Hydrometer (Triplescale)

The length of the hydrometer is about 10 3/4 inches, and the widest part of the hydrometer is about .6 inches (circumference was 2 inches). You will probably need at least a 12 inch test tube. It is weighed with lead shot which is kept at the bottom with what looks like rubber. It will test all beers and wine and shows normal ranges for each (normal SG of wine, desert wine, beer, and their corresponding FGs) on the paper inside the tube. I don't know why everyone is fuming about not receiving one that has a colored paper inside the tube, you have to look really closely at the markers to tell the precise gravity readings anyway, so it being colored doesn't factor into anything but cosmetics. It didn't really matter to me because I received one WITH the colored markers. I ordered it March 4, 2014. Of course, you should check with distilled water to see if there is a fault, which I haven't done yet, and apply that to your readings. Make sure the temperature you take your readings at are adjusted using an online gravity adjustment calculator. I only give it 4 stars instead of 5 because I haven't tested it yet, but everything looks good! Update: March 15, 2014: I tested it in a 12 inch test jar with distilled water, and, even at the right temperature it measured about .002 degrees higher than it should. No big deal though! I was going to take the OG of my brew water (with included minerals, like gypsum) anyway and use that to gauge my SG for when I finally place it in the primary. Upping the star count to 5 cause it is everything I expected of a hydrometer, even with a slight SLIGHT fault.

Good.

I have a couple of hydrometers but they are fragile and can break easily( I did) so I bought this one with the color differentiation. The colors help a lot. I normally use glasses so when I check the gravity, on my others, I have trouble differentiating the SG levels. With this, it is easier as get a quick read as 0.990 and below is in black and white. 0.990-1.000 is in blue. Their is a color change on the glass to help you remember what each color represents. for example, 1.060 -1.092 is in green to remind you that that range is used for setting your gravity prior to adding your yeast while 1.100 - 1.130 is in blue to remind you that that range is for desert wines. As a beginner, this is helpful. if you are an old pro, I am boring you.

This hydrometer works great. I have tested it and it seems to be very accurate measuring just about anything with alcohol in it. Very easy to use. You will need to purchase a graduated cylinder to use with it. Just be careful as it will break. Can't go wrong for the price I don't think. I make wine and mead occasionally and this is what I use to measure alc %.

I used it for making wine, and worked great.

A nice price for an easily readable hydrometer. The color bands are a slight benefit. The only downside is that hydrometers are fragile, not ding against this product at all, it just the nature of the beast. And they always seem to break right before you are ready to take a reading. Finally got smart and bought a spare. Why not at this price?

This is a typical, accurate, well-made triplescale hydrometer that is useful in home brewing. Item came as expected, however, please note that this does not come with a hydrometer test tube which needs to to be purchased separately if this is going to be of any use to you. Most other hydrometers are packaged in tubes that can double as test tubes, but this one comes in a 2-piece, square plastic container unsuitable for testing samples. The color on the scale enables easy and accurate readings which is a nice bonus. Product comes with directions including a small table useful for temperature adjustments when taking a reading. Overall, it's a quality hydrometer and it earned my recommendation.

Got distilled water out and checked for accuracy. Read spot on at 60 degrees (most of the hydrometers I've used calibrated at 68, so bit of an adjustment.) Wish the color coding was grouped by 5's or 10's instead of the silly "beer/wine" groupings, but it came nicely packaged and was easy to read.