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I have 2 alcoholometers here which gives completely different readings, the short eBay cheapie one is 10% different than the longer more expensive
Alla (France) Spirit Alcoholometer.
The big one would read 50%, the little one would read 40% in the same test jar, both calibrated to 20c
Which one is right, I figured the better quality one is the best to go off.
I figured one is not weighted correctly.

Alla: eBay cheapie:

I'd go with the Alla, especially if it came with a certificate.

What do they measure with water ? It should be 0.

If you have some commercial spirit especially vodka , it will be as per the label .

Failing that , I know that Methylated spirit in Australia will measure 95%ABV

Okay with yummy, measure the water to get an idea .. 10abv is too many. . I have 3 alcohol meters of different types that measure slightly different but one of them was more distant than the others, it was very short type..I noticed that those with very short measurement scale are inaccurate

Demy wrote: ↑Sat Jul 23, 2022 11:10 pm Okay with yummy, measure the water to get an idea .. 10abv is too many. . I have 3 alcohol meters of different types that measure slightly different but one of them was more distant than the others, it was very short type..I noticed that those with very short measurement scale are inaccurate

You mean like this short
They both read 0 fine.

I had a similar one and it was ok (it was, because broken!) My, what is wrong is this These 2 work well (above 70abv have about 0.5 -1 abv difference)

schoolmonkey wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 12:11 am
They both read 0 fine.

Sounds like the zero calibrations are right.
Maybe, buy a small bottle of 95% everclear to compare the hydrometers.


On a side note.
I've had hydrometers that the paper inside had slipped.
Use gentle taps and the papers inertia might be able to move it.

Don't expect lab grade measurements from cheap hydrometers that can read 0 - 100%
The more accurate ones have narrow range that's only a few % wide.
If you need to accurately measure 55% then a hydrometer designed for 50 -60% will work better.

Physically, accurate hydrometers will have a big bottom, skinny neck and be more prone to accidents.
Mentally, they appear to have a much higher rate of suicide than even cheap hydrometers.

shadylane wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 2:13 am

schoolmonkey wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 12:11 am
They both read 0 fine.

Sounds like the zero calibrations are right.
Maybe, buy a small bottle of 95% everclear to compare the hydrometers.


On a side note.
I've had hydrometers that the paper inside had slipped.
Use gentle taps and the papers inertia might be able to move it.

Don't expect lab grade measurements from cheap hydrometers that can read 0 - 100%
The more accurate ones have narrow range that's only a few % wide.
If you need to accurately measure 55% then a hydrometer designed for 50 -60% will work better.

Physically, accurate hydrometers will have a big bottom, skinny neck and be more prone to accidents.
Mentally, they appear to have a much higher rate of suicide than even cheap hydrometers.

That of my wooden box are like this, they are 3 with in range to "stairs" but they are still of the hobby type. A curiosity, how is the paper inside fixed? I have never noticed glue, I have wondered several times how it fits in the correct position.

shadylane wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 2:13 am

schoolmonkey wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 12:11 am
They both read 0 fine.

Don't expect lab grade measurements from cheap hydrometers that can read 0 - 100%
The more accurate ones have narrow range that's only a few % wide.
If you need to accurately measure 55% then a hydrometer designed for 50 -60% will work better.

Physically, accurate hydrometers will have a big bottom, skinny neck and be more prone to accidents.
Mentally, they appear to have a much higher rate of suicide than even cheap hydrometers.

I'm not looking for pin point accuracy, just so I know within margin of error if I'm close to say 40% when diluting, with the huge difference between the two I have I was confused how that's possible (besides fault) and which one I could retire..

I bought a 250Ml glass test jar, found the small one a tad annoying to use in it, so I bought the bigger Alla one, wasn't expecting any difference that's for sure...

Demy wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 2:25 am That of my wooden box are like this, they are 3 with in range to "stairs" but they are still of the hobby type. A curiosity, how is the paper inside fixed? I have never noticed glue, I have wondered several times how it fits in the correct position.

On the Alla one there's a glass ridge built into it, on the small one there's nothing I can see holding it there, but it could be stuck there before sealing, there's zero movement in either paper.

Demy wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 2:25 am
. A curiosity, how is the paper inside fixed? I have never noticed glue, I have wondered several times how it fits in the correct position.

One I saw had a tiny spot of what looked like wax.
The others didn't have anything holding the numbered paper other than it was rolled up.

Posting with SM

schoolmonkey wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 2:49 am
wasn't expecting any difference that's for sure...

Me neither brother.
Figure on around +or- 5% accuracy for cheap hydrometer .

Since you're looking for accuracy at 40% for diluting to drinking strength.
See what the hydrometer shows with store 40% vodka then float it at the same place when diluting.

Interesting , I’ve never bothered to look before , but on my Alla 0-50 and 70-100 , both have a spot of something at the top .
Maybe it is wax . I dunno . Was thinking , maybe they could calibrate it then heat and seal in position .

If it is wax , then we should be careful not to “rinse “ our Alc meters in hot water .

Yummyrum wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 3:13 am Interesting , I’ve never bothered to look before , but on my Alla 0-50 and 70-100 , both have a spot of something at the top .
Maybe it is wax . I dunno . Was thinking , maybe they could calibrate it then heat and seal in position .

If it is wax , then we should be careful not to “rinse “ our Alc meters in hot water .
FCD7D4C3-DCEF-4134-ADC7-AE45A64CC313.jpeg9E3ACDA3-72E7-4FF8-A63F-13BBC4A099AA.jpeg

You're right I just had another look at the Alla, there's defiantly something (wax or glue) at the top of the paper, I missed it as it was on the white bit so it blended in, you can see the slight colour difference when you look harder.

Damn, now you've made me want to look closer ...

