Well $h!t ...

[bellhp]

... Just broke my hydrometer .
What should I replace it with , Another hydrometer or a refractometer ?
I have been brewing small batches lately which point to refractometer but I've always been happy with my hydrometers till I break 'em .
If you have an opinion I'd like to hear it , and if you're in the refractometer camp give me a model / brand recommendation please.

 

[Miraculix]

Best would be to have both. If you have to decide between both, then use a hydrometer. Refractometer is great for pre-fermentation readings and quick checks if fg has been reached. But refractometers are horrible for getting reliable numbers as soon as alcohol is in solution as well. Refractometer correction factors are also more or less just a wild guess, so you are better of with a hydrometer after fermentation s arted.

 

[DBhomebrew]

I started with a refractometer. Was gifted a nice USA-made hydrometer. Used it a few times, found my refractometer to be quite accurate. Back to refractometer for all measurements, pre- and post-pitch. Nothing special, just a <$20 jobber off Amazon.

 

[bracconiere]

this is what i use...

Milwaukee Instruments MA871 Digital Brix Refractometer - Green 810666006335 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Milwaukee Instruments MA871 Digital Brix Refractometer - Green at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

edit: got mine for $90 though

 

[FloppyKnockers]

I have a precision hydrometer from Northern Brewer. The scale is narrower so the squinting to see is reduced. Best part... it's plastic.

Herculometer® - Precision Scale Hydrometer 1.000 to 1.070

At last, a hydrometer that can withstand the toughest brew days and provide hyper-accurate readings for your brews! We've combined rugged polycarbonate plastic and the accuracy of a precision hydrometer to bring you the Herculometer® Precision Hydrometer.

www.northernbrewer.com

 

[bellhp]

I appreciate the feedback , plastic hydrometer looks like a good idea Floppyknockers , but my last one was dual use for beer and wine ... 1.070 won't cut it. Got my first batch of mead going now also and plan on doing more if it doesn't suck.

 

[day_trippr]

"Book it!" Official Broken Hydrometer Count

You're never alone

 

[Grizwold1]

When you get your next hydrometer, get two

 

[Yesfan]

I have one of the Brewing America hydros. I like them alot. Just wish the print was a bit larger. The one I broke had larger print, but I can't remember if I got that one from Northern or William's.

And yes, get two.

 

[tracer bullet]

I have 3 items - low grav hydro, high grav hydro, and refractometer. All have their uses and get used.

 

[mac_1103]

this one goes to 1.160

 

[bracconiere]

i should add "plain form" is a good search term when looking...

 

[seatazzz]

I'm on my third refractometer (don't buy the cheapest, kids) and second hydrometer. All from Amazon, the refractometer I have now works great and keeps its calibration. Hydrometer isn't fancy but it works. 'Frac for preboil/postboil, hydrometer for FG if I feel like it. Unless I'm using a yeast I'm not familiar with, I rarely take FG measurements. If it tastes done, it is done.

 

[Dland]

Ever since I bought a couple of spare hydrometers, haven't broke any more. Probably operates on same principle as that now I have a backup generator, the power goes out less.

Whatever works. ;]

 

[Brooothru]

Two words: Easy Dens.

Pricey, but accurate, fast, easy to use, only needs 5~10 ml samples. Measures either Plato or Specific Gravity, with ATC. Displays temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit. Saves and graphically depicts fermentation progress. Much more.

I still have 5 different hydrometers in three different range scales and two optical refractometers that have been collecting dust for a year or two. Ditto a Milwaukee 871 electronic refractometer that hasn’t been out of its case since I got the Easy Dens, except to validate the Easy Dens performance with the known accuracy of the 871 and the gravity hydros for a few fermentations. The Easy Dens was the most accurate and never gave ambiguous readings. I love this thing.

 

[bracconiere]

Two words: Easy Dens.

Pricey, but accurate, fast, easy to use, only needs 5~10 ml samples. Measures either Plato or Specific Gravity, with ATC. Displays temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit. Saves and graphically depicts fermentation progress. Much more.

