Question for the Bugeater: Refractometers
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:30 am
by MslaBrewer
Wayne,
I can appreciate your cheapbastardness....I went to that school, too. Any suggestions for make/model of refractometers? I could really see this tool being quite usefull. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Msla
Re: Question for the Bugeater: Refractometers
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:19 pm
by Mylo
FWIW, I got mine off of eBay for < $50. Make sure you find one that has the appropriate range. Mine does 0-28 Brix. Try to find one that is ATC (automatic temperature compensation).
Mylo
Re: Question for the Bugeater: Refractometers
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:38 pm
by Sent From My iPhone
I too got an ATC re-frakto-mater off ebay for about $30. Works great.
Re: Question for the Bugeater: Refractometers
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:44 pm
by Oktober
Sheen wrote:I too got an ATC re-frakto-mater off ebay for about $30. Works great.
<Lightbulb> Hmmmm....nice!
-Okt
Re: Question for the Bugeater: Refractometers
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 1:56 pm
by triple-oh-six
Me too, ebay $30 including shipping
ATC and lighted
Re: Question for the Bugeater: Refractometers
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:04 pm
by BigNastyBrew
Got mine from WIlliams Brewing for $50... Calibrated it this weekend but I wasn't too pleased with the results. It's 0-32 with ATC.
I adjusted to 0°P at 68°F on distilled water, even though my hydrometer read 1.003. I calibrated it to 1.032 wort at 8°P and so Beer Smith saves it.
Well, my OG with a hydro was 1.041, adjusted to 71°F but my re-frackto-mater read 11°P. That puts me at 1.044-1.045...
Re: Question for the Bugeater: Refractometers
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:19 pm
by ApexBrewing
I also bought the cheap $20 something plus shipping ebay ATC refractometer. It has worked flawlessly and has never needed calibration despite the fact that I have checked it numerous times.
Many of the eghey ones read in Brix as mine does so I use this chart
http://beerbarons.org/pdf/brewingCheatSheets/refractometerBrixToSGConvertion.pdf to convert and check my numbers.
Re: Question for the Bugeater: Refractometers
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:40 pm
by BadRock
I got this one and have been really happy with it and the company. I have lost the hinge screws several times and both times they sent me replacements at no cost. I would totally recommend them to a friend.
0-32% ATC Brix Refractometer with Built-in LED light source
[ZGRB-32ATC] USD39.00
http://www.gainexpress.com/product_info ... v1gjm7ntd5