Broken hydrometer

[tonyhibbett]

I found some tiny black balls in the trial tube. Yet another broken hydrometer. Rather than buy another and run the risk of breakage, I mixed up some epoxy putty and stuffed it into the broken bottom until the hydrometer read 0 in plain water. The putty is waterproof, adhesive and sets as hard as steel. No more broken hydrometers!

 

[PD]

I flicked my trial jar the other week to remove some droplets of steraliser.................

I forgot my hydrometer was still in it... :shock: It flew out of the brewery like an exocett missile, across the estate road and handed point uppards in a lawn !

obviously brolen !

 

[caitlintilt]

You could always just test the sugar by drinking a bit of your brew if your hydrometer is broken, that's a method that doesn't rely on old technology :L

 

[tonyhibbett]

Perfectly valid at the end of the brew, otherwise no. I tried using a refractometer, but once alcohol is also present, the readings are totally inaccurate. Only useful for assessing the original sugar percentage.
The 2 that broke are Young's. It's a design fault. The glass is very thin and the tiny balls used for weight add no strength to it.

 

[bobsbeer]

What you need is one of THESE

 

[tonyhibbett]

Sooner or later, it had to happen! Thanks for the info.