"It's just a test, a game for us to play"

[orlando]

Testing wort with my hydrometer is really frustrating! I can rarely tell what the exact S.G is. It sticks to the side of the trial jar or it has too many bubbles in the jar to obscure the hydrometer itself and the gradations are just not clear enough. Ignoring the responses suggesting a refractometer, is there a hydrometer out there that is the Rolls Royce of hydrometers but closer to the price of a Mondeo?


"Win or lose it's hard to smile"

[Swiller]

What is wrong with a refractometer? I was given one for
xmas and it's a great piece of kit I would not be without it now.

[Aleman]

Alloa 1.000 - 1.050 Narrow Range Hydrometer
Alloa 1.050 - 1.100 Narrow Range Hydrometer

After that it starts to get a little more expensive.

Stevenson Reeves do some very nice hydrometers that cover the brewing range in 0.020 increments for 48.60ish each . . . Plus Vat. Catalogue Here I am considering seeing if I can get a discount for CBA members.

Makes 40 Quid for A Refractomer look reasonable . . . and 120 quid for a digital refractomer even better considering just how easy it is to break one.

[orlando]

What is wrong with a refractometer? I was given one for
xmas and it's a great piece of kit I would not be without it now.

I was not intending to dis refractometers, although I have read some confusion over formulas for converting readings, one day I might just get one as they seem a lot easier to use. For now though I want to get hydrometer use under my belt and feel what I have is just not good enough.

[Spud395]

I hear you Orlando, what I do now is I fill the trial jar almost to the top, so much so that I get a little overflow as I put the hydrometer in.
This has the advantage of allowing any bubbles to spill out as well, you are now left with a nice full trial jar (if there is a bubble or 2 left a bit of a blow will soft them out) Its also much easier read the hydro when you can look across the level liquid.

[orlando]

Great tip Spud, thanks.

[themadhippy]

Also spin the hydrometer into the jar,i find this stops it sticking to the side

[orlando]

Yep, tried it but still have the same problems. It's as if it is magnetised to the trial jar side.

[EoinMag]

When you say trial jar, it's not the container the thing comes in is it? It sounds like the bore of your trial jar is too small if the glass is sticking to it.

[super_simian]

If the hydro is sticking to one side, the vessel is on an angle. Even the slightest tilt away from vertical will have this effect. Instead of a new hydro, perhaps a new vessel? Any place which sells science experimenty stuff should have something.

[BlakenhallBrewer]

One of these

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/10067655/

makes a great test jar - at only £1.99 it's worth getting a couple just in case


(sorry I couldn't post a link properly but I still haven't got past the post limit yet :( )

[DeadFall]

Had enough of hydrometers so I've just ordered one of these

[orlando]

Cheers Deadfall just bought one as well, at that price if it does what it says then I see that as a simpler solution.

[orlando]

Cheers Deadfall just bought one as well, at that price if it does what it says then I see that as a simpler solution.

[Swiller]

You wont be sorry.