Suggestions on a good hydrometer

[Super Sapper]

I bought the gold to check my other ones to make sure they are accurate and keep it stored until I recheck the calibration of the less expensive ones.

[Sugarmaker]

The SL Gold series hydrometer has the numbers which are very readable to allow easy matching with the brix dial numbers. When they match at any syrup temp in the cup your density is correct.
Regards,
Chris

[tapdrinker]

I had the smokylake brix hydro for sap-broke on first use. No I didn't misuse it. The glass was so thin it cracked on temp change when I tested the cold sap. I bought a refracto which is a god send when testing individual trees.

[Sugarmaker]

I had the smokylake brix hydro for sap-broke on first use. No I didn't misuse it. The glass was so thin it cracked on temp change when I tested the cold sap. I bought a refracto which is a god send when testing individual trees.

I believe they are only for syrup. but seems it should have held up in cold sap transition?? I would ask them (SL) about that.

Regards,
Chris

[OnePot]

I had the smokylake brix hydro for sap-broke on first use. No I didn't misuse it. The glass was so thin it cracked on temp change when I tested the cold sap. I bought a refracto which is a god send when testing individual trees.

It probably wasn't the temp change, you most likely dropped it in the cup or it hit the side. It doesn't take much. They are very fragile pieces of glass. HS kids used to break 3-4 syrup hydrometers in a season doing just that. They broke the sap hydrometer every year but that didn't get replaced. I think the el cheapo refractory hydrometers are like 20 bucks on amazon. For sap, I would use one of those, and maybe just check calibration with the sap hydrometer.