Review on 📏 Milwaukee Instruments MA871-BOX Digital Brix Sugar Refractometer with Protective Padded Case for General Measurements by Shane Schobinger

I have used this to check the wort density in the last 5 batches of beer. I got conflicting results - for example I pressed the read button, waited a few seconds and pressed it again, and the two readings often differed by 0.5 degrees. I emailed the company and got a quick response. The email indicated that the problem was likely caused by debris stuck to the lens. The letter was illiterate and seemed hastily written, so I will not publish it here. Below I have listed the procedure I am currently following based on the company email. Since following this procedure, I have had consistent and accurate results - rarely do readings vary by more than 0.1 degrees for any given sample. - Periodically clean the lens with Windex and a cotton swab, then rinse with distilled water and dry with a soft cloth. - Calibrate frequently with steam distilled water (NOT reverse osmosis water). - After each use, rinse with distilled water and wipe with a soft cloth. - For best results, filter the sample before testing. I used good quality filter paper (available on Amazon) but I think a coffee filter would work just as well. It's a pain, but it's what the company recommends and I've had much more consistent results with it. - Turn on the power before filling the fountain. - While collecting the sample, push and pull the dropper bulb several times to mix the sample. Otherwise your results can be falsified, for example by a drop of rinsing water in the pipette or an uneven distribution of gravity in the sample. - Fill the chute about half full. - Take measurements quickly - do not leave the sample in the well for long. If the sample temperature differs greatly from the instrument temperature, wait for the sample to reach room temperature before testing, rather than waiting a long time with the sample on the lens for the temperature to stabilize. - Immediately after the measurement, empty the sample, rinse with distilled liquid and dry the lens. - Do not perform multiple measurements in a row by repeatedly pressing the "Read" button. It is best to discard the sample, rinse, dry and retest.