I looked under a lamp but didn't notice anything ..

Get one from brewingamerica.com . They are accurate and come with temp chart

schoolmonkey wrote: ↑Sat Jul 23, 2022 9:08 pm I have 2 alcoholometers here which gives completely different readings, the short eBay cheapie one is 10% different than the longer more expensive
Alla (France) Spirit Alcoholometer.
The big one would read 50%, the little one would read 40% in the same test jar, both calibrated to 20c
Which one is right, I figured the better quality one is the best to go off.
I figured one is not weighted correctly.

Alla:
1.jpg

eBay cheapie:
2.jpg

Sorry, but judging by the photo's I would say one reads about 59 % and the other about 50 or 51 %.

I often wondered how they make the hydrometers and fix the scales in the right place and make sure it stays in the right place.

Demy wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 6:03 am I looked under a lamp but didn't notice anything ..

Kareltje wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 2:17 pm Sorry, but judging by the photo's I would say one reads about 59 % and the other about 50 or 51 %.

I often wondered how they make the hydrometers and fix the scales in the right place and make sure it stays in the right place.

Good point, with the Alla it has a ridge near the fat end the paper sits one, would be hard to mess it up (no impossible).

You really need something like these https://www.coleparmer.com/p/cole-parme ... 1333493474 for higher accuracy. When I got mine calibrated they were off by less than .1 proof. The cheap 0-100 are almost useless for accuracy.

$60 woooweeee!
I thought I had expensive taste
My $8 works just fine. Every now and again I’ll check for accuracy in a bottle of store bought vodka. Reads right on the nose every time.

I could see the justification if you were a legal outfit.

bluefish_dist wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 3:55 am
The cheap 0-100 are almost useless for accuracy.

Cheap ones aren't totally useless.
It's good for making folks think their stubby column is making azeo.

Stonecutter wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 5:09 pm
Every now and again I’ll check for accuracy in a bottle of store bought vodka.

That reminds me of the first time I made spiced rum.
The sugar I used to back sweeten it made the alc hydro think the rum had a lot less alcohol than it did.

bluefish_dist wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 3:55 am https://www.coleparmer.com/p/cole-parme ... 1333493474 for higher accuracy. When I got mine calibrated

Bluefish I noticed quite a few of the hydrometers for sale were scaled to read 50-100%, also the hydrometers scaled to read lower ABV were quite different than a run of the mill proof and tralle. In your experience does accuracy fall off below 50% or is there some other reason for such a scale? Also, how does one get their hydrometers calibrated?

shadylane wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 5:48 pm

Stonecutter wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 5:09 pm
Every now and again I’ll check for accuracy in a bottle of store bought vodka.

That reminds me of the first time I made spiced rum.
The sugar I used to back sweeten it made the alc hydro think the rum had a lot less alcohol than it did.

Which is why I only check for accuracy in a bottle of decent vodka. I haven’t got my feet wet trying to obtain “azeo” so it’s never really been too much of an issue. Never have used the stubby ones.

Stonecutter wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 5:52 pm

bluefish_dist wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 3:55 am https://www.coleparmer.com/p/cole-parme ... 1333493474 for higher accuracy. When I got mine calibrated

Bluefish I noticed quite a few of the hydrometers for sale were scaled to read 50-100%, also the hydrometers scaled to read lower ABV were quite different than a run of the mill proof and tralle. In your experience does accuracy fall off below 50% or is there some other reason for such a scale? Also, how does one get their hydrometers calibrated?

I think it was low proof that was really hard to measure. Small stem and large float. In fact they had to ship 3 times to get one to survive shipping. It would crush under its own weight. I had to make my own rack as the standard rack isn’t big enough diameter to handle what I needed.

Cole pharmer can get them sent to a lab for calibration. Was about $100 if I remember correctly. Had to do it yearly. I would just buy a new one and have it sent to the lab vs sending mine to the lab as many broke from shipping. If they sent it, then they would replace it if it broke. If I shipped it, then I would have to fight with ups or FedEx about shipping damage. Don’t recall the lab name and no longer have my certs as they stayed with the distillery.

Very interesting. Rack it into the cost of going legal column.
Thanks for the info.

So these any good, they're expensive.

https://www.ibrew.com.au/products/preci ... 9103839330

Stonecutter wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 5:09 pm $60 woooweeee!
I thought I had expensive taste
My $8 works just fine. Every now and again I’ll check for accuracy in a bottle of store bought vodka. Reads right on the nose every time.

I could see the justification if you were a legal outfit.

if you think that's dear, try these ones at 180(CDN) each https://www.stevenson-reeves.co.uk/reeves/HPKM.htm

ya need about 6 of them if you want to measure from 30-80 abv

I used a 0-100% for several years and was quite happy with it until one day when I checked ABV after proofing and it was way off. After much frustration, I discovered that the paper was 3mm out. I have no idea how long it had been off for, or if it was a gradual movement over several years. I still have it, but it hasn't been used since. If I break everything else, I can use it as a backup.

Hydrometer scales are not linear, so if one is 10% out at 80%, it won't be 10% out at 40%. I had to read the ABV, then measure down 3mm to find the correct reading, then temperature adjust.

That experience taught me that, for a home distiller, accurate ABV isn't all that important. For however long it was out, I hadn't noticed a problem with the product. While running, I use cheap hydrometers, have backups of them, and don't cry when I kill one. My certified Alla only gets used if it really matters and only after I've chosen my heart cut, which I do sober, then it goes straight back into it's container and is put away.

Right so I ended up answering my own question, the little eBay cheapie is out somehow.

Just ran down to the local brewery supplier and picked up a Still Spirits alcoholometer, while slightly smaller than the Alla, it's reading pretty much the same as the Alla (within 1-3%).