I've been using a baster (not used for anything else) for taking
samples out of demijohns to check the specific gravity and taste, but
it's a bit sloppy (although less trouble than syphoning a small
quantity).

It occurred to me that large syringes (100 ml) would be easier to use,
and a web-search shows that they are readily available from
hydroponics shops (in the UK).

Is there any reason *not* to use them? (It seems obvious to me, but
I've never seen them in homebrew shops, so I wonder if there's a good
reason.)


--
Do you know what they do to book thieves up at Santa Rita?
http://www.shigabooks.com/indeces/bookhunter.html

Adam Funk wrote:
> I've been using a baster (not used for anything else) for taking
> samples out of demijohns to check the specific gravity and taste, but
> it's a bit sloppy (although less trouble than syphoning a small
> quantity).
>
> It occurred to me that large syringes (100 ml) would be easier to use,
> and a web-search shows that they are readily available from
> hydroponics shops (in the UK).
>
> Is there any reason *not* to use them? (It seems obvious to me, but
> I've never seen them in homebrew shops, so I wonder if there's a good
> reason.)

I've been using a 30-cm glass eyedropper. The only problem I've had
is that if there are solids in the wort (e.g., grated orange peel),
they can get stuck in the eyedropper and be hard to get out. I use
a refractometer to measure gravity, not a hygrometer, so I don't
need a big volume.

On Jun 9, 4:19*pm, Adam Funk > wrote:
> I've been using a baster (not used for anything else) for taking
> samples out of demijohns to check the specific gravity and taste, but
> it's a bit sloppy (although less trouble than syphoning a small
> quantity).
>
> It occurred to me that large syringes (100 ml) would be easier to use,
> and a web-search shows that they are readily available from
> hydroponics shops (in the UK).
>
> Is there any reason *not* to use them? *(It seems obvious to me, but
> I've never seen them in homebrew shops, so I wonder if there's a good
> reason.)
>
> --
> Do you know what they do to book thieves up at Santa Rita?
> * * * * *http://www.shigabooks.com/indeces/bookhunter.html

I haven't had the need but If I did I would probably buy and use a
wine thief like John.

When I read the Topic line the first thing that came to mind are those
really big syringes that cooks use to inject marinades and brines in
to meat. Those would probably work and shouldn't be difficult to
clean.

Mark R

In article >,
Ben Crowell > wrote:
>I've been using a 30-cm glass eyedropper.

Where did you get that? I have a couple of eyedroppers I picked up at a
local drugstore, but they're the usual size (maybe a third of what you're
using) and won't reach into a carboy enough to pull a sample. I've used a
bottling wand (with the valve at the tip removed) to grab a sample, which
goes into a juice glass. From there, I use one of the eyedroppers to pull a
sample for the refractometer. A longer eyedropper would save a step.

_/_
/ v \ Scott Alfter (remove the obvious to send mail)
(IIGS( http://alfter.us/ Top-posting!
\_^_/ rm -rf /bin/laden >What's the most annoying thing on Usenet?

In article >, (Scott Alfter) wrote:
>In article >,
>Ben Crowell > wrote:
>>I've been using a 30-cm glass eyedropper.
>
>Where did you get that? I have a couple of eyedroppers I picked up at a
>local drugstore, but they're the usual size (maybe a third of what you're
>using) and won't reach into a carboy enough to pull a sample. I've used a
>bottling wand (with the valve at the tip removed) to grab a sample, which
>goes into a juice glass. From there, I use one of the eyedroppers to pull a
>sample for the refractometer. A longer eyedropper would save a step.

I wonder if maybe he meant 30 cc instead of 30 cm -- an eyedropper a foot
long would certainly be an uncommon object.

"Ben Crowell" > wrote in message
...
> Adam Funk wrote:
>> I've been using a baster (not used for anything else) for taking
>> samples out of demijohns to check the specific gravity and taste, but
>> it's a bit sloppy (although less trouble than syphoning a small
>> quantity).
>>
>> It occurred to me that large syringes (100 ml) would be easier to use,
>> and a web-search shows that they are readily available from
>> hydroponics shops (in the UK).
>>
>> Is there any reason *not* to use them? (It seems obvious to me, but
>> I've never seen them in homebrew shops, so I wonder if there's a good
>> reason.)
>
> I've been using a 30-cm glass eyedropper. The only problem I've had
> is that if there are solids in the wort (e.g., grated orange peel),
> they can get stuck in the eyedropper and be hard to get out. I use
> a refractometer to measure gravity, not a hygrometer, so I don't
> need a big volume.

Isn't the refractometer useless after there is alcohol present?
Steve

On 2009-06-10, Mark R wrote:

> When I read the Topic line the first thing that came to mind are those
> really big syringes that cooks use to inject marinades and brines in
> to meat. Those would probably work and shouldn't be difficult to
> clean.

This is the sort of thing I have in mind, although since I haven't
seen one in person yet (so to speak), I'm not sure how wide it it and
whether it would fit into the neck of a demijohn.

http://www.hydrohobby.co.uk/product/100ml_syringes/


--
I heard that Hans Christian Andersen lifted the title for "The Little
Mermaid" off a Red Lobster Menu. [Bucky Katt]

Adam Funk wrote:
> I've been using a baster (not used for anything else) for taking
> samples out of demijohns to check the specific gravity and taste, but
> it's a bit sloppy (although less trouble than syphoning a small
> quantity).
>
> It occurred to me that large syringes (100 ml) would be easier to use,
> and a web-search shows that they are readily available from
> hydroponics shops (in the UK).
>
> Is there any reason *not* to use them? (It seems obvious to me, but
> I've never seen them in homebrew shops, so I wonder if there's a good
> reason.)

My solution, repeated from a previous posting. All you need is a 2 hole stopper
with 2 small hoses attached, and your sample tube.

