Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Moderator: Site Moderator
-
- Novice
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2013 7:14 pm
- Location: Three Inches to the Left
Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Recently, I noticed that when I cut my rums, the reading never comes out right after the cut.
For example, if I read 80% and then I add water that should cut it to 40%, the hydrometer will read high, like 50%.
My rums have a lot of oil in them, is that throwing off the reading?
Cheers,
Unicorn
For example, if I read 80% and then I add water that should cut it to 40%, the hydrometer will read high, like 50%.
My rums have a lot of oil in them, is that throwing off the reading?
Cheers,
Unicorn
Unicorns drink beer and piss whiskey.
-
- Site Donor
- Posts: 2544
- Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:48 am
- Location: Olympic Mountains USA
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
I would trust my Hydrometer, shouldn't be anything in your rum to throw it off, added sugars and such will but plain rum, no. There is a calc table for adding water to proof you shine, I think on the parent site if I remember correctly.
Sometimes I wonder why is that Frisbee getting bigger......and then it hits me.
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Float it in somethin you no the proof.
Store bought or rubbing alcohol. Check against that.
So I'm tole
Store bought or rubbing alcohol. Check against that.
So I'm tole
-
- Novice
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2013 7:14 pm
- Location: Three Inches to the Left
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
I've checked my hydrometer before and it measured out fine.
I use the parent site calculator. My end product after adding water always comes off too high.
Maybe my distilled water has alcohol in it...
I use the parent site calculator. My end product after adding water always comes off too high.
Maybe my distilled water has alcohol in it...
Unicorns drink beer and piss whiskey.
-
- Site Donor
- Posts: 2544
- Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:48 am
- Location: Olympic Mountains USA
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Drink 1 quart of the water you're using and call me in the morning.
Sometimes I wonder why is that Frisbee getting bigger......and then it hits me.
-
- Master of Distillation
- Posts: 4490
- Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:00 pm
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
I use the same calculator and its bang on for me.
New Distiller's Reading http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=46
Novice Guide to Cuts http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 40&start=0
Novice spoon feed http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=52975
Novice Guide to Cuts http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 40&start=0
Novice spoon feed http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=52975
- T-Pee
- Site Donor
- Posts: 4355
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:20 pm
- Location: The wilds of rural California
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Put it in water. It should read 1.000 then trust it for the rest of your readings.
tp
tp
Caution: Steep learning curve ahead!
Handy Links:
The Rules We Live By
GA Flatwoods sez
Cranky's Spoon Feeding For The New Folk
My "Still Tutorial" CM w/PP mods
Handy Links:
The Rules We Live By
GA Flatwoods sez
Cranky's Spoon Feeding For The New Folk
My "Still Tutorial" CM w/PP mods
-
- Novice
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2013 7:14 pm
- Location: Three Inches to the Left
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Just tested my Hydrometer, it seems to be off 1% or 2. GRrrrrr.
It used to read accurately. Bah!
It used to read accurately. Bah!
Unicorns drink beer and piss whiskey.
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Don't forget to allow for temperature
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Immidietly after dilution or are you waiting to some time for solution to cool down?
Vodka consumed wisely is harmless even in large amounts.
My all stainless 2" VM still
My all stainless 2" pot still with Dimroth condenser SS Pot Still
My malt mill - two roller - DIY
My keggle - mash/filter tun
My all stainless 2" VM still
My all stainless 2" pot still with Dimroth condenser SS Pot Still
My malt mill - two roller - DIY
My keggle - mash/filter tun
- dirtymax731
- Swill Maker
- Posts: 170
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:53 am
- Location: Nor Cal
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
When you dilute it creates lots of exothermic reactions. Each time you blend in water you need to wait for the temperature to stabilize and for the proof to settle before you can re-proof your blend and do the next dilution.
I like to "sneak up" on my dilution by adding 90% of the water, letting it settle down for awhile, check proof, and then adding the rest of the proofing water.
I like to "sneak up" on my dilution by adding 90% of the water, letting it settle down for awhile, check proof, and then adding the rest of the proofing water.
Sent while napping in a cherry orchard
-
- Novice
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2013 7:14 pm
- Location: Three Inches to the Left
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
I think the paper inside of the hydrometer has slipped down a millimeter or two. I've tested it on various spirits made by me and by a large corporation. It's reading a 40% abv at about 42%. I guess I'll just need to adjust by 2% going forward.
All readings are taken at room temperature. I'll wait to measure after adding the water going forward aswell.
Thanks for the feed back,
Unicorn
All readings are taken at room temperature. I'll wait to measure after adding the water going forward aswell.
Thanks for the feed back,
Unicorn
Unicorns drink beer and piss whiskey.
- T-Pee
- Site Donor
- Posts: 4355
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:20 pm
- Location: The wilds of rural California
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
I've been wondering about that little slip of paper and wondered if it could eventually...slip.
You'd think just a tiny drop of glue...
tp
You'd think just a tiny drop of glue...
tp
Caution: Steep learning curve ahead!
