Refractometer and Hydrometer?

[Airplanedoc]

My dad was over tonight and accidentally knocked my hydrometer and its protective tube off the counter. He told me to go ahead and order a refractometer and he would pay for it .

So the question is do I also need a new hydrometer? I have to order some other stuff and would like to get it all at once.

Thanks in Advance

 

[centex99]

I'm not an expert, but I don't think a refractometer will work for final gravity... the alcohol messes up the readings... in which case, yes you'd still need a hydrometer...

 

[MalFet]

There are conversion functions that will correct post-fermentation refractometer readings, though how accurate they are is somewhat controversial.

 

[Gduck]

I reccomend having both. I like my refractometer on brew day, but when it comes to final gravities you have to use a set of calculations in order to approximate it as the refractometer works by how the density of the liquid changes the angles of the light. The presence of alcohol skews those readings. I've compared my final hydrometer readings against the calculations given for adjusting the refractometer and find them often off by several points in one direction or another and have just stuck with using the hydrometer for any reading I need to take after fermentation has begun.

 

[kh54s10]

There are conversion functions that will correct post-fermentation refractometer readings, though how accurate they are is somewhat controversial.

This^

I have both and they are very close before fermentation and quite a bit off afterward. Even with the correction software. I use the refractometer to determine that fermentation has finished then take a sample with the hydrometer for my FG.

Add: I love the refractometer to see what is happening since it only takes a few drops of wort/beer to get a reading.

 

[Revvy]

There are conversion functions that will correct post-fermentation refractometer readings, though how accurate they are is somewhat controversial.

I don't trust them. I use both, refractometer for brew days, pre yeast pitch, and hydromter post.

 

[MalFet]

People have their opinions, based on their experiences. I've found Sean Terrill's recent formula to be quite decent, always within a point or so of my hydrometer. YMMV

 

[Tharderocker]

I recently picked a refract up from bobby_m and it worked great, my last brew day I tried it out per boil to pre pitch, haven't checked fg yet but I'll probably use the hydro. I was not to concerned about my sg, so I didn't use any conversions other than what was on the side chart of the refract. Worked great for finding quick sg's and did not have to take a big sample, and cool to long. My first ago I used the hydro and did not temp correct pita. So +1 for refract. A new hydro from my lbhs is only 6 so if you can get one for around the same, like others have said its good to have both.