onto the weighted end, but the top just popped off and flew across the room. I understand that one guy had a bad plastic hydro, but I'm sure he could have gotten it replaced if he wanted to. Is it innaccurate? sure. To get a calibrated hydro costs around $250. I just want a hydro that doesn't go to peices the moment I breathe on it wrong. Is that so much to ask? Why aren't there any pryex hydros? or just hydros that are made out of glass that is more than 1 micron thick????

My refractometer has been knocked off the table on atleast 3 occasions. No breakage yet. Heck, the flap didn't even come off and that the cheapest part of the refrectometer. One instance with that sort of abuse and a hydro would shatter. I am just saying......

 

[shafferpilot]

Hmmm. Maybe I'm just underestimating the strength of the refractometers. Any similar stories of undamaged, dropped refractometers??