I still have 5 different hydrometers in three different range scales and two optical refractometers that have been collecting dust for a year or two. Ditto a Milwaukee 871 electronic refractometer that hasn’t been out of its case since I got the Easy Dens, except to validate the Easy Dens performance with the known accuracy of the 871 and the gravity hydros for a few fermentations. The Easy Dens was the most accurate and never gave ambiguous readings. I love this thing.

i'm jealous....

 

[redrocker652002]

Two words: Easy Dens.

Pricey, but accurate, fast, easy to use, only needs 5~10 ml samples. Measures either Plato or Specific Gravity, with ATC. Displays temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit. Saves and graphically depicts fermentation progress. Much more.

I still have 5 different hydrometers in three different range scales and two optical refractometers that have been collecting dust for a year or two. Ditto a Milwaukee 871 electronic refractometer that hasn’t been out of its case since I got the Easy Dens, except to validate the Easy Dens performance with the known accuracy of the 871 and the gravity hydros for a few fermentations. The Easy Dens was the most accurate and never gave ambiguous readings. I love this thing.

Damn, at 400 bucks it should be accurate. LOL. I still use the hydrometer from NB kit I got originally. I have been thinking of going refractometer, but every time I do, the old hydrometer seems to be accurate and easier to deal with. Good luck.

 

[bracconiere]

Damn, at 400 bucks it should be accurate

i still thought they were $250....

 

[Protos]

What should I replace it with , Another hydrometer or a refractometer ?

I'd stick with the hydrometer. I tried to switch to refractometer, calibrated it every time and thoroughly calculated the correction factor with 30 samples of wort, and still it measured very inconsistently. I guess it's the Automatic Temperature Correction function, whatever it is, messes the measurements up. If you're set on using a refractometer, buy a state-of-the-art industrial-grade one. A $15 Chinese refractometer is a joke, with it you'll need to recheck your measurements with a hydrometer anyway.

 

[K9tpr]

For the Easy Dens. Totally worth it if you can get by the price tag. Super accurate, small sample sizes and tracking.

 

[Saunassa]

I bought the poly one after breaking a glass one. I also have a cheap refractometer. I use it during the boil to see how it is progressing and if I should let it boil an extra 15 minutes. Accurate? Not perfect as I know it reads a few points high.
Oh and my mfg pre-cal Tilt from the factory matches my hydrometer readings.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

still it measured very inconsistently

Mine was a popular style from a big on line store from around 2017. I gave up trying to create a single correction factor a while back. It works fine on the "hot side"; I use a finishing hydrometer post fermentation (and generally adjust "small batch" volumes to include two FG measurements).

In the early 2020s, there is a "sticky equivalent" in another forum that offers some reasons why a specific brand (or brand model) might not have a single correction factor (e. g. wort color).

 

[DBhomebrew]

reasons why a specific brand (or brand model) might not have a single correction factor (e. g. wort color).

I haven't found or read that "sticky" yet, but no refractometer has a single correction factor. It's a wort correction factor, not a refractometer correction factor.

It's used to adjust for the sugar makeup of wort vs sucrose solution. Measure a sucrose solution, use 1.0. Measure a 100% malt wort, use roughly 1.04. A Belgian or British wort with a good amount of candi or invert, it'll require something in between.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

/r/Homebrewing/wiki/refractometer

 

[Brooothru]

I haven't found or read that "sticky" yet, but no refractometer has a single correction factor. It's a wort correction factor, not a refractometer correction factor.

It's used to adjust for the sugar makeup of wort vs sucrose solution. Measure a sucrose solution, use 1.0. Measure a 100% malt wort, use roughly 1.04. A Belgian or British wort with a good amount of candi or invert, it'll require something in between.

^^^Nailed it^^^

 

[FloppyKnockers]

I appreciate the feedback , plastic hydrometer looks like a good idea Floppyknockers , but my last one was dual use for beer and wine ... 1.070 won't cut it. Got my first batch of mead going now also and plan on doing more if it doesn't suck.

Well, you're in luck! They make a set of three that covers a wide range of gravities. 0.980 -1.020, 1.000 -1.070, & 1.060 -1.130. I only got the one because that's the range I normally fall in. Highly recommend it for its ease fo reading alone.

