Refractometer

[Anduril]

I have ordered a refractometer from index instruments as per the link, I couldn’t find a honey refractometer on Amazon with consistent reviews, so I have gone with this recommendation, thanks for that.
So I presume you test a small amount of honey prior to extraction, is that correct & what if capped honey does have too high a water content, what do you do with it. Basic questions I know, but I had wrongly assumed that all capped honey was good to bottle, which I now know isn’t the case, thanks.

https://youtu.be/SI-tAnwGEus Video by Rosti who is/was a forum member

 

[Millet]

Just a thought but WHY do you have to keep calibrating your refractometers , we have no moving parts so unless you get curious with a screw driver it should read the same year in yer out i am led to believe.. well mine does..

 

[Beefriendly]

Just a thought but WHY do you have to keep calibrating your refractometers , we have no moving parts so unless you get curious with a screw driver it should read the same year in yer out i am led to believe.. well mine does..

you don't...what you need be sure of is that it is accurate. Check mine every year...spot on.

 

[Millet]

you don't...what you need be sure of is that it is accurate. Check mine every year...spot on.

Same here no calibrating required as it says the same everytime..that is unless i test it on your honey..

 

[Beefriendly]

..that is unless i test it on your honey..

May all your virgins be taken by swallows......

 

[Millet]

May all your virgins be taken by swallows......

...

 

[masterBK]

I have had an Index refractometer for over 10 years and it is still reading accurately when tested against calibration fluid supplied by them so I have never had to adjust it.

 

[Swift Nick]

Use medicinal liquid paraffin on the prism and calibrate to 24.5% on the water scale. I had a Chinese one but threw it away because it was inaccurate, I used the calibration fluid from China and medicinal liquid paraffin and found out how inaccurate it was. I bought this one Press on "one" highlighted in blue. It is very accurate after doing the same test as above.

I purchased the suggested refractometer on Monday evening, it arrived yesterday (Wednesday) well packaged & looked quite a professional piece of kit, well presented, in a good case, with clear instructions and calibration fluid.
I checked the calibration, it was slightly off, so I adjusted, I then tried out some honey purchased from a fellow beekeeper & it gave a nice sharp clear reading.
I can’t comment on the Amazon refractometers, but I am very pleased with the purchase I made, thank you Anduril for the advice.
Nick

 

[Anduril]

I purchased the suggested refractometer on Monday evening, it arrived yesterday (Wednesday) well packaged & looked quite a professional piece of kit, well presented, in a good case, with clear instructions and calibration fluid.
I checked the calibration, it was slightly off, so I adjusted, I then tried out some honey purchased from a fellow beekeeper & it gave a nice sharp clear reading.
I can’t comment on the Amazon refractometers, but I am very pleased with the purchase I made, thank you Anduril for the advice.
Nick

You're welcome.

 

[masterBK]

I don't think that model has auto temperature correction so did you take temperature into consideration when you foundthe reading it was slightly off with the calibration fluid?

 

[Swift Nick]

I don't think that model has auto temperature correction so did you take temperature into consideration when you foundthe reading it was slightly off with the calibration fluid?

Good point, but yes, the reading was taken at 18 deg C, so it should have read 0.15 high, but in fact it was about 0.20 low, so a little off. It’s calibrated for 18 deg C now, which is about right for our house, as it will only be used a few times each year and calibration is easy to do, it’s probably worth checking the calibration at each use

 

[Beefriendly]

The differences in readings is so minute it's not worth worrying about. Many refractometers have temperature compensation built into them.