Refractometer readings

[SS_Smith]

Refractometer readings

I’ve extracted my first honey, frames past the shake test.

I have one of these refractometers:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01HZ7MQ0M/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=taginvalid-21&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01HZ7MQ0M&linkId=b15dd0dcf6916922fdd8008c289cc777

It's Brix scale 0-90

I’ve tried calibrating it with olive oil like is spoken about on the Cushman site:
http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/refractometercalibration.html

My olive oil reading shows as 71-72 on the scale
My Honey shows as 81 on the scale

Pressumably I just subtract the readings from 90 and that leaves me with:
Olive oil 18.5
Honey 9

Is this correct or am I missing something?

 

[Beefriendly]

Yes, quite a bit.
Brix doesn't give you the % water. You usually have a second scale called water percentage and often another "Be" scale. Adjustments need to be added for temp as usually scales relate to 20C, but differences are so small not worth worrying about.
If it helps.
Olive Oil reading 71 on the Brix reads 27% on my % Water Scale.
Your Honey reading at 81 on the Brix is just a shade over 17% water.
You might have been better advised to get a honey refractometer where the Brix scale starts at 58 and ends at 90. with %water from 27-12%.

I think the advert was very misleading and I'd ask Amazon for you money back. The one you want is cheaper and you can see what I mean about multi scales . There's an example on ebay here, many other similar ones about as well,.
Picture below might be of some help.

guidance.

 

[Noddy]

Mine is specifically for honey, £40 from Bee-Equipment at the moment. It was quite a bit less when I bought mine. Has not needed recalibrating (yet) - it was spot on straight from the box.

This is one of those cases where you get what you pay for.

 

[Beefriendly]

This is one of those cases where you get what you pay for.

Not too sure about that Noddy.
The cheap Chinese ones I've seen are very good. They are to all intents and practical purpose identical to the expensive ones sold by many UK retailers.
Bit like hive tools.....I buy from China at £3.99 including postage, identical one from Throens is £14 + Postage. And there is no difference in quality...only I don't mind losing £4 ones as much as the £14 quid plus postage jobs

 

[Apiarisnt]

https://www.refractometers.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=0&products_id=6

currently on offer at 19.99 plus fiver postage plus fiver VAT, comes to 30 quid

 

[Beefriendly]

And here is an almost identical model for £12.12p including postage. It will simply take a little longer to arrive and will work just as well, once calibrated.
Where do you think the £30 quid jobbie was made?

 

[SS_Smith]

Thanks All

Think I'll stick with what I've got and use the chart in the image on post 2 to work out the moisture.

 

[mintmoth]

And here is an almost identical model for £12.12p including postage. It will simply take a little longer to arrive and will work just as well, once calibrated.
Where do you think the £30 quid jobbie was made?

Thanks for putting that link, Beefriendly, being new to this I wasn't sure which might be the best, but I'm happy to take your recommendation, so I've ordered one.

 

[Noddy]

<snip> Throens </snip>

Is your spell checker broken? It has spelled Thorne's incorrectly

 

[Beefriendly]

Is your spell checker broken? It has spelled Thorne's incorrectly

Probably. Wands aren't what they were.