I need to replace a refractometer any recommendations? My current one is giving erratic measurements compared to my hydrometer. Don’t want to get a cheap one. Considering the Milwaukee digital unit.
I have this one and find it to be excellent.
Thanks! I’ll look into it.
I used this same refractometer for several years. Works well.
My super cheap refractometer works well and matches a hydrometer within average 0.001. Sure I have to calibrate it every time it’s used but isn’t that a good thing to do anyway?
I use a cheap iTavah and, like Dave, consistently get readings that are within a point of my hydrometer. I check calibration every use and haven’t had to calibrate it in several months. Think it cost me about $25, but they have gone down in price. Most of the reviews are 4+ stars with the exception of the occasional outlier where someone thinks a zero reading in distilled water means it’s good to go.
Thanks everyone for the comments
OK, Bob you have aroused my curiosity. I always have used R.O./distilled water to calibrate my RH3-32ATC refractometer. My readings are always in good agreement with my hydrometer (after employing the brix-plato correction factor in BeerSmith). What are you using to calibrate yours? Inquiring minds want to know.
My assumption is that Bob was mistaking the use of distilled for calibration of a pH meter which is a big no-no. But it’s appropriate for a refractometer.
That was my understanding as well, Dave.
Robert, did you say you also use this for fermenting and finished beer?
Yes, with Petr Novotný’s correction formula, it is close enough to know when it’s time to transfer and spund, and to be sure that fermentation has finished I can still see if there is no change over several days even if the true reading is off by a few tenths of a degree Plato. In fact, I may get less accurate readings of actively fermenting beer with a saccharometer, since it is buoyed up by bubbles and yeast, and is difficult to read in foamy, cloudy beer (I am too lazy to degas and filter a saccharometer sample as long as the refractometer is “good enough.” I do pass my few drops of fermenting beer through a coffee filter and on to the refractometer.)
Would you be willing to share your correction spreadsheet with me?
Would you centrifuge the sample before measurement of is filtering thru coffee filter sufficient?
Links and discussion here:
https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=28544.0
(this latter link uses the Novotny formula)
Novotný published his equation in an article in the Jul/Aug 2017 Zymurgy, but in a form which gives a result in specific gravity. I convert to Plato in my spreadsheet. The online calculator at Brewer’s Friend uses the Novotný equation, with ability to select SG or Plato.
Thank you
FYI - I ended up purchasing the Vee Gee refractometer from More Beer. It seems well made and is clearer and easier to read the numbers than my old cheap unit. I also have been using the Brewers Friend refractometer calculator web page.