refractometer from China ? which one ?

[Grif]

I have seen various refractometers for sale on the *bay site, and wondered if anybody would recommend one, and if so which particular model?

 

[Davelin]

I think they are all much of a muchness.

I paid about £15-£20 as I recall and it works fine.

Can't see that the ones offered at £120+ offer anything more.

 

[itma]

There are two common models. I have the shorter, cheaper one. It works. The slightly more expensive longer one might have marginally better optical quality.
These days I think all will have ATC (auto temperature correction).

I and many other forum members used a Hong Kong vendor called something like 'gainexpress'. I was able to get the refractometer and calibration block+oil delivered for under £20.

 

[hedgehog66]

I got basic model off santa, apparently he paid 25 elves for it
The next model up has an intergrated light so no need to point it at the sun/light source to see reading.
My children, with 20:20 vision do not find the need to point it to a light source to see %age, just us old duffers
It seems very accurate when compared to other beeks ones locally

 

[Mellifera397]

I paid £21.00 for one from 'goforshopnow' seems to work fine.

M

 

[Ely]

I paid £0 and did shake test

 

[drex]

I had one from grandindex and it was rubbish. The blue/white reading line was so blurred could not get a reading . They gave me full refund. Got one from Oxford st ( still China) and works a treat. Delivery time not bad either.

 

[VEG]

Got mine from gainexpress and it works great

 

[Swarm]

I paid £0 and did shake test

Be careful with the shake test, I had a few frames that passed this test but were 19.2% on the refractometer. They went back on the bees.

 

[Ely]

Righto. I'll keep an eye on it

 

[BeeJayBee]

Got mine from gainexpress and it works great

Same here.

 

[Bryang]

Take care if you use the dioptic oil they supply to calibrate the meter, if you get it on the "daylight plate" ( the plastic flip down cover), it seems to soften the plastic, and if your unlucky like me you will end up with a thumb print on it. The meter still works fine even with the smudge.
Bryan

 

[bontbee]

so do you calibrate without lowering the plate - or ditch the oil??

 

[enrico]

If you get one, can you use some virgin olive oil, take the reading, and then send me some with the reading so I can check mine! It seems the easiest way to do it. Pm me if that is ok and I will send money for postage!
E

 

[Bryang]

HI Bont bee..... You calibrate without lowering the plate!!! If you had the oil you should have had a small prism block with it. Just put the oil on the clear side of the prism block (one drop) and put the prism block carefully on the lens, carefull because the prism block will slide very easily. Take reading, job done. Carefully remove oil from surfaces.

 

[bontbee]

Unfortunately, no prism block. Refractometer arrived, no oil, so sourced from different places. Can I botch a block?

or do I mean "bodge" a block..... ta

 

[enrico]

Depends on the refarctometer. The normal Chinese one is a blue glass with a plastic cover. Do NOT re calibrate it. It is already correct. That's what I did wrong! Just get some olive oil and take a reading. Keep that bottle of oil. Every now and again, using that oil make sure the reading is the same! If not THEN calibrate it to the original reading.
E

 

[einsteinagogo]

okay, I'm going to reboot, this thread, must get one of these off the bay, with the little darlings, bringing in so much OSR..

the problem, so many being sold by gainexpress, which one ?

guidance anyone..

 

[sbisme]

I am also going to look at getting one so whilst this thread is going I will jump in with a question, I understand how one works but if you have a super on a hive do you take a sample of every frame? And do you just scoop some off the frame? I know probably stupid questions but if you don't know then not so stupid

 

[enrico]

I take a quick sample off an uncapped outside frame. If it is under the reading by a small amount it doesn't matter as the other frames that are capped will probably be over so on average it should be ok. I just use it as a guide. I always take a reading after extracting. If it is under the I wouldn't sell it, I would use it for myself, doesn't happen very often!
E