Sanitising Thermometer and Hydrometer

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NegFerret

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Hi,

I've just been to check on my beer after 8 days in the FV.

Smells beautiful!

The sanitisation process I have doesn't seem ideal for sanitising the thermometer and hydrometer when I want to use them, so is it ok to pour boiling water over them instead of using sanitising solution?
 
Im not entirely sure that pouring boiling water on a hydrometer is a great idea. It's very fragile glass and boiling water could quite easily crack it. Im also not sure that a thermometer would thank you for it either.
 
I would agree with the others that boiling is a bad idea...
You can make up some no-rinse sanitiser and keep a litre or so in an old juice bottle. Fill the trial jar and drop the hydrometer in and leave it sitting for a minute then decant the sanitiser back into the juice bottle. I keep the sanitiser bottled like that until the next brew-day when I'll empty out and collect a new batch.
 
:hmm: :hmm: :hmm: :hmm:

Fail to see issue :wha:

Fill trial jar . . . . .
Immerse Hydrometer . . . .
Take Reading . . . .
Remove Hydrometer . . . .
Rinse under tap . . .
put away . . . .
Tip hydrometer sample into glass . . . .
Rinse trial jar with hot tap water . . . .
Put Away . . . . .

Drink Glass

So under no circumstances does it need to be sanitised.

In fact with experience many of those steps can be missed out to leave

Fill trial jar . . . . .
Drink Sample . . .
Rinse trial jar with hot tap water . . . .
Put Away . . . . .
 
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:


Although, I think he might be dipping the sample tube in the FV to fill it, taking a sample (and dare I say it..).... returning the sample to the FV?!? :?
 
Am I missing something here :?
I think you are referring to a true F.V. Aleman?
For bucket F.V. I wash the hydrometer in a spot of videne and then pop it in , always wash it again in videne before testing a second bucket to prevent cross contamination ;)
 
Springer said:
I think you are referring to a true F.V. Aleman?
little plastic bucket, Plastic bucket, large plastic conical, Big Huge massive shiny bucket . . . whatever beer, cider or wine ferments in.

Springer said:
For bucket F.V. I wash the hydrometer in a spot of videne and then pop it in , always wash it again in videne before testing a second bucket to prevent cross contamination ;)
I try to expose my fermenting beer to as little contamination as possible, plus the parallax errors in reading a 'retail' hydrometer tossed in an fv with foam, yeast debris, evolving CO2, and floating break proteins mean that it is fairly pointless in even thinking that you are getting something close to an accurate reading.

With every measuring instrument there is a correct way to use it to ensure that you eliminate as many sources of error as possible. to ensure that you get a reading as accurate as possible within the degree of confidence of the instrument . . . Tossing a hydrometer into a fermenter is not the accepted method . . . plus it is yet another possible source of introducing infection into the equation.
 
Aleman said:
:hmm: :hmm: :hmm: :hmm:

Fail to see issue :wha:

Fill trial jar . . . . .
Drink Sample . . .
Rinse trial jar with hot tap water . . . .
Put Away . . . . .

No tap on FV :p
 
bigdave said:
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:


Although, I think he might be dipping the sample tube in the FV to fill it, taking a sample (and dare I say it..).... returning the sample to the FV?!? :?

nopes, I'm not returning any samples. I'm whacking the hyrometer into the fv.

I really need an fv with a tap, but I have spent enough already so right now it's not an option.
 
NegFerret said:
Aleman said:
:hmm: :hmm: :hmm: :hmm:

Fail to see issue :wha:

Fill trial jar . . . . .
Drink Sample . . .
Rinse trial jar with hot tap water . . . .
Put Away . . . . .

No tap on FV :p
Then use a glass turkey baster to remove a sample for the hydrometer ;)
 
Am I missing something here :?
yes I am missing something :?

In fact with experience many of those steps can be missed out to leave

Fill trial jar . . . . .
Drink Sample . . .
Rinse trial jar with hot tap water . . . .
Put Away . . . . .
Do you get an accurate reading this way :lol:
:? :?

In my real working world, the saying is "a bad sample is worse than no sample at all".

I understand parallax error and can dislodge a bit of foam and find a clean bit and get the hydrometer to face the right way, :lol: but remember we are home brew forum not a multi national empire, does it matter to a point or so :?
So could you explain the best way to get a proper sample without all the problems you mention out of a bucket with all the **** in it, without a tap. :? :? :?
I think a tap could create more problems than it solves. ;)
Begining to wish I had not joined this thread :lol:
S
Just noticed your turkey baster bit A, the end still needs sterilizing, does it really give a better sample ?
Anyone got a turkey baster going cheap :lol:
 
Springer said:
In fact with experience many of those steps can be missed out to leave

Fill trial jar . . . . .
Drink Sample . . .
Rinse trial jar with hot tap water . . . .
Put Away . . . . .
Do you get an accurate reading this way :lol: :? :?
It used to be my party trick . . . take some runnings during the sparge . . . taste it and guestimate the gravity . . . I was often within a couple of points . . . which is about all those LHBS retail hydrometers are accurate to
Springer said:
Just noticed your turkey baster bit A, the end still needs sterilizing, does it really give a better sample ?
I just run it under the tap after use (the bulb comes off on mine), then Flame the top couple of inches of the tip before sampling the wort.

I'll post a 'best practice' method of using a hydrometer in a bit . . . it is a bl**dy silly procedure though :lol:
 
evanvine said:
Aleman said:
then Flame the top couple of inches of the tip before sampling the wort.
Do you not think thats a tad extreem?
I thought that. :shock:
All I ever use is Morrisons "TRUST" steriliser and never had a problem. :thumb: It's been said before, some brewers get OCD about cleanliness. :cry:
I don't even bother sterilising the fermenters, I steam them for 5 - 7 mins.
BarrelSteamer.jpg


BB
 
I'll post a 'best practice' method of using a hydrometer in a bit . . . it is a bl**dy silly procedure though
Thanks A, that would be good :D We can all make up our minds then, but is a hydrometer in the bucket really not on :?
Do you not think thats a tad extreem?
t's been said before, some brewers get OCD about cleanliness
I here what you say lads, but speaking as someone who had to tip 11 gallons down the sink recently :( :( :( , I think you can't be to careful. My problem was caused by other factors I believe, but a very sad time for me, my therapy is coming along nicely and I am responding to treatment..........have done three very nice small brews since and thinking of a big one soon. :lol: :D

I always remember buying a fire extinguisher, the guy said you can buy one before the fire or after ;) :lol: .............. don't ask :lol:
 
In the interest of forum harmony, this thread has been edited by THBF admin team.
BarnsleyBrewer said:
evanvine said:
Aleman said:
then Flame the top couple of inches of the tip before sampling the wort.
Do you not think thats a tad extreem?
I thought that. :shock:
If like me you were batting 3 for 6 with infections then you probably wouldn't think like that. ;)
 

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