Refractometer

[castanea]

Hi
I was looking on fee bay for a refracometer, some say for sugar others are specifically for honey. Any advice ?
Thanks

 

[Erichalfbee]

You need one that will have a reading around 18% with a decent range.
Mine is 12 - 27% and was a cheapo from China, off eBay.

 

[Anduril]

The main guide you are looking at is the water content in the honey, between10%-30%. Honey refractometer ATC. You will see 3 scales through the eyepiece temperature, brix and water. As Erica around 18% water content in the honey is acceptable.

 

[Cussword]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_o...=m570.l1313&_nkw=Honey+Refractometer&_sacat=0

Several on this page.

 

[enrico]

Whatever you do, when it arrives, don't fiddle with it. Put some olive oil in a little bottle and take a reading of the oil on your refractometer. Note the reading on the bottle. That is then used as a known calibration value if for any reason you doubt the reading it is giving you in the future.
I only tell you this because I....fiddled, luckily a fine member of this forum came to the rescue and sent me some oil with a known reading. Learn by my mistakes every day.
E

 

[Brigsy]

I bought one of the cheapo ones recently and it suggested calibration with distilled water.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I bought one of the cheapo ones recently and it suggested calibration with distilled water.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

you'll need one with a reading up to 100% then

 

[Brigsy]

Haha. It's calibrated on a different scale first. It's about 78% on the Brix scale.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[castanea]

Hi
Thanks just received email it's been posted sadly they couldn't do next day delivery from China

 

[Plenty of honey]

Hi
Thanks just received email it's been posted sadly they couldn't do next day delivery from China

so you might get it by harvest time, 2017, !!

everything I've ordered from china on flea bay takes usually at least 5 weeks!!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

they usually arrive in a couple of weeks.

 

[Cazza]

I bought a cheapo from China which was useless. I learnt my lesson and paid more for a decent British based one.
Cazza

 

[Cussword]

they usually arrive in a couple of weeks.

Yep, I've always received within 2 weeks, 3 max.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I bought a cheapo from China which was useless. I learnt my lesson and paid more for a decent British based one.
Cazza

Are you sure it wasn't imported from China?

 

[Cazza]

Are you sure it wasn't imported from China?

Yes, made in Tunbridge Wells.
Cazza

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I bought a cheapo from China which was useless. I learnt my lesson and paid more for a decent British based one.
Cazza

well, you are definitely in the minority - nothing but good feedback from people on here over the years and a big difference in price for something which is a luxury rather than a necessity.

 

[maddydog]

Hmm got one of these cheap ones off Fleabay. Appears to only have the Brix scale of 0-30%. The instructions said to calibrate using distilled water to 0%. All well and good but honey obviously goes off the scale!

Am I missing something obvious or do I need a liquid with a known amount of sugar (70%) and calibrate the refractometer to 0?

Eyes and shake test have worked fine until now, knew I should have stuck to them!

 

[Brigsy]

I just tried to calibrate mine with distilled water and I can't zero it to the recommended line. It runs out of adjustment.

 

[Erichalfbee]

If you search calibrate refractometer there are already a few threads. The general consensus was that most of them come ready calibrated. Sorry I know that doesn't help you if your instructions say to do it.

 

[Anduril]

Big T say to calibrate it with medicinal liquid paraffin to 24.5% on the water scale.