The following URL will take you to a web special sale for an
alcohol hydrometer and test jar. The hydrometer measures both
percentage and proof.

http://www.alcoholcontrols.com/alhyd.html

Price Was
------- -------
Hydrometer $ 29,95 $ 42.95
Test jar 8.95 12.95
------- -------
$ 38.90 $ 55.90
plus
shipping

Sounds like a good deal to me. Anyone ever buy one of these?


Dick
--
Richard D. Adams, CPA
Moderator: misc.taxes.moderated

On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 18:51:50 -0000, (Dick Adams)
wrote:

>The following URL will take you to a web special sale for an
>alcohol hydrometer and test jar. The hydrometer measures both
>percentage and proof.
>
>http://www.alcoholcontrols.com/alhyd.html
>
> Price Was
> ------- -------
>Hydrometer $ 29,95 $ 42.95
>Test jar 8.95 12.95
> ------- -------
> $ 38.90 $ 55.90
>plus
> shipping
>
>Sounds like a good deal to me. Anyone ever buy one of these?
>
>
>Dick
Sounds like Spam to me

regular price for a hydrometer and test jar is $6.64 at my usual
outlet

$40+ will buy a lot of beer.

I quit using a hydrometer years ago. It doesn't really tell you
anything helpful, you risk contamination of the wort . . . what is the
use? bragging rights?

In article >, default says...
>I quit using a hydrometer years ago. It doesn't really tell you
>anything helpful, you risk contamination of the wort . . . what is the
>use?

Off the top of my head, I can think of several good reasons other than
calculating alcohol:

For beer, you need one to determine

1) mash and brewhouse efficiency
2) adjustment of hops in the kettle
3) problematic fermentation
4) when to start lagering phase
5) when fermentation is complete
6) wort fermentability


And since you crossposted to a winemaking group:

1) adjustments/dilutions prior to fermentation
2) problematic fermentations
3) final adjustments

I'm sure I left out a bunch.

The risk of contamination from taking a small sample post fermentation is nearly
zero assuming you can use reasonable sanitation procedures. For wort, the
greatest risk is prior to fermentation. If you're not able to take a small
hydrometer sample of fermented wort without introducing an infection, there's
little hope that you'll be able to produce a decent non-infected beer to begin
with.

"default" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 18:51:50 -0000, (Dick Adams)
> wrote:
>
> >The following URL will take you to a web special sale for an
> >alcohol hydrometer and test jar. The hydrometer measures both
> >percentage and proof.
> >
> >http://www.alcoholcontrols.com/alhyd.html
> >
> > Price Was
> > ------- -------
> >Hydrometer $ 29,95 $ 42.95
> >Test jar 8.95 12.95
> > ------- -------
> > $ 38.90 $ 55.90
> >plus
> > shipping
> >
> >Sounds like a good deal to me. Anyone ever buy one of these?
> >
> >
> >Dick
> Sounds like Spam to me
>
> regular price for a hydrometer and test jar is $6.64 at my usual
> outlet

This is for an ALCOHOL hydrometer, not a water hydrometer. Note that it
reads percentage and proof, NOT specific gravity.
Bob<><
>
> $40+ will buy a lot of beer.
>
> I quit using a hydrometer years ago. It doesn't really tell you
> anything helpful, you risk contamination of the wort . . . what is the
> use? bragging rights?

On Sat, 4 Dec 2004 13:57:57 -0500, "B0B" > wrote:

>
>"default" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 18:51:50 -0000, (Dick Adams)
>> wrote:
>>
>> >The following URL will take you to a web special sale for an
>> >alcohol hydrometer and test jar. The hydrometer measures both
>> >percentage and proof.
>> >
>> >http://www.alcoholcontrols.com/alhyd.html
>> >
>> > Price Was
>> > ------- -------
>> >Hydrometer $ 29,95 $ 42.95
>> >Test jar 8.95 12.95
>> > ------- -------
>> > $ 38.90 $ 55.90
>> >plus
>> > shipping
>> >
>> >Sounds like a good deal to me. Anyone ever buy one of these?
>> >
>> >
>> >Dick
>> Sounds like Spam to me
>>
>> regular price for a hydrometer and test jar is $6.64 at my usual
>> outlet
>
> This is for an ALCOHOL hydrometer, not a water hydrometer. Note that it
>reads percentage and proof, NOT specific gravity.
> Bob<><

