Hydrometer reading - Ray Daniels

[johnrm]

If anyone has a copy of Ray Daniels Designing great beers...

I've always read the bottom of the meniscus and believe Daniels is incorrect.
Thoughts?

[Mudder]

http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-a-meniscus-definition-uses-lab-examples.html  like everything it depends

[johnrm]

It must be down to the calibration of the device and manufacturers instructions then.
I.e. My Stephenson Reeves says bottom of meniscus and it is calibrated a such.

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

We always used the same brand of Saccharometers as you John, the Steevenson Reeves and read off the bottom of the miniscus i reckon that embarressingly he was reading it correctly for 6 years and now is not. Heres a link from Steevenson Reeves on how to read a hydrometer.
http://www.stevenson-reeves.co.uk/howto.htm
Although generally referred to as a hydrometer, the correct term for what we use in brewing is a Saccharometer, as we are measuring the sugar content of a liquid. If anyone is looking to buy one on line etc Saccharometer in the search will normally take you to more professional range of instruments

[DEMPSEY]

Alway's read the bottom too. It was probably one of the first things I ever learn't when I started brewing.

[Qs]

I read an article recently from BYO or the AHA or somewhere similar that said bottom.

[LordEoin]

i always look at the bottom.
Sure they all have lovely bottoms

[Mudder]

I suppose the best thing to do is to calibrate your hydrometer in distilled water at the correct temp (normally 20c) and see where it reads 1.000. Don't forget to calibrate your thermometer first. 

[Garry]

I like to read from the top when measuring the OG and from the bottom when measuring FG. I always get more alcohol that way

[hopapotamus]

i always look at the bottom.
Sure they all have lovely bottoms

careful now ted
im looking for a large print hydrometer .......i can never read them properly .......id say its 50/50 on having too many beers while brewing and having bad eyesight

[Will_D]

If you check out the Stevenson link above they have an "Easy Read" hydrometer with big numbers!

[hopapotamus]

  thats the one i have lol

[neoanto]

Not to necro a thread, but which hydrometer to people buy?
Originally i had the one from coopers kit, which was great btw, but it went in the dishwasher and got warped.
Now i have one from the HBC.
First off it only reads every 0.002 SG so thats pretty annoying.
Secondly the first thing i did was test it with water to see if it was calibrated correctly and it reads 1.002 for water which is wrong. (reading from the bottom of the meniscus!)

So what are good hydrometer brands?