refractometer accuracy

[DBhomebrew]

For the 1042 test, what was the observed reading in Brix?

 

[Hoochin'Fool]

No idea what had happened to the refrac. I take loving care of those instruments.
I ordered a new one for $20 on Amazon.

Shoot, I always figured once it's accuracy had been confirmed between pure water and a couple different worts of known (via hydrometer reading) gravity, it was pretty much guaranteed to be accurate until you dropped and broke it...

 

[MaxStout]

For the 1042 test, what was the observed reading in Brix?

I don't recall. Maybe there became some non-linearity between the two scales.

 

[MaxStout]

Shoot, I always figured once it's accuracy had been confirmed between pure water and a couple different worts of known (via hydrometer reading) gravity, it was pretty much guaranteed to be accurate until you dropped and broke it...

I thought so too. Maybe I'll make up some vials of sugar water for testing, maybe 1.040 and 1.080, and keep it around to check from time to time.

 

[MaxStout]

One other thing... Checking my notes from the other day, I did notice something odd. The first sample of the pre-boil wort I looked at in the refrac had a spurious reading of near 1.000. The whole viewfinder was blue. I wiped it clean, drew another sample and got the low reading (1.051). A couple more tries showed the same 1.051. The hydro showed 1.057.

 

[jerrylotto]

Check that water hasn't gotten inside your unit sneaking past the glass while washing it. Using a paper towel, you should be able to wick it out if it's in there. I had this problem and it threw readings off until I got the inside dry again.

 

[balrog]

I had the same issue as @jerrylotto , kinda sorta.
Mine would not revive with a wickable solution.

Of course, I dropped mine into the boiling wort, so, ya know, subtle difference there.