plastic thief suggestions?

[planenut]

Well it has been 3 and 1/2 days since I put the beer in the primary and it has slowed down nicely. I'm still not planning on racking until about 21 days (straight from primary to bottling bucket). And I'm not planning on checking the SG until 7 days.

Anyhow, With 5 gallons in a 6 gallon carboy, the plastic thief doesn't reach into the beer very far and it takes 3-4 refills to get enough for a sample. I learned that taking my first sample on brew day.

Any ideas on a better method?

Also, I will have to move or at least raise the carboy to auto siphon into the bottling bucket. How long will it need to settle after the move?

 

[Mirage]

As for the thief, you can use an autosiphon, or (as I do) hook up your racking cane and tubing and siphon your hydro sample. Good luck!

 

[Saccharomyces]

Well it has been 3 and 1/2 days since I put the beer in the primary and it has slowed down nicely. I'm still not planning on racking until about 21 days (straight from primary to bottling bucket). And I'm not planning on checking the SG until 7 days.

Great plan.

Anyhow, With 5 gallons in a 6 gallon carboy, the plastic thief doesn't reach into the beer very far and it takes 3-4 refills to get enough for a sample. I learned that taking my first sample on brew day.

Fermtech Thief? Shake that baby up and down, you can fill the whole tube. Makes a cool sound.. blub blub blub

 

[Funkenjaeger]

I assume that you aren't using a fermtech thief - I keep my hydrometer right inside mine, and it goes deep enough into a 6g better bottle with 5g in it to get a hydrometer reading on the first dunk, no shaking or other trickery required.

 

[JoMarky]

Also, I will have to move or at least raise the carboy to auto siphon into the bottling bucket. How long will it need to settle after the move?

I try to move mine up at least 3 days before I siphon. I doubt it needs anywhere near that amount of time to settle, but I have the space so I do it.

 

[planenut]

I assume that you aren't using a fermtech thief - I keep my hydrometer right inside mine, and it goes deep enough into a 6g better bottle with 5g in it to get a hydrometer reading on the first dunk, no shaking or other trickery required.

This one.
NORTHERN BREWER: Hydrometers and Refractometers
#7430 3 Piece Thief - plastic
Came with my kit from NB.

When I sumerge it, it doesn't go deep enough into the liquid to get more than about 3". Takes a couple times and each attempt will increase my odds of getting bad stuff in there.

The auto siphon is a great idea though...
Thanks

 

[ArcaneXor]

The Fermtech thief is *much* better than the plastic one, and only a couple of bucks more expensive.