What is the weight in a alchometer made from?

by **Dominator** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:52 am

Is the weight made from lead? Mine is a brew cellar one if that make any difference.

I stupidly put mine into my jar of hearts that I had just watered down to 65% for aging and the meter broke. The weight was only in the sprits for about 5-10sec, would it have leeched any toxins into my drink? It was 6 generations of rum feints and I was so excited to taste it. I will be shattered if I have to chuck it, but I don't want to risk poisoning my family and friends.

by **Kimbo** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:58 am

Hi Dom, thats a bummer :angry-banghead: :angry-banghead: :angry-banghead:
I couldnt give you an honest answer there mate, you might have to research that one (unless one of the other Gurus knows) :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **bluess57** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:01 pm

Personally, I'd be more worried about broken slivers of glass over lead...
I'd be guessing its lead weight.

by **kiwikeg** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:13 pm

From Wikipedia A hydrometer is usually made of glass and consists of a cylindrical stem and a bulb weighted with mercury or lead shot to make it float upright

by **db1979** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:35 pm

According to http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/water/ ... -water.htm
elementary lead is insoluble in water and a reaction between oxygen, water and lead causes the lead to form a hydroxide layer on its surface which is sparingly soluble. If there wasn't a hydroxide layer on the lead in the hydrometer (unlikely as it would have been melted into the glass, and I doubt there would have been any moisture inside the hydrometer) and it was only exposed briefly to your spirit then I reckon it could be ok. But it's up to you. Also elementary lead is insoluble in alcohol too so there shouldn't be a worry there.

On the other hand, it may not be lead but it probably is.

Glass can be filtered out.

Anyway that's the science behind it.

by **Dominator** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:37 pm

I filtered it through cotton cloth so I am no worried about the glass. Still debating about the lead though.

by **Cane Toad** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:50 pm

FFS,it wasn't in there long,if you don't want it,send it up to me :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **db1979** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 1:01 pm

Pintobootleg wrote:FFS,it wasn't in there long,if you don't want it,send it up to me :handgestures-thumbupleft:

:laughing-rolling:

by **karrotbear** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 2:12 pm

Hey Dominator,

The same happened to me, was also a brew cellar one. Mine was cracked before I even started my run, so ummm it ended up touching ALL of my EVERYTHING. Still drank the 13 bottles from it though!

by **Dominator** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 2:27 pm

Good to hear mate.