Just ordered one of these...

[moophone]

http://www.atago.net/USA/products_pen.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (HARVEST-PEN)

Expensive, but pretty badass. I'll report back in ~3 weeks when I get it

[hogie]

Very nice. How much $?

[moophone]

$295US + $12 shipping on ebay

[John G]

I have one of these but don't use it much. It doesn't work so well with high temps. In the end I've put it away and still use my hydrometer. The digital refractometers in which you put a drop of liquid in the wells are much easier to work with. Ones like this:http://www.atago.net/product/?l=en&f=pr ... l#ABS42888

[moophone]

Just got the Pen-Harvest and I think its awesome so far. I haven't tried it at high temperatures (nor would I really - I'm only going to use it to measure post-plate chiller OG, check fermentation progress, and measure corrected FG (after I calibrated w/ hydrometer)

John: I considered one of the other styles but after talking to a rep at ATAGO I decided to get the Pen-Harvest for my purpose. If I was going to measure pre-boil OG I'd probably get the other one.

I measured a brown that was just legged and its measuring between 6.6 and 6.8 for 5 measurements. (all but one were 6.6 and 6.7) which is pretty awesome (0.3% within my ABV target) Its slick not having to take a sample from the fermenter, can just dip it in and measure.

[chalmers]

Was going to ask for an update, am very interested. And thx for the FG comment, I wanted to know how accurate it might be. Unsure on pen vs. "drop" reader, I'm not against dipping a pipette in the wort or beer to grab some liquid for the reader, I guess the pen raises the same issues (still need to sanitize one item before sticking it in).

[bluenose]

(still need to sanitize one item before sticking it in).

you got that right...


but man! $300 USD for that? I can barely afford water to put in my beer

[chalmers]

I'm sick of manual refractometer not matching with hydrometer, figure if I don't break 5 hydrometers over my lifetime, the digital refractometer will pay for itself (in lost productivity and frustration).

[hogie]

I'm sick of manual refractometer not matching with hydrometer, figure if I don't break 5 hydrometers over my lifetime, the digital refractometer will pay for itself (in lost productivity and frustration).

I concur! Which one are you leaning towards?


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[mr x]

My hydrometer was always very close to the refractometer I bought off eBay.

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[LeafMan66_67]

My hydrometer was always very close to the refractometer I bought off eBay.

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Same here - even the calculation from the refractometer with alcohol present is usually close as well.

[jtmwhyte]

Make that 3

[bluenose]

I sense a disturbance in the force...

[Tony L]

My hydrometer was always very close to the refractometer I bought off eBay.

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Same here - even the calculation from the refractometer with alcohol present is usually close as well.

As is mine. I always use a hydrometer for final calculations.

[chalmers]

Could very well be user error, but we were getting things jumping around by 5 points on subsequent readings with the refractometer, and off by 10 from the hydrometer. Before I pull the trigger on a digital one, I will set up a two or three point calibration curve to check.

[hogie]

When I use the refractometer, I get swings as well. No two readings the same. Eg: swings from 9-13 Brix for 1.056 SG APA on the weekend.


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[AllanMar]

No problems with my refractometer (as long as there's no bubbles), I usually do a refract at flame out and my OG with a hydrometer and theyre always very close. I use hydrometers for all my after pitching measurements though.

A digital refractometer has always interested me though, whats the difference between that one and something like this (which seems cheaper):
http://www.amazon.com/Hanna-Instruments ... B002NX0WHS" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[chalmers]

Probably some quality and reliability differences between the mid-range to the Atago (high end for handheld), but I honestly don't know. That comment is just based on my experience with mid- or high-end equipment in the lab in general. Both should reliably measure Brix, but I suspect the Atago would require less maintenance and repairs over time. For $150, I can see me pulling the trigger sooner, well need to do a bit more digging first.