Handy Links:
The Rules We Live By
GA Flatwoods sez
Cranky's Spoon Feeding For The New Folk
My "Still Tutorial" CM w/PP mods
Handy Links:
The Rules We Live By
GA Flatwoods sez
Cranky's Spoon Feeding For The New Folk
My "Still Tutorial" CM w/PP mods
-
- Novice
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2013 7:14 pm
- Location: Three Inches to the Left
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
My guess is that I bump my hydrometer a lot (I'm surprised it hasn't broken) and the paper has slow dropped. That's my guess.
Unicorns drink beer and piss whiskey.
- T-Pee
- Site Donor
- Posts: 4355
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:20 pm
- Location: The wilds of rural California
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Mebbe bump it the other way and recalibrate in a known standard.
tp
tp
Caution: Steep learning curve ahead!
Handy Links:
The Rules We Live By
GA Flatwoods sez
Cranky's Spoon Feeding For The New Folk
My "Still Tutorial" CM w/PP mods
Handy Links:
The Rules We Live By
GA Flatwoods sez
Cranky's Spoon Feeding For The New Folk
My "Still Tutorial" CM w/PP mods
-
- Site Donor
- Posts: 557
- Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:11 pm
- Location: Southern West Virginia
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
That's got broken alcometer and bloody hands written all over it ya crazy SOB!T-Pee wrote:Mebbe bump it the other way and recalibrate in a known standard.
tp
Lead, follow, or get the **** out of the way!
-
- retired
- Posts: 16571
- Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 7:42 am
- Location: Somewhere in the Ozarks
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Many have reported getting different results then what the calculator provided. Including me. But I like it that way.
It'snotsocoldnow.
Advice For newbies by a newbie.
CM Still Mods
My Stuffs
Fu Man
Mr. Piss
That's Princess Piss to the haters.
Advice For newbies by a newbie.
CM Still Mods
My Stuffs
Fu Man
Mr. Piss
That's Princess Piss to the haters.
- T-Pee
- Site Donor
- Posts: 4355
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:20 pm
- Location: The wilds of rural California
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
I was thinking more along the lines of gently bumping it on a rubber pad, not throwing it against the wall, ya heavy-handed grunt.jarheadshiner wrote:That's got broken alcometer and bloody hands written all over it ya crazy SOB!T-Pee wrote:Mebbe bump it the other way and recalibrate in a known standard.
tp
tp
Caution: Steep learning curve ahead!
Handy Links:
The Rules We Live By
GA Flatwoods sez
Cranky's Spoon Feeding For The New Folk
My "Still Tutorial" CM w/PP mods
Handy Links:
The Rules We Live By
GA Flatwoods sez
Cranky's Spoon Feeding For The New Folk
My "Still Tutorial" CM w/PP mods
-
- Site Donor
- Posts: 557
- Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:11 pm
- Location: Southern West Virginia
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
I start out with good intentions but somehow I always end up with a hammer in my hand
Lead, follow, or get the **** out of the way!
- T-Pee
- Site Donor
- Posts: 4355
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:20 pm
- Location: The wilds of rural California
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Hunh. #1 daughter is a USMC F18/C130 SSGT. She told me much the same thing.jarheadshiner wrote:I start out with good intentions but somehow I always end up with a hammer in my hand
tp
Caution: Steep learning curve ahead!
Handy Links:
The Rules We Live By
GA Flatwoods sez
Cranky's Spoon Feeding For The New Folk
My "Still Tutorial" CM w/PP mods
Handy Links:
The Rules We Live By
GA Flatwoods sez
Cranky's Spoon Feeding For The New Folk
My "Still Tutorial" CM w/PP mods
-
- Site Donor
- Posts: 557
- Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:11 pm
- Location: Southern West Virginia
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Thought it was just me but I reckon it must be a Jarhead thing Thank your daughter for her dedication to making a career out of it for me Brave woman. You gotta be a proud Papa!
Lead, follow, or get the **** out of the way!
-
- Site Donor
- Posts: 557
- Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:11 pm
- Location: Southern West Virginia
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Just looking at your join date I would say the booze gods are displeased with you if you have not sacrificed one to them yet. My suggestion is to order 2, smash the one you have as penance, and hopefully it will appease them.Drunken Unicorn wrote:My guess is that I bump my hydrometer a lot (I'm surprised it hasn't broken) and the paper has slow dropped. That's my guess.
Lead, follow, or get the **** out of the way!
- T-Pee
- Site Donor
- Posts: 4355
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:20 pm
- Location: The wilds of rural California
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
You bet!jarheadshiner wrote:Thought it was just me but I reckon it must be a Jarhead thing Thank your daughter for her dedication to making a career out of it for me Brave woman. You gotta be a proud Papa!
Btw, it's the males aound her that are the brave ones. She's a redhead soon to be a Gunny.
tp
Caution: Steep learning curve ahead!
