Problems with initial SG reading

[GrahamOrdinary]

Beginner Mead maker here. We used a one month gallon recipe as a first start. Worked well, but we didn't bother with the hydrometer readings as it was not important. We have started (no yeast yet) scaling up to a 5 gallon fermenter. Using the honey to water ratio from the one gallon, we had 15pounds of honey and almost 4 gallons of water. All good so far until we tried to get the initial hydrometer reading. Thought we had shook to mixture well. Took out a sample, dropped the hydrometer and it would not sink. Shook and whipped some more - still didn't sink. The neck of the hydrometer with the scale is out of the mead. Put the hydrometer in plain water - 1.000 reading. HMM. Am I correct in assuming that the honey is not diluting? How do you mix 80# of mead? Thank you - JG

 

[VikeMan]

The neck of the hydrometer with the scale is out of the mead. Put the hydrometer in plain water - 1.000 reading. HMM. Am I correct in assuming that the honey is not diluting?

Assuming you're using the correct hydrometer and not, for example, a special narrow range final gravity hydrometer, then yes, the honey and water were not evenly mixed.

 

[Kickass]

Can you post a picture of your hydrometer for n the sample. Hydrometers are notorious for being miss read.

 

[VikeMan]

Hydrometers are notorious for being miss read.

That's a fair statement. But OP said that "The neck of the hydrometer with the scale is out of the mead." Sound like there's no scale(s) to (mis)read.

 

[Kickass]

That's a fair statement. But OP said that "The neck of the hydrometer with the scale is out of the mead." Sound like there's no scale(s) to (mis)read.

Agreed, but they also said it “would not sink”. So I’ve got a bit of a fuzzy mental image of what we’re looking at.

 

[DBhomebrew]

Wine Stirrer
Paint Stirrer

 

[hotbeer]

What's the max reading on your hydrometer. It's possible you may have gotten one with too little range for what you are trying to measure.

If you have the solution in something that has some shiny sides, then look at the light reflecting off the bottom or sides. When the wavy patterns go away the honey and water should be mixed fairly well.

 

[bracconiere]

How do you mix 80# of mead?

wait...you said a 5 gallon batch which would be ~40lbs....when you say 80# batch of mead...do you mean 8lbs?

edit: and if this is correct...

All good so far until we tried to get the initial hydrometer reading. Thought we had shook to mixture well. Took out a sample, dropped the hydrometer and it would not sink.

fermentaion is new to some people, it takes time for the hydro to slowly drop...it's not a chemistry thing...it's like watching a plant grow....

edit 2: And Welcome!