Broke another hydrometer. Took it out of my equipment bucket and the plastic cap came off, hydrometer fell onto the wood floor and literally shattered into 100’s of pieces. I have long lost count of the number of these things I’ve burned through. I saw on another thread where someone is making SS bottles. Well, how about something really useful like a SS hydrometer. I’m thinking its a conspiracy cooked up by the hydrometer manufacturers so they can keep selling the cheap, glass ones to us. They’re probably in cahoots with the same guys keeping that 100 mpg car secret! :o
SS hydrometer…good idea!
Copper so it de-sulphur while you test.
How about a refractometer??
I went to a refractometer right after I shattered my hydrometer.
Me too but now I use both. Refrac for everything pre pitch.
Good point. I’ve probably bought 2 or 3 refractometers at that price.
You don’t think that maybe these guys are working with the hydrometer people to drive up the refrac business do ya :P?
By the way, I liked the copper idea, too :D.
Years ago, after I broke my hydrometer, I decided I’d buy 2 so I’d have a spare in case I broke another one. I haven’t broken one since. I think having a spare is why! 
Same here!
Me too! Kind of weird how that works…
I realize I’m shooting myself in the foot here, but am I really the only one who’s never broken a hydrometer?
I am not 100% sure, but I believe that I, personally, have never broken a hydrometer. I have had 3 or 4 hydrometers however and all but the current one were broken by others, sometimes through no fault of my own, sometimes because I left it next to the dish drainer or somewhere else it wasn’t safe.
I had my first hydrometer from my first setup kit. Then about two years ago it rolled off the bench and went to hydrometer heaven. I then broke three in short order. One fell out the bottom of the tube I bought it in. One more rolled off the bench again. Should have seen that coming. And the last one I just plain dropped.
I to bought a refractometer after I bought one more hydrometer. Haven’t lost it yet. Time will tell.
I always wonder when the subject of dropped hydros turns to buying refractometers, what happens when you drop a refractometer?
No, I’m just afraid to say it out of fear that I will be struck down by the hydrometer gods.
now i am screwed too , thanks
I hope I am not cursing myself. But I’m still using the one I got in my original kit approx. 20 years ago.
By the way: does anyone have a recommendation for hydrometers with a bigger scale? (I’m also using the same eyes, and they aren’t getting any better!)
Go to one of the bigger brewing equipment suppliers (Foxx, BSG, and GW Kent come to mind) and get a set of two or three narrow-scale hydrometers. You may need to have your LHBS order them for you if you don’t have an account.
Wow - those really are the big guys! I thought I was getting pretty serious when I started buying 55lb bags of malt. Their minimum order is a pallet of 40!
Cool suppliers - I’ll have a look around. Thanks!
Well, if we’re gonna split hairs about who actually broke the hydrometer…LOL. Anyway, I’ve broken almost everything at least once- carboy (went back to plastic for awhile); thermometer ( glass, floaty POS that came with my first kit) went digital after that one; auto-siphon (plastic); burner…ok, after 15 years it rusted and just gave up.
Yep, I typically brew alone now. Safer for everybody