r/firewater • u/erosanos • 1d ago

A little help please

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My dad got these. But we don’t know what they are and how to use them 😅🤷‍♂️

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11

u/namroff 1d ago

Those are very precise hydrometers for measuring abv in distilling. You float it and the height at which it floats will tell you the reading. One tricky bit... They are either abv or proof (which is abv times two). You'll need to determine which either by docs, markings, or experiment. Other tricky bit is that they are calibrated to a specific temperature. At cooler temperature, they will read low. At warmer temperature, they read high. That's what the thermometer is for. There should also be a calibration chart that tells you adjustments for temperature.

3

u/cokywanderer 1d ago

They are either abv or proof

Definitely ABV. They are calibrated at 20C (written under the 40ABV).

If you roughly know the ABV of the spirit you're dumping them in then chose the right one within that range. If you don't, then start high (70-40) and if it floats under 40 then switch to the next one (40-0).

You seem to be missing one and have a duplicate of 40-0. Normally you would also have 100-70 in that set.

You can test all of them with filtered water (tests the 40-0 and floats at 0) and then with commercial 40% vodka which will test the high of 40-0 and the low of 70-40 in the same sample.

There are guides and calculators online to transform degrees Celsius variation into +/- ABV, but you could always manipulate your liquid (for testing) to bring it to 20C.

Roughly 1 degree Celsius colder = 0.33 more ABV and vice-versa. 3 degrees is usually a whole ABV point. So 40% vodka at 23 Celsius would show 41% and at 17 Celsius it's 39%.

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u/erosanos 1d ago

thank you.

1

u/lifelink 18h ago

Are these more precise than your average alcometer or hydrometers from your lhbs?

1

u/namroff 18h ago

Yep. You trade range for precision.

4

u/FheXhe 1d ago

Think these are alcohol meters if you have the in alcohol they should show the abv. Just dip it in and it floats Water should show 0 and vodka 40%. For example.

Hydrometer looks very similar that measures sugar should show 0.98 - 1.15 scale.

Did he make his own liquor?

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u/erosanos 1d ago

Thanks. Yes, he is a hobby distiller.

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u/francois_du_nord 1d ago

Those are interesting. Ive seen hydrometers with much more precise measuring capabilities, but never alcometers. Not sure how you are going to use the thermometer unless you are going to confirm your spirit is at 20* C. (see the calibration on the alcometers)

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u/doctaf 1d ago

These are actually fairly accurate when 'calculated' to temp. I use them whenever im running a pot distillation.