Jump to content


nabtastic

Recommended Posts

I'm looking at Proof and specific gravity hydrometers from here http://www.coleparmer.com/Product/H_B_Durac_Plain_Form_Glass_Hydrometer_ASTM_125H_1_000_1_050_SG_0_0005/WU-08297-80

They conform to ASTM and are traceable to the NIST/A2LA manufacturing facility. Any reason why these wouldn't work?

Below is an expert from the TTB:

§ 30.24 Specific gravity hydrometers.

ret-arrow-generic-grey.gif Return to Top

(a) The specific gravity hydrometers furnished by proprietors to appropriate TTB officers shall conform to the standard specifications of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) for such instruments. Such specific gravity hydrometers shall be of a precision grade, standardization temperature 60 °/60 °F., and provided in the following ranges and subdivisions:

( B ) A certificate of accuracy prepared by the instrument manufacturer for the instrument shall be furnished to the appropriate TTB officer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You need precision grade for SG and Proofing. Make sure they come with the included certificate when they arrive.

Like this

Agreed, best value, although you need to have at least one in the range that has the NIST calibration offered for 4x the price of the hydrometer. You could technically do your own secondary calibrations, but keep records like those you get with the NIST calibration.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the responses. I've already ordered the proof hydrometers (the one in the link actually) and was wondering about the gravity readings for mash - I will not be using it for density of distilled spirits.

bluestar: I don't see NIST being mentioned from the TTB but coleparme said that it was traceable to NIST facility (though I suppose that doesn't mean the hydrometer itself is NIST calibrated..)

oh, any thought on Anton-Paar's DMA 5000M v Rudolph Research's DM45?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

bluestar: I don't see NIST being mentioned from the TTB but coleparme said that it was traceable to NIST facility (though I suppose that doesn't mean the hydrometer itself is NIST calibrated..)

Misspoke, meant NIST traceable calibration. TTB only says it has to be calibrated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For SG, you'll need all of these precision hydrometers:

Range Subdivision - Error

1.0000 to 1.0500 - 0.0005

1.0500 to 1.1000 - 0.0005

1.1000 to 1.1500 - 0.0005

1.1500 to 1.2000 - 0.0005

1.2000 to 1.2500 - 0.0005

No instrument shall be in error by more than 0.0005 specific gravity.
it looks like this.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok that makes more sense now. Panoscope - not to be nitpicky but sense it actually matters here, I believe the hydrometer in my OP was actually correct. The one you linked is actually 1.0-1.07 ;)

For real, thanks though everybody.

NAB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

We are ordering a set of SG hydrometers, hydrometers and a thermometer from Cole Parmer. They are about $30 bucks per but an added $135 for the NIST-traceable calibration. Do they all have to be NIST-traceable? Only one of each set?

I am not seeing a NIST-traceable requirement in the regulations but I see it mentioned by others above. TIA.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

We are ordering a set of SG hydrometers, hydrometers and a thermometer from Cole Parmer. They are about $30 bucks per but an added $135 for the NIST-traceable calibration. Do they all have to be NIST-traceable? Only one of each set?

I am not seeing a NIST-traceable requirement in the regulations but I see it mentioned by others above. TIA.

They have to be calibrated. They don't have to be NIST traceable, but no one commercial calibrates without doing that, because how else do they prove it?

They don't all have to be: you could have a set that is calibrated by a third party and others that are not, and you could calibrate to the calibrated set. Just keep GREAT records and use approved calibration methods. Usually, it is not the hydrometers that are off, it is the thermometer that is the weak link. Get yourself a really good NIST traceable calibrated high accuracy digital thermometer. Many come with an initial calibration for "free" (not obvious sometimes when looking at the Cole Parmer catalog).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hydrometers = Novatech 6613 series IRS Hydrometers ... Get all 12 (0-206 proof) they come with a certificate of calibration , they are about $30 +/- each ... My TTB agent looked at them and said good enough ..... Novatech also sells NIST traceable thermometers ....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hydrometers = Novatech 6613 series IRS Hydrometers ... Get all 12 (0-206 proof) they come with a certificate of calibration , they are about $30 +/- each ... My TTB agent looked at them and said good enough ..... Novatech also sells NIST traceable thermometers ....

How can you use hydrometers without the hydrometer corrections? You will not get accurate readings.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Novatech hydrometers I received do not have any corrections with them. The expensive Nist traceable ones came with a calibration document stating the corrections to use with the hydrometers.

So how can one rely upon hydrometers without the corrections included? Inaccurate readings will result.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How big a correction did your traceable ones have? I have gotten some NIST hydrometers and thermometers and they had no correction to them (not to say they were perfect but the way I read it is it had a proof deviation but was within tolerance and the correction was listed a 0.00). I kind of think even with NIST and corrections it is pretty damn hard to compete with the TTB's 26K machine...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

The corrections are not specific to the hydrometers. You can use the IRS Chart

Dustybarn, you are not understanding the corrections the above posts are talking about.

The corrections you refer to are for temperature differences of the liquid being measured.

The corrections being mentioned in this thread are for inaccuracies in the manufacture of each individual hydrometer

I have purchased several sets from Coleparmer, I doubt they have been tested because one came with a crack in the bulb which leaked spirit into it. Took a while to work out why the apparent ABV kept rising! On close examination the edges of the cracks were rounded, meaning the glass was still soft when the cracks were formed. It can't have been cracked during shipping.

They replaced it free of charge or freight :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In a follow up question: how does one know what the solids concentration is in a liquid? Is it something you have to use lab equipment for, and if so which ones? Will barrel-aged spirits exceed limits for obscuration or is it just infusions that you have to worry about?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 9 months later...

Hi, I am making cordials. Since they have sugar and other elements dissolved, I am not able to accurately use a hydrometer. Are there other electronic tools that one might be able to use as an alternative to measure proof.? Thanks for any suggestions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In a follow up question: how does one know what the solids concentration is in a liquid? Is it something you have to use lab equipment for, and if so which ones? Will barrel-aged spirits exceed limits for obscuration or is it just infusions that you have to worry about?

Solids content causes proof obfuscation. CFR 30.31 and 30.32 explain how you can determine solids content, its effect on proof obfuscation, and what you need to do about it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

right, or you can just run it through a glass still and go from that - but I'm trying to figure out what instances it's commonly needed in without buying all of that equipment. For example, adding sugar at <2%, barrel aging in wine vs whiskey barrels, distilling gin, cream liqueurs (obviously), that kind of stuff. I just got a DMA and a lab still so I guess I'll be finding out soon! Cheers

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...