Your statement is incorrect. The hydrometer isn't specific to
alcohol. It is an ordinary hydrometer "marked-calibrated" in
percentage and proof instead of just specific gravity. It can only
measure specific gravity - even if it "reads" in proof.

Sort of like fahrenheit and celsius on a thermometer scale. No magic
- just numbers. Instead of going to a chart to convert the SG to
alcohol you read the proof from the float. (and still correct for
temperature most likely)

But all it really tells you is SG, NOT the alcohol.

To know alcohol with even a hope of accuracy you'd need to know the SG
of the water (assumed to be "one"), the SG of the wort at starting of
fermentation and the finished beer.

But, basically, what they are selling is a high priced hydrometer with
a scale to make it quick and easy to check for pilferage among the bar
staff. (and a very inaccurate one if not temperature compensated)

On Sat, 4 Dec 2004 13:57:57 -0500, "B0B" > wrote:

>
>"default" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 18:51:50 -0000, (Dick Adams)
>> wrote:
>>
>> >The following URL will take you to a web special sale for an
>> >alcohol hydrometer and test jar. The hydrometer measures both
>> >percentage and proof.
>> >
>> >http://www.alcoholcontrols.com/alhyd.html
>> >
>> > Price Was
>> > ------- -------
>> >Hydrometer $ 29,95 $ 42.95
>> >Test jar 8.95 12.95
>> > ------- -------
>> > $ 38.90 $ 55.90
>> >plus
>> > shipping
>> >
>> >Sounds like a good deal to me. Anyone ever buy one of these?
>> >
>> >
>> >Dick
>> Sounds like Spam to me
>>
>> regular price for a hydrometer and test jar is $6.64 at my usual
>> outlet
>
> This is for an ALCOHOL hydrometer, not a water hydrometer. Note that it
>reads percentage and proof, NOT specific gravity.
> Bob<><

Your statement is incorrect. The hydrometer isn't specific to
alcohol. It is an ordinary hydrometer "marked-calibrated" in
percentage and proof instead of just specific gravity. It can only
measure specific gravity - even if it "reads" in proof.

Sort of like fahrenheit and celsius on a thermometer scale. No magic
- just numbers. Instead of going to a chart to convert the SG to
alcohol you read the proof from the float. (and still correct for
temperature most likely)

But all it really tells you is SG, NOT the alcohol.

To know alcohol with even a hope of accuracy you'd need to know the SG
of the water (assumed to be "one"), the SG of the wort at starting of
fermentation and the finished beer.

But, basically, what they are selling is a high priced hydrometer with
a scale to make it quick and easy to check for pilferage among the bar
staff. (and a very inaccurate one if not temperature compensated)

In article >, default says...
>I quit using a hydrometer years ago. It doesn't really tell you
>anything helpful, you risk contamination of the wort . . . what is the
>use?

Off the top of my head, I can think of several good reasons other than
calculating alcohol:

For beer, you need one to determine

1) mash and brewhouse efficiency
2) adjustment of hops in the kettle
3) problematic fermentation
4) when to start lagering phase
5) when fermentation is complete
6) wort fermentability


And since you crossposted to a winemaking group:

1) adjustments/dilutions prior to fermentation
2) problematic fermentations
3) final adjustments

I'm sure I left out a bunch.

The risk of contamination from taking a small sample post fermentation is nearly
zero assuming you can use reasonable sanitation procedures. For wort, the
greatest risk is prior to fermentation. If you're not able to take a small
hydrometer sample of fermented wort without introducing an infection, there's
little hope that you'll be able to produce a decent non-infected beer to begin
with.

