Refractometers

[Still Brewing]

Evening all

I've been thinking about buying a refractometer for a while now. Nearest I got was getting sniped at the last second for a couple of them a few months ago, and thats as far as it got.

What are the advantages/disadvantages, what price should I pay for one.

Would somebody please educate me on the pro's and cons of refractometers, and tell me if they are worth buying or if they are just another brewing toy.

Cheers

[Icefever]

I have one...I only use it when we're getting ready to pick the grapes off a friends vines.
I know a couple of us on here use them....but I find the hydro (for me that is) easier and quicker.

[Mash]

Brilliant tool. I have 2. Get the right scales.
1 for sugar & alcohol. Brix
1 for spirit strength.

Hardly use my hydrometer now. To messy and takes to long..... Except for "has ferment finished yet?"

[Mash]

.. And about £15 on ebay. Get the right scales and you just read off the answers. No more tables to cross reference.

[Still Brewing]

Thanks chaps.

Will check them out. There seem to be a lot of places selling them so wil do some price comparisons.

[vino-tinto]

Get an ATC version it compensates for temp variations

[optic]

But remember that SG and Brix are not linear, if you buy a refractometer that has a SG scale as well as brix ignore the SG side as its total nonsense .I never use a hydrometer now when brewing beer as its so much easier just to sanitize a pipette to take a sample and its far easier to see the result rather than trying to read a hydrometer accurately .
To get really good accuracy post fermentation use this http://www.brewersfriend.com/refractometer-calculator/ .

[vino-tinto]

Here's one I made earlier, it's an excel template working out and compensating for alcohol content on the finished frac reading. The formula was in F so I made a quick C to F convertor inc in it

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6cs8twb6q3z34hn/Refractometer%20to%20Final%20SG%20Calculator1.xlt?dl=0

[Mash]

sanitize a pipette to take a sample

I use a mark 1 index finger.
SG !!
There is no need for it at all. Certainly why would you need a calculator?
Neither of my refractometers have it on. Further I would not recommend it. Just work in brix is is soooooo of much easier.

I have brix & %alc (expected) on one and % alc to 100% in the other.

[Ricardo]

.. And about £15 on ebay. Get the right scales and you just read off the answers. No more tables to cross reference.

Any chance of a link to the £15 Refractometer on Ebay ??
Cheapest 0 -80% one I can find is £19.99
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291592856413? ... fresh=true

[Mash]

What do you want it for sugar or alcohol? They are two different things.

[Ricardo]

Got a sugar one need a 'reasonably' priced alcohol one.............

[Magnu420]

Got a sugar one need a 'reasonably' priced alcohol one.............

If you get the air still kit from love brewing it will come with a spirit
Hydrometer

[Ricardo]

Yes it does.....I just find a refractometer so much easier to use.

[Mash]

+1 - back in a moment will find one.