Cleaning.

[kelper]

It shouldn’t do. A hydrometer measures sugar ratio in a liquid. I am not sure that surface tension plays too much of a part. Though I might be wrong.

Surface tension does affect hydrometers.

 

[noshadow]

Surface tension does affect hydrometers.

I was always taught to spin a hydrometer to break the surface tension. That was for sea/river water but I'd imagine the same would apply to beer?

 

[kelper]

The spinning is to get rid of bubbles!

 

[noshadow]

Really? I used a hydrometer when I worked at sea to measure sea water/dock water density and was taught by several people it was to break surface tension. I'll need to chase my old lecturers and colleagues down!

 

[Fireside Ales Homebrewery]

Surface tension does affect hydrometers.

Care to elaborate? As I said In my remark,

A hydrometer measures sugar ratio in a liquid. I am not sure that surface tension plays too much of a part.

I am clearly wrong. Maybe someone could explain it a bit?

 

[Fireside Ales Homebrewery]

Care to elaborate? As I said In my remark,

I am clearly wrong. Maybe someone could explain it a bit?

Actually don’t worry I just looked it up myself. I see where I was wrong. Fairly simple science. Still Interesting to know.

 

[kelper]

Hydrometers are used for measuring the density of fluids, not just alcohol, water and their mixes and solutions. Some hydrometers are marked with the surface tension for which they were calibrated. There is a lot of info here Stevenson Reeves - How to use a hydrometer

Some you read above the meniscus, some below. This is normally marked on the hydrometer.

On ships, we measured the bunker fuel with volumetric flow meters but paid by mass, so we had to take very accurate density readings with a brass hydrometer. When you are buying a 1,000 tonnes at a time it makes a big difference!

 

[Fireside Ales Homebrewery]

Hydrometers are used for measuring the density of fluids, not just alcohol, water and their mixes and solutions. Some hydrometers are marked with the surface tension for which they were calibrated. There is a lot of info here Stevenson Reeves - How to use a hydrometer

Some you read above the meniscus, some below. This is normally marked on the hydrometer.

On ships, we measured the bunker fuel with volumetric flow meters but paid by mass, so we had to take very accurate density readings with a brass hydrometer. When you are buying a 1,000 tonnes at a time it makes a big difference!

Thanks for that and thanks for the link. Lots of great information there too.

 

[CD]

I am really surprised nobody has mentioned Antiformin S on this thread. Made by Murphys of Nottingham, it is available from The Hop Shop at £6.85 for a litre bottle. Check it out, its magic.