Brewery Essentials Herculometer Advanced Gravity Testing Kit

The Herculometer Advanced Specific Gravity Testing kit has it all... Power. Precision. Perfection. Each virtually indestructible hydrometer is forged from polycarbonate plastic, so you won't have to worry about your hydrometer breaking when you need it.

www.northernbrewer.com

 

[bellhp]

Based on what I have read so far ... I'll get another hydrometer whether I opt for a refractometer or not .
I won't be spending hundreds of dollars for the high end refractometer though ... I have two kids in college , may spring for a more budget friendly model after y'all discuss correction factors and such ... . Ill check back after my morning teams meetings ( got to go solve other problems of the world) . Carry on .

 

[jrgtr42]

I have and use both. the refractometer measures pretty durn close to accurate, even without worrying about the correction factor - it's within the margin of error. EVery so often I do double check with the hydrometer to be sure, especially if I made a mistake somewhere along the line.
For most of my repeat brews, I'm mostly measuring to make sure it's in the vicinity of expected gravity, and if it's moved since last test.

 

[Cayuga-Brewer]

I have the same hydrometer set FloppyKnockers posted about, the three hydrometers in different scale ranges. I use a Tilt during fermentation but always confirm gravity (pre-boil, post-boil, and post fermentation) withe appropriate range hydrometer.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I haven't found or read that "sticky" yet, but no refractometer has a single correction factor. It's a wort correction factor, not a refractometer correction factor.

From what I've read, after I gave up on using it post fermentation, there may also be "high SRM" wort correction factor, a "low SRM" wort correction factor, ... for some brands/models.

 

[bracconiere]

From what I've read, after I gave up on using it post fermentation, there may also be "high SRM" wort correction factor, a "low SRM" wort correction factor, ... for some brands/models.

i'd be curious with these optical refracs how precisily you can tell what the reading is between say 6.5, 6, 7

 

[DBhomebrew]

As easily as it is to tell between 1.042 and 1.044 on a hydrometer.

 

[bracconiere]

As easily as it is to tell between 1.042 and 1.044 on a hydrometer.

i do remember someone round here had a hydro that read to 1.0001 points!

 

[DBhomebrew]

...standard hydrometer.

 

[bracconiere]

...standard hydrometer.

pretty sure it was a FG hydro?

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

i'd be curious with these optical refracs how precisily you can tell what the reading is between say 6.5, 6, 7

Maybe buy a couple of different brands/models and find out?

Anecdotally, I don't use the brix scale on mine. The SG side reads fine and matches my hydrometer.

 

[hotbeer]

I'd always have a standard glass hydrometer with a scale appropriate for the beer OG and FG that I intend to brew.

A refractometer is great too. But when you get that wonky reading from the refractometer that you can't quite believe then you'll have something to double check against that will be the correct SG.

 

[Brooothru]

i'd be curious with these optical refracs how precisily you can tell what the reading is between say 6.5, 6, 7

Discerning the refractive index between 6.5 and 6.7 isn’t hard at all, and is certainly easier and more accurate than seeing where the meniscus crosses a hydrometer. But accuracy is more dependent on calculating and applying the correction factor to the observed index, along with temperature corrections.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but if you feel the need for accuracy the Easy Dens measures SG precisely to three decimal points or a tenth of a degree Plato in about 2 seconds and displays the exact sample temperature in with F or C values. It really is easy to use, and extremely accurate if that’s what you want.

 

[bracconiere]

Discerning the refractive index between 6.5 and 6.7 isn’t hard at all, and is certainly easier and more accurate than seeing where the meniscus crosses a hydrometer. But accuracy is more dependent on calculating and applying the correction factor to the observed index, along with temperature corrections.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but if you feel the need for accuracy the Easy Dens measures SG precisely to three decimal points or a tenth of a degree Plato in about 2 seconds and displays the exact sample temperature in with F or C values. It really is easy to use, and extremely accurate if that’s what you want.

well, this thread was someone who broke their hydro wanting to hear some ideas on a replacement....i just know on my optical refrac i can't read it any close then a half BRIX....not that that wouldn't be good enough...

i don't know? so far MA871 has come up, EasyDens, Polycarbonate hydros. i mentioned 'plain form' or single scale ones...i think we have served well as a public forum!

 

[BeerHolic]

Each to his own. I use only a hydrometer and quite happy with that.