Who Uses A Refractometer Brix 32
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fraser_john
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I paid about $45 from HK, plus shipping and its pretty good, I would now buy the Brix 18 or whatever it is as its more accurate (reading the scale) for brewing beer. I can always use my 32 for my wine making.
John
John
smollocks
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Same experience here as John. My only complaint with the refractometer is that I don't always get highly reproducible results (repeated tests on the one sample can give me results within a range of about 0.4 brix), but I much prefer not having to lift the fermenter up and down to take hydrometer samples. I'd also prefer a 0-18 range, but they were harder to find and the 0-32 is definitely usable.
I'm pretty sure the ones going for $75 in Australia are identical to the Chinese ones. I got mine off ebay for about $40 shipped and I'm glad I didn't spend double that to get the same thing locally.
I'm pretty sure the ones going for $75 in Australia are identical to the Chinese ones. I got mine off ebay for about $40 shipped and I'm glad I didn't spend double that to get the same thing locally.
t2000kw
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Do those of you who use one of these find that they are very useful and reliable?
I wondered if the 32 Brix models would be able to cover the higher gravity brews OK? I've never brewed one over 1.090 or so.
It looks like the 18 Brix models would miss that, assuming that each degree in Brix is equal to about .004 specific gravity. But it would be easier to read the scale, I would think.
I wondered if the 32 Brix models would be able to cover the higher gravity brews OK? I've never brewed one over 1.090 or so.
It looks like the 18 Brix models would miss that, assuming that each degree in Brix is equal to about .004 specific gravity. But it would be easier to read the scale, I would think.
pdilley
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Go to http://www.instrument-china.com/refractometers/rhb18atc.htm
Thats the one you are after. Most beer brewers use the 0-32 to monitor the mash to get a quick idea if they are close to their targets. The smaller the scale the more accurate the measure with analogue instruments but if you go digital then the issue might be the instrument is calibrated to the return vibrational rate of sucrose only and you might not pick up the other forms of sugars in solution so safer to stick with analogue for beer and general home brewing as analogue ones will pick up all the sugars in solution and give a better picture even though they are calibrated to sucrose. You have to deal with other sugars refracting light differently and compensate depending on the mix of sugars (the factor ranges from 1.02 to 1.06 the reading with 1.04 used in most compensation calculations) but its better than missing them entirely in a reading.
You can ask your eBay store to get one for you or if you want to organise a bulk buy you can get it direct from instruments-china very cheap
Cheers,
Brewer Pete
EDiT: Re-using the pipette between samples will skew results. Either residual sugar compounds on the inside of the pipette can mix into sampled solution or cleaned pipettes with residual water will skew your sample solution the other way. Greater influences with smaller 1mL sample size. Also you need to clean the surface of the glass above the prism well between uses and not let the refractometer sit without being cleaned leaving residual sugars on the glass or other side of the cover. No caustic cleaners or boiling hot water dunks. I pour mildly hot water on my hands and finger and wipe the glass clean with finger repeatedly again and again then the cover, holding the unit at an angle so it drains water rapidly, then a soft cotton cloth to dry. Then inspect the glass at angle to the light to see if it is clean or if a film of residual sample material still remains on the lens.
Thats the one you are after. Most beer brewers use the 0-32 to monitor the mash to get a quick idea if they are close to their targets. The smaller the scale the more accurate the measure with analogue instruments but if you go digital then the issue might be the instrument is calibrated to the return vibrational rate of sucrose only and you might not pick up the other forms of sugars in solution so safer to stick with analogue for beer and general home brewing as analogue ones will pick up all the sugars in solution and give a better picture even though they are calibrated to sucrose. You have to deal with other sugars refracting light differently and compensate depending on the mix of sugars (the factor ranges from 1.02 to 1.06 the reading with 1.04 used in most compensation calculations) but its better than missing them entirely in a reading.
You can ask your eBay store to get one for you or if you want to organise a bulk buy you can get it direct from instruments-china very cheap
Cheers,
Brewer Pete
EDiT: Re-using the pipette between samples will skew results. Either residual sugar compounds on the inside of the pipette can mix into sampled solution or cleaned pipettes with residual water will skew your sample solution the other way. Greater influences with smaller 1mL sample size. Also you need to clean the surface of the glass above the prism well between uses and not let the refractometer sit without being cleaned leaving residual sugars on the glass or other side of the cover. No caustic cleaners or boiling hot water dunks. I pour mildly hot water on my hands and finger and wipe the glass clean with finger repeatedly again and again then the cover, holding the unit at an angle so it drains water rapidly, then a soft cotton cloth to dry. Then inspect the glass at angle to the light to see if it is clean or if a film of residual sample material still remains on the lens.
pdilley
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I don't see a problem with that. You will need a few on rotation so you can be sure each cleaned pipette can dry properly between uses. A quick inspection before use will reveal any gunk still on the inside--these get rewashed or discarded. The pipettes supplied are plastic so after a while they will run out. You usually get a few thrown in depending on ebay store so its not a worry for a while if you take care of them.
Also dont dunk the refractometer in hot wort let any sample in the pipette cool a while before putting it on the prism. Then let the unit sit for a minute and equalise out the temperature differentials, then take a reading.
Same as making the beer, cleanliness is next to godliness.
Cheers,
Brewer Pete
Also dont dunk the refractometer in hot wort
let any sample in the pipette cool a while before putting it on the prism. Then let the unit sit for a minute and equalise out the temperature differentials, then take a reading.Same as making the beer, cleanliness is next to godliness.
Cheers,
Brewer Pete
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