Dick,

That sounds expensive. Hydrometers are down around $6-7 for a regular
hydrometer. You can get narrow range hydrometers where you need a set of 3
hydrometers that cover the range that the inexpensive hydrometer covers.
The narrow range hydrometers are probably about $20 each so $60 for a set.
If that is what they are pricing, you do not really need that quality unless
you get real serious. Even then, I question whether the added accuracy of
the narrow range hydrometers really improve the accuracy of your alcohol
calculation. There is probably a 0.5 to 1.5% error in the calculation
methods so getting a better SG reading will not improve your estimate.

Ray

"Dick Adams" > wrote in message
...
> The following URL will take you to a web special sale for an
> alcohol hydrometer and test jar. The hydrometer measures both
> percentage and proof.
>
> http://www.alcoholcontrols.com/alhyd.html
>
> Price Was
> ------- -------
> Hydrometer $ 29,95 $ 42.95
> Test jar 8.95 12.95
> ------- -------
> $ 38.90 $ 55.90
> plus
> shipping
>
> Sounds like a good deal to me. Anyone ever buy one of these?
>
>
> Dick
> --
> Richard D. Adams, CPA
> Moderator: misc.taxes.moderated

Try this web site:
http://www.wineandbeerfactory.com/
Go to test equipment. The price is a lot better! It is a Canadian site.
Eddie V.

"Dick Adams" > wrote in message
...
> The following URL will take you to a web special sale for an
> alcohol hydrometer and test jar. The hydrometer measures both
> percentage and proof.
>
> http://www.alcoholcontrols.com/alhyd.html
>
> Price Was
> ------- -------
> Hydrometer $ 29,95 $ 42.95
> Test jar 8.95 12.95
> ------- -------
> $ 38.90 $ 55.90
> plus
> shipping
>
> Sounds like a good deal to me. Anyone ever buy one of these?
>
>
> Dick
> --
> Richard D. Adams, CPA
> Moderator: misc.taxes.moderated

Try this web site:
http://www.wineandbeerfactory.com/
Go to test equipment. The price is a lot better! It is a Canadian site.
Eddie V.

"Dick Adams" > wrote in message
...
> The following URL will take you to a web special sale for an
> alcohol hydrometer and test jar. The hydrometer measures both
> percentage and proof.
>
> http://www.alcoholcontrols.com/alhyd.html
>
> Price Was
> ------- -------
> Hydrometer $ 29,95 $ 42.95
> Test jar 8.95 12.95
> ------- -------
> $ 38.90 $ 55.90
> plus
> shipping
>
> Sounds like a good deal to me. Anyone ever buy one of these?
>
>
> Dick
> --
> Richard D. Adams, CPA
> Moderator: misc.taxes.moderated

Dick,

That sounds expensive. Hydrometers are down around $6-7 for a regular
hydrometer. You can get narrow range hydrometers where you need a set of 3
hydrometers that cover the range that the inexpensive hydrometer covers.
The narrow range hydrometers are probably about $20 each so $60 for a set.
If that is what they are pricing, you do not really need that quality unless
you get real serious. Even then, I question whether the added accuracy of
the narrow range hydrometers really improve the accuracy of your alcohol
calculation. There is probably a 0.5 to 1.5% error in the calculation
methods so getting a better SG reading will not improve your estimate.

Ray

"Dick Adams" > wrote in message
...
> The following URL will take you to a web special sale for an
> alcohol hydrometer and test jar. The hydrometer measures both
> percentage and proof.
>
> http://www.alcoholcontrols.com/alhyd.html
>
> Price Was
> ------- -------
> Hydrometer $ 29,95 $ 42.95
> Test jar 8.95 12.95
> ------- -------
> $ 38.90 $ 55.90
> plus
> shipping
>
> Sounds like a good deal to me. Anyone ever buy one of these?
>
>
> Dick
> --
> Richard D. Adams, CPA
> Moderator: misc.taxes.moderated