"Get a 2-hole stopper that fits your sample tube top. Attach two pieces of small
tubing to the two holes. Place the stopper into the sample tube. Sanitise one
hose, drop it in the carboy, and suck on the other, holding the sample tube
below the top of the beer in the carboy. When you have enough sample, pull the
tube from the carboy, continuing suction so the liquid flows into the sample
tube, rather than dripping into the fermenter. Very safe, works through the
small hole in bucket lids, and no waste or drippage like a baster.

The first time I tried this, I didn't have a stopper, and just wrapped a wad of
saran wrap around the two hoses, and pressed the wad over the top of the sample
tube, for the same results. "

Doug Miller wrote:
> In article >, (Scott Alfter) wrote:
>> In article >,
>> Ben Crowell > wrote:
>>> I've been using a 30-cm glass eyedropper.
>> Where did you get that? I have a couple of eyedroppers I picked up at a
>> local drugstore, but they're the usual size (maybe a third of what you're
>> using) and won't reach into a carboy enough to pull a sample. I've used a
>> bottling wand (with the valve at the tip removed) to grab a sample, which
>> goes into a juice glass. From there, I use one of the eyedroppers to pull a
>> sample for the refractometer. A longer eyedropper would save a step.
>
> I wonder if maybe he meant 30 cc instead of 30 cm -- an eyedropper a foot
> long would certainly be an uncommon object.

I did mean 30 cm. Sorry, but I can't seem to remember where I
bought it. I know I bought it from an online source, probably a general
chem supply business rather than a brewing supply one.

Steve Peek wrote:
> "Ben Crowell" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Adam Funk wrote:
>>> I've been using a baster (not used for anything else) for taking
>>> samples out of demijohns to check the specific gravity and taste, but
>>> it's a bit sloppy (although less trouble than syphoning a small
>>> quantity).
>>>
>>> It occurred to me that large syringes (100 ml) would be easier to use,
>>> and a web-search shows that they are readily available from
>>> hydroponics shops (in the UK).
>>>
>>> Is there any reason *not* to use them? (It seems obvious to me, but
>>> I've never seen them in homebrew shops, so I wonder if there's a good
>>> reason.)
>> I've been using a 30-cm glass eyedropper. The only problem I've had
>> is that if there are solids in the wort (e.g., grated orange peel),
>> they can get stuck in the eyedropper and be hard to get out. I use
>> a refractometer to measure gravity, not a hygrometer, so I don't
>> need a big volume.
>
> Isn't the refractometer useless after there is alcohol present?

You can calculate the effect of the alcohol and compensate for it:
http://www.lightandmatter.com/misc/refractometer.html

Adam Funk wrote:
> On 2009-06-10, Mark R wrote:
>
>> When I read the Topic line the first thing that came to mind are those
>> really big syringes that cooks use to inject marinades and brines in
>> to meat. Those would probably work and shouldn't be difficult to
>> clean.
>
> This is the sort of thing I have in mind, although since I haven't
> seen one in person yet (so to speak), I'm not sure how wide it it and
> whether it would fit into the neck of a demijohn.
>
> http://www.hydrohobby.co.uk/product/100ml_syringes/

The OP said he wanted something to use with demijohns. I don't know
anything about demijohns, but that syringe looks like it wouldn't
be very convenient for the kinds of beer fermenters I use -- too
short and stubby to reach in through the neck of the glass carboy,
or through the airlock hole on the plastic bucket.

In article >,
Ben Crowell > wrote:
>Steve Peek wrote:
>> Isn't the refractometer useless after there is alcohol present?
>
>You can calculate the effect of the alcohol and compensate for it:
> http://www.lightandmatter.com/misc/refractometer.html

If you have ProMash, it'll also do the math for you. I'd guess that other
brewing software packages do as well (but I've only used ProMash).

_/_
/ v \ Scott Alfter (remove the obvious to send mail)
(IIGS( http://alfter.us/ Top-posting!
\_^_/ rm -rf /bin/laden >What's the most annoying thing on Usenet?

On Jun 10, 1:56*pm, Adam Funk > wrote:
> On 2009-06-10, Mark R wrote:
>
> > When I read the Topic line the first thing that came to mind are those
> > really big syringes that cooks use to inject marinades and brines in
> > to meat. Those would probably work and shouldn't be difficult to
> > clean.
>
> This is the sort of thing I have in mind, although since I haven't
> seen one in person yet (so to speak), I'm not sure how wide it it and
> whether it would fit into the neck of a demijohn.
>
> http://www.hydrohobby.co.uk/product/100ml_syringes/
>
> --
> I heard that Hans Christian Andersen lifted the title for "The Little
> Mermaid" off a Red Lobster Menu. * * * * * * * * * * * * [Bucky Katt]

Here is what I was thinking of, and it looks like you can get them in
a few different sizes with needles up to 6 inches.
If the URL isn't right you can do a search for "marinade injectors"

http://www.nextag.com/marinade-injector/stores-html

Mark R

"Doug Miller" > wrote in message
...

> I wonder if maybe he meant 30 cc instead of 30 cm -- an eyedropper a foot
> long would certainly be an uncommon object.

I remember ones that size used in veterinary tasks

On 2009-06-10, John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote:

> This is what I recommend. Easy to use, easy to sanitize...
>
> http://www.fermtech.ca/thief/thief.html


Thanks to everyone in both newsgroups who recommended this. I used it
yesterday and had one of those "I wish I'd bought this years ago!"
moments.


--
Classical Greek lent itself to the promulgation of a rich culture,
indeed, to Western civilization. Computer languages bring us
doorbells that chime with thirty-two tunes, alt.sex.bestiality, and
Tetris clones. (Stoll 1995)