Well $h!t ...

[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.

 

[Broothru]

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.

 

[bracconiere]

Each to his own.

very true, but i thought this was a feeler thread. maybe i was mistaken dunno... (and honestly i think it was a good one! )

 

[DBhomebrew]

.i just know on my optical refrac i can't read it any close then a half BRIX

Really?! The graduations are 0.2Bx, no?

 

[bracconiere]

Really?! The graduations are 0.2Bx, no?

maybe i should learn to focus it? the meniscus is like .5...but i just use my MA871....

 

[bellhp]

I appreciate ALL the discussion and everyone's input I tallied responses above and I've decided to repurchase a hydrometer and will get a Fermtech Thief for pulling samples . Haven't ordered it yet because I had to walk away from computer after filling my cart with more junk to try to get to the free shipping threshold . I'm heading to sea tomorrow anyway so I won't need it till I get back from offshore .
I may get a refractometer as well for pre boil/fermentation but it will likely be a cheap one , I've got one that measures salinity for my reef tank and It's not fancy and has worked well .
Thanks

 

[Protos]

My cheapo Chinese refractometer is a special "homebrewing-dedicated" one and it has two scales: Brix and Standard Gravity. It's a miracle, but the SG scale is very precise, often it reads exactly what my hydrometer reads for the same wort, no need in Brix convertion, even.
I guess, it's not because of the high quality of the tool but just by chance, a coincidence, a play of nature, a fault-turned-lucky. Because sometimes the readings differ wildly with no apparent reason. Statistically, the refractometer readings are true more often than not, but as long as the swings are unpredictable, there's no point in using it when I have to re-check the reading with a hydrometer every time.

 

[balrog]

I always measure with refractometer, std hydrometer and one of two expanded scale (one for OG one for FG) hydrometers. I can't help it.

Now excuse me because I see there's some carpet fringe that's not quite lined up North/South in the living room.

 

[IslandLizard]

will get a Fermtech Thief for pulling samples

You can use a 2-3' piece of skinny vinyl hose, snaked through the airlock hole. Keep the end of the hose that's outside the fermenter near the bottom level of your fermenter, to prevent beer from flowing back. Then suck-siphon out your sample into a large cup.
When you have collected enough, pull the hose out of the fermenter, quickly, so nothing flows back.

Use good sanitation practices, and maybe train with a bucket of water.

The big advantage is, you don't need to remove the fermenter's lid, so the headspace only gets minimally disturbed.

If you use a refractometer, you'd only need to retrieve one drop, by just dipping in that same hose.

 

[bellhp]

Well $h*t again ... you don't like the Thief idea Now I'm 10 bucks farther away from the free shipping ... guess I'm heading back to Amazon .

 

[IslandLizard]

Well $h*t again ... you don't like the Thief idea Now I'm 10 bucks farther away from the free shipping ... guess I'm heading back to Amazon .

No need to spend $40-60 on a refractometer from MoreBeer either. A $20-25 from Amazon is probably the same or just as good. Although... I don't know about the current ones.

Maybe someone can point you to a verified good one.

 

[balrog]

No need to spend $40-60 on a refractometer from MoreBeer either. A $20-25 from Amazon is probably the same or just as good. Although... I don't know about the current ones.

Maybe someone can point you to a verified good one.

I've had good and bad luck with the $20 AMZ ones. My first was awesome. My second wouldn't behave unless I was within an ambient temp range of about 66F-71F. My third one is much better, but the first one was way better.

It just did not care for, nor recover from, my fumbling hand induced gravitational event with subsequent boiling wort bath immersion.

[Edit: the beer was not harmed in the event. I know everyone was wondering.]

 

[Protos]

I see there's some carpet fringe that's not quite lined up North/South in the living room.

I like this approach to most things in life.

 

[Yesfan]

If you do get a refractometer, look for one with a LED light. I've thought about getting one of those for myself, but don't know which ones are the good ones. I think you can even buy the light by itself to add to a current one. That would come in handy in low light.