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Thread: Suggestions on a good hydrometer

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
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    Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
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    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.
    Smoky Lake 2x6 dropflu pans and hoods on homemade arch
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  2. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Albion PA
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    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
    Casbohm Maple and Honey
    625 roadside taps + Neighbors bring some sap too!
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    2015 Ford F250 PSD sap hauler
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  3. #13
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    Feb 2021
    Location
    vermont
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    73

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    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.

  4. #14
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    Mar 2005
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    Albion PA
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    Quote Originally Posted by tapdrinker View Post
    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
    Casbohm Maple and Honey
    625 roadside taps + Neighbors bring some sap too!
    3x10 King, WRU, AOF and AUF
    12" SIRO Filter Press.
    2015 Ford F250 PSD sap hauler
    One Golden named Maggie, Norwegian Forest Cat named Lucy
    Too many Cub Cadets
    Ford Jubilee and several Allis WD's, and IH tractors
    1932 Ford AAB ton and a half, dump truck

    www.mapleandhoney.com

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2023
    Location
    michigan
    Posts
    3

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    Quote Originally Posted by tapdrinker View Post
    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.

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