Handy Links:
The Rules We Live By
GA Flatwoods sez
Cranky's Spoon Feeding For The New Folk
My "Still Tutorial" CM w/PP mods
Handy Links:
The Rules We Live By
GA Flatwoods sez
Cranky's Spoon Feeding For The New Folk
My "Still Tutorial" CM w/PP mods
-
- Master of Distillation
- Posts: 4490
- Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:00 pm
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
No one gonna mess with her....T-Pee wrote:She's a redhead soon to be a Gunny.
tp
New Distiller's Reading http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=46
Novice Guide to Cuts http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 40&start=0
Novice spoon feed http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=52975
Novice Guide to Cuts http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 40&start=0
Novice spoon feed http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=52975
- frunobulax
- Site Donor
- Posts: 634
- Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2012 3:23 pm
- Location: Sunny N.J.
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Most hydrometers are calibrated at 60 degrees f. and are off around 1% for every 5 degrees.NZChris wrote:Don't forget to allow for temperature
Here is a chart.
- Attachments
-
- www.fallbright.com_Proof and Tralle ex.pdf
- (11.82 KiB) Downloaded 107 times
-
- Site Donor
- Posts: 1338
- Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:40 am
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
When my hydrometers have issues they just commit suicide by jumping off the table or banging their heads on the measuring jars ... i have added ss to the bottom of my test cylinders to prevent their kamikazi attempts... and that has helped a bit...
I been want a couple of the new ones with the 3 visible scales anyway...
I been want a couple of the new ones with the 3 visible scales anyway...
Do it Safely read The safety section: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=33
New Distillers Reading: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=46
Hookline's Basic Still Designs: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =1&t=18873
New Distillers Reading: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=46
Hookline's Basic Still Designs: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =1&t=18873
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
Volume of spirit you have X ABV now / ABV you want = Volume after dilution
Distilling at 110f and 75 torr.
I'm not an absinthe snob, I'm The Absinthe Nazi. "NO ABSINTHE FOR YOU!"
I'm not an absinthe snob, I'm The Absinthe Nazi. "NO ABSINTHE FOR YOU!"
-
- Novice
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2013 7:14 pm
- Location: Three Inches to the Left
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
For a split second I thought, "Maybe I should tap the top of my hydrometer on the table." HA!
I've already sacrificed one mash hydrometer. It was suppose to be a fancy one with a thermometer inside. It broke the first day I got it. What a POS.
I've already sacrificed one mash hydrometer. It was suppose to be a fancy one with a thermometer inside. It broke the first day I got it. What a POS.
The temp is starting to rise in my area. This may explain the issue.frunobulax wrote:Most hydrometers are calibrated at 60 degrees f. and are off around 1% for every 5 degrees.NZChris wrote:Don't forget to allow for temperature
Here is a chart.
Unicorns drink beer and piss whiskey.
-
- Master of Distillation
- Posts: 3002
- Joined: Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:45 pm
- Location: Hounds Hollow, VA
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
I use the cheap assed meters from Brewhaus and dilute with well water according to Rad's calculator on the parent site. It gets me close enough. I'm not passing a gov't inspection, I'm just getting drunk with my wife and friends.
LM Still Operating Instructions
Cranky's New Distiller's Advice
Using Google Search
Drinking Rum before noon makes you a Pirate not an alcoholic.
Cranky's New Distiller's Advice
Using Google Search
Drinking Rum before noon makes you a Pirate not an alcoholic.
Re: Alcohol hydrometer off after Dilution
The calculator is accurate, as I just proved about an hour ago... I did a run of a mixture of one of my experimental washes and feints this afternoon... After some quick airing I did my blending, as I know right where the cuts need to be based on a substantial number of run... That and the fact that the wash is clean so the spirits are too...
My blended spirits measured 188 proof/94% ABV... I wanted to fill a 1.75 liter Svedka bottle with 80 proof because the newest store bought bottle was down to about 1/3 full... As per the calculator I added 1000ml of cool water and 750ml of the 188 proof... Using my alcoholmeter it read 98 proof... Then I took a sample from the 1/3 full store bought bottle and it also measured 98 proof... Go figure...!!! This from a bottle that clearly states 80 proof... No temperature correction was done and the ambient temperature is 70F... And the blended and diluted bottle had been in the refrigerator to knock it back to room temperature after warming due to exothermic reaction...
I know my alcoholmeter is accurate because it measures Everclear and my distilled neutral as 190 proof/95% ABV... It also measures water at zero... I've checked it against both 80 and 100 proof commercial vodkas and both read high yet match my diluted spirits based on the calculator... Very odd, indeed...!!!
My blended spirits measured 188 proof/94% ABV... I wanted to fill a 1.75 liter Svedka bottle with 80 proof because the newest store bought bottle was down to about 1/3 full... As per the calculator I added 1000ml of cool water and 750ml of the 188 proof... Using my alcoholmeter it read 98 proof... Then I took a sample from the 1/3 full store bought bottle and it also measured 98 proof... Go figure...!!! This from a bottle that clearly states 80 proof... No temperature correction was done and the ambient temperature is 70F... And the blended and diluted bottle had been in the refrigerator to knock it back to room temperature after warming due to exothermic reaction...
I know my alcoholmeter is accurate because it measures Everclear and my distilled neutral as 190 proof/95% ABV... It also measures water at zero... I've checked it against both 80 and 100 proof commercial vodkas and both read high yet match my diluted spirits based on the calculator... Very odd, indeed...!!!