Hydrometer math/science question

[Grayson_Stewart]

Brought over from old forum

Shicewasser
(stranger)
08/31/03 12:49 PM
Hydrometer math/science question



I'm in the process of constructing a still. All my local brew shop had was a beer/wine hydrometer, which only goes up to about 35%. This is fine for testing the fermentation, but I'd like to find the alc % of my distilled output. I am guessing that I can just use one part shine to one part water and multiply the result by two (I doubt I'll be able to get over 70% out of my pot still). Does this method sound right? I have a feeling I'm probably missing something.

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andrew
(newbie)
08/31/03 05:01 PM
Re: Hydrometer math/science question [re: Shicewasser]



Are you sure you have an alcoholometer / spirit hydrometer and not a hydrometer for measuring your mash / wash's sugar levels? If it's the latter then there'll be scales like 'brix' or 'specific gravity' as well as *potential* alcohol from the wash.

Once it's gone through the still a beer/wine hydrometer won't be much use to you -- you need a spirit hydrometer that's calibrated to read out percentages or proof of alcohol in water (and nothing else, like yeast, sugar, nutrients...).



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Shicewasser
(stranger)
08/31/03 09:27 PM
Re: Hydrometer math/science question [re: andrew]



Thanks a lot, Andrew. I guess I'll have to order one of them buggers.

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unclejesse
(journeyman)
09/04/03 12:39 PM
Re: Hydrometer math/science question [re: Shicewasser]



You can order a 0-50% alcoholometer and a 50%-100% alcoholometer from Outterson, among others. I believe Outterson charges about $35 a piece. I have searched for a digital alcoholometer but could not find one, and the ones which looked close were quite expensive.






It was the whiskey talkin', not me.