Using a hydrometer and thermometer

Yes, it is a maple syrup Hydrometer. No, I have not had it calibrated, as I have nothing to calibrate it with, unless I bought another one. Is there a different way to calibrate it? I do know it is very clean with absolutely no cracks or niter on it. There is no time for the syrup to cool as I test it often directly from the stock pot I use to finish the syrup on propane. I can fill the stainless tester tube with one scoop of syrup, so it's a very fast test from pot to tester.
One thing I haven't done is the cold test. Can I test some of last years syrup I have in storage?
Thanks again folks!

Often maple associations or state regulators will test hydrometers at maple conferences. It's good practice to bring them in each year for testing. Alternatively you can get a second one or find a nearby sugarmaker and see if they read the same. It is not uncommon for hydrometers right out of the box to fail in testing. I know of entire lots of hydrometers that had to be tossed out during inspection by the Agency of Agriculture in Vermont (all maple hydrometers used in VT must be tested and stamped by the Agency of Ag to be used) because they fail (out of spec).

Yes, there is no problem testing last yrs syrup, although if it was off when hot it'll be off when cold. Cold test is at 60 deg F or thereabouts -- so let the syrup sit out of the refrigerator overnight if that's the way you go.

Another approach would be to find someone with a syrup refractometer and compare the readings. These are better (more stable) when used with cold syrup than with hot syrup.

If you are not getting crystallization in any of your finished syrup your density is probably not to heavy. A sap hydrometer or refractometer would give you an idea if your sap in and syrup off make sense.

Where are you finishing your syrup? Size of pan/pots.
Get RO5 to save time and fuel, you wouldn’t regret it, just wish you did it sooner.

A bio of you operation will help others understand your operation.

In answer to your original question, "if you're using both, have you ever tested them at the same time?", yes. When I bottle, I used to use a 5 gallon ss pot that is fitted with a ball valve spigot. I would place the probe of a k-type thermocouple in the pot with the hydrometer. The only tricky part was stabilizing the temperature. I now had a bottler built with a pid temperature controlling an electric heating element that is a lot easier to control.

I still do this to verify and correct density before bottling. I only bottle in glass so I don't want any crystalization because it looks bad and we all want to be sure that our product is at correct density.

"Which method is favored by you?" Both in conjunction with each other. Otherwise you are just guessing. Even refractometers are using both so long as they have temperature compensation.

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Originally Posted by to100

Where are you finishing your syrup? Size of pan/pots.
Get RO5 to save time and fuel, you wouldn’t regret it, just wish you did it sooner.

A bio of you operation will help others understand your operation.

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I have been going back and forth with Carl at RO Bucket to put together a system for me.
I boil my sap with wood, and finish on propane with a 20 quart stainless steel stock pot.
I've watched several videos on using my hydrometer. I always wondered if that piece of paper in the glass tube could move, and after watching, I see that it can, which would be giving me a false reading.
Thanks again folks.

In 2018 hydrometer are marked inside of glass at the top with red line that stops at Brix line at the top. The line is on sap and syrup hydrometers. I now have 2 hydrometers so I can check each, I also have a hydrometer that has a hair line crack from allowing slip out of my hand while placing into stainless cup. I have put a piece of green scrubby into bottom of my stainless cup.
I have a pot with hot water or sap where I bottle so I can clean cup and hydrometer after taking a test. This also keeps them warm for testing.

Thanks to all!! I'm ordering the Murphy Cup and the Gold Series Hydrometer to match. I'm seriously considering the RO system Carl was putting together for me from RO Bucket as well.
You folks are a terrific source of information!!

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Originally Posted by Gord

I'm ordering the Murphy Cup and the Gold Series Hydrometer to match. I'm seriously considering the RO system Carl was putting together for me from RO Bucket as well.

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Sounds like Christmas!

Has there been some serious inflation going on with the Murphy cup? $139.00 !!! I paid $35.00 for mine 4 years ago.

Joe