refractometer

[Sugarbear]

Do refractometers ever need to be calibrated? We were discussing that the other day boiling. Ours has a screw on it that says adjust next to it.

[BryanEx]

Yes they do. You should be able to purchase a small bottle of test oil from your supply to recalibrate it. Locally it sells for about 14 bucks.

[Mio1]

Try using water and adjust it to zero

[Typical8]

To calibrate 0 use distilled water.

[BryanEx]

Not sure if it's a sap or syrup refractometer but if it's for syrup it only covers 45-82 Brix - hence the test oil at a known specific gravity.

[Sugarbear]

Thanks, its a syrup one.I'll have to look into getting some test fluid.

[MillbrookMaple]

I had the same question about mine since it was measuring all my syrup at about 70 brix. Well I assumed it was the refractometer and continued until this weekend when I went to friend's sugarhouse and we pulled some syrup of his and tested it on his hydrotherm. I adjusted my refractometer to match and went home and tested my syrup again. Now it reads 69Brix. Turns out my hydrometer was off more than my refractometer. Long story but my point is you could take someones syrup and measure it with a hydrometer or hyrdotherm and then calibrate your refractometer to that. It might not be as percise but it gets you in the ballpark. Now how do I go about adding water to 70 gallons of 69 Brix canned syrup. :lol:

[mcaminer]

MISCO has a digital Brix refractometer to test maple sap or syrup and it's made in the USA. it even has a separate scale for hot and cool maple syrup.

eMaple-F – 0-85 Brix (Temperature Prompts in °F)
www.misco.com/products/PA202X-304-305.html