Hydrometers

[ComputerSteve]

There are some threads here where people are saying you really need a hydrometer to finish the syrup right, and relying on temperature doesn't cut it.

I also see in the thread below that it seems some syrup hydrometers can also be inaccurate. What brand/model of syrup hydrometer is an accurate one? I don't want to waste my money by getting some cheap thing that isn't any better than just going by temperature.

http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?t=11534

[vikingHB]

Last year I was only using a thermometer, and the syrup viscosity was all over the place.
I bought a hydrotherm (not a hydrometer)this year, on recommendation from a large producer in my area. This unit is great. You pull off the hot syrup, wait until it cools to 210 degrees or lower, and float the hydrotherm and the magic red line tells you it's syrup, or not.
Well worth the $28. Too cheap to buy the stainless cup $36, so I use a 12" stainless water bottle, and it does the trick.

[Kev]

Steve
I am one of the guys that piped up about an inaccurate hydro. it was accurrate for many years, untill I was not gentle enough and caused the paper to slip. I could not get it to slip back. the certified by the state of vermont is only like 2 bucks more at most places.
one point it is still only as accurate as the USER lol. if you do not check the temp at the same time and compensate for the differential from the correct temp you will still be off some.
As a previous poster stated the hydrotherm has a built in thermometer and makes that much easier and its only 10 bucks more. (seems thats less than a good thermometer and a hydrometer seperately)
When I get the new one (hydrometer)I took someones advice on here and made a mark on the wall that lines up with the hot mark. I will allways be able to conferm that it is set correctly or if not exactly how far off it is in seconds. 2 steps to the wall, put the base up against the underside of a 2x4 shelf cleat and look at the line on the wall in comparison to the hot line on the paper in the glass. I chose this spot because it puts the line at my eye level.
Had this been done with the first one. I would not have had to go to the time and trouble of determining how far off the old one was in the first place:emb:

[tbear]

Wait a minute! The syrup temperature is important when it comes to reading the hydrometer? I thought there was one line for cold test and one line for hot test. Now that it's come up I see the hot test is set for 211 degrees. Wow...Okay so to test the hot syrup I fill my container and wait for the temp to come down to 211 then test with the hydrometer?