What's in an alcometer?

[Zaximus]

I guess there's a first time for everything... I've broken my first alcometer just now :crying-blue:

But not just 1......but 2 :shock:

So needles to say I'm spewing! Especially half way through a stripping run. What's in these alcometers anyway? Are they toxic?

And...Does anybody in Perth have a spare they want to sell me that i could pick up tomorrow? Was hoping to get through this stripping and spirit run tonight but no chance of the spirit run now with tomorrow being Sunday :angry-banghead: unless someone is willing to part with an alcometer tomorrow....

[Sam.]

The lead in the alcometers probably isn't fantastic for you ;-)

Surely you can wait one day and buy a new one :think:

[Zaximus]

I know you'd think so right? Going away for work on Monday so hoping I could get it done before then. I'm not usually that impatient..... usually. :mrgreen:

I was thinking the red stuff might be some sort of hazardous substance. Nothing that red is usually good for you, except red wine.

[Sam.]

What's the situation? Have you got a heap of gear you smashed it in? Or don't you know the proof because you smashed it?

[Zaximus]

Just doing the stripping run and don't feel confident enough to do the spirit run with the right cuts based on smell and taste alone. Might just be the perfect time to learn.

[Zaximus]

And no didn't smash it in my mash.

[Zak Griffin]

I'd be happy to redistill low wines that have had an alcometer smashed in them (if you've strained all of the bits out ASAP). Make your cuts based on taste and smell, it's all I've ever done. I check my ABV after my cuts :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Zaximus]

Well I think I'm gonna give it a crack. No time like the present to learn. Cheers.

[Zaximus]

My spirit run went well without the alcometer and I managed to do pretty good cuts by nose and taste. I'm so new to this I thought that using an alcometer was a must doing a spirit run as I read so much on this forum about ABV that it seems a necessity to measure during the run. Guess you have to trust your senses and learn to use them to distinguish the fractions. Nonetheless, happy days, onwards and upwards :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Sam.]

Did you do your cuts while running? It's best to let air for a day or two, it makes it a lot easier.

[Zaximus]

I separated into about 300ml lots and marked each jar accordingly (apart from the fores which are about 150ml), but I reckon I know exactly where the fractions are. I've got the jars airing with a coffee filter on top right now so will tackle once they settle.

[OzKev]

Get one of these, and only use the glass one for calibration.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Portable ... 4d2e98d454

[Zaximus]

Get one of these, and only use the glass one for calibration.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Portable ... 4d2e98d454

Very good idea! Didn't realise you could get these for alco...but there's a lot I don't realise yet in this game....... :mrgreen:

[OzKev]

The only downside to them is they measure alcohol w/w, not v/v that we use. Hence why it is a 0-80 scale, not 0-100. So for ethanol with a density of 0.789, we have to divide the reading by 0.789. So a reading of 16 is 16/0.789 = 20%abv. To me it is a must have tool.

alv % W/W
20 16
25 20
30 24
35 28
40 32
45 36
50 39
55 43
60 47
65 51
70 55
75 59
80 63
85 67
90 71
95 75
95.6 75
100 79

[Urrazeb]

You don't NEED an alcometer for running a still, for diluting yeah sure but not for the run :handgestures-thumbupleft:

By the way, the lead is heavy enough to remain in the boiler when running and shouldn't make it through to the PC.

[Zaximus]

Thanks OzKev and Urrazeb!

I get that an alcometer isn't a necessity in running a still. I just proved it to myself on the weekend so I'm happy about that (confidence boost). But, I do like the idea of being able to see how it's tracking while it's tracking. Especially knowing how far tails can be pushed before abandoning the rest of a stripping run. I think after tasting some of the higher ABV's that come out during the stripping run, my tongue doesn't respond well to registering lower ABV's so I couldn't be sure if I was tasting something at 30% or 20%, or even 10%. Guess that comes with experience...

[Urrazeb]

Yes, they sure are handy ;-)

I'm in Perth and would have offered mine but its the only one I have and It's the first one I bought ~4 years ago, no offence but I wouldn't trust you with it lol

If ya need anything else, hit me up. Happy to help out where I can :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[MacStill]

We have alcometers available in our store, but not online ;-)

[Zaximus]

Yes, they sure are handy ;-)

I'm in Perth and would have offered mine but its the only one I have and It's the first one I bought ~4 years ago, no offence but I wouldn't trust you with it lol :

I wouldn't trust me with it either mate! :laughing-rolling:. I mean, what sort of clumsy f#ck up breaks 2 of them in 1 hit. Farken ell.

And thanks McStill!

[Sam.]

I mean, what sort of clumsy f#ck up breaks 2 of them in 1 hit. Farken ell.

From the fuckups thread

Managed to break two alcometers at the same time by smashing them into each other :crying-blue:

:laughing-rolling: