Lubricate Your Refractometer

[NY_Caveman]

redfishbluefish submitted a new Article:

Lubricate Your Refractometer



Read more about this article here...

Something I would have never thought of. Thank you! But where do I get the Waterford Crystals glasses?

Ha ha ha! I love that user articles are typically as enlightening as a scientific paper, yet written to be so entertaining.

My added tip is calibrate your refractometer every time you use it. Only takes a few drops and a few seconds.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

@Scrubber_steve , you've sparked my curiosity! How do you know the salinity of the NSW? This will vary dependent on location, time of year, incoming or outgoing tide, rain/runoff, etc....you just don't know what you have
.

i collect water onshore from the open ocean off shellharbour (Pacific ocean -Tasman Sea). Other than possible rain run-off I don't believe there is any significant variation when collected in dry conditions (35ppb). In any case I have a bottle of the water & use that each time.

 

[Brew12]

I've never thought of this, but it is a great tip! Living in Alabama, I don't think I'll be able to bring myself to use WD40 or people will think I'm a redneck. I'm going to be more civilized and use white lithium grease spray. Its a much better lubricant for most applications.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I've never thought of this, but it is a great tip! Living in Alabama, I don't think I'll be able to bring myself to use WD40 or people will think I'm a redneck. I'm going to be more civilized and use white lithium grease spray. Its a much better lubricant for most applications.

Hey! What's wrong with being a redneck? You're living in the right place.

"There's no place I'd rather be than right here, with my redneck, white socks and blue ribbon beer."

 

[Dennis McGrath]

I use stuff called "Frog Lube" on my refractometer to lubricate it. (It's made for guns, but it's non-toxic). It also protects it from salt water as well.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

What about using petroleum jelly?

 

[Dennis McGrath]

What about using petroleum jelly?

No, it would make it worse since it's way too viscous.

 

[siggy]

I use stuff called "Frog Lube" on my refractometer to lubricate it. (It's made for guns, but it's non-toxic). It also protects it from salt water as well.

Ok, but won't that give you warts

 

[vetteguy53081]

I clean mine after each use and it looks like day one. I call it preventative care.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Thanks for the tip, I used my Vortex Pen Oil dropper works like a charm, very precise. The diatom filter guys.

 

[Fudsey]

I just recently noticed this on mine. I'd have to tap the top to get it to make even a clear reading, accurate or otherwise. I used vegetable oil though and a manual workout and seems to have done the trick, at least for now. Once calibrated it used to remain dead on for a long time, then I found I was having to re-calibrate every time I looked at it. When the line itself was no longer even clear I finally figure it out. At least with the constant calibration it doesn't look like I was ever off by enough to matter, other than irritation

Don't use vegetable oil for this, it can go rancid and cause other problems and a smell. Mineral oil or, as @redfishbluefish does, WD40.

 

[MnFish1]

Thanks KJ.


Something else hit me about refractometers that nobody ever tells you.....Whatever light source you use to calibrate your refractometer, use that same light source to do your measurements. That is, if you use natural sunlight to calibrate, use it to do your measurements. If you use a fluorescent bulb in a light fixture, always use that. Similarly, with an LED light bulb. And finally, if you're using an incandescent light bulb, stop now, unscrew that antique, throw it in the trash, and replace it with an energy saving LED. Never calibrate with one type of light source and measure with another light source. Wavelength matters!!!

OK - Hmmm - I just checked my refractometer using the same solution in several different light sources - it doesn't change. Im not sure this comment is true. If the type of light were truly a deciding point, if you took the refractometer and put it in daylight, then pointed it an an LED, then pointed it at a fluorescent then pointed it whatever it would change - but it does not.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai...hUKEwiM55XQ1o7dAhXmwFQKHXZtBT8QpysI2AE&adurl= This stuff

 

[redfishbluefish]

OK - Hmmm - I just checked my refractometer using the same solution in several different light sources - it doesn't change. Im not sure this comment is true. If the type of light were truly a deciding point, if you took the refractometer and put it in daylight, then pointed it an an LED, then pointed it at a fluorescent then pointed it whatever it would change - but it does not.

From Dr. Randy Holmes Farley:

Refractometers and the color of light used: important!

 

[MnFish1]

From Dr. Randy Holmes Farley:

Refractometers and the color of light used: important!

Thanks - its an interesting article - Just doesn't make any difference with my refractometer (I have no clue why it doesn't) - maybe the technology is improved in 4 years. Try it with your own refractometer and report back... Mine does not change 'at all'. Now - perhaps the issue is calibrating with a different light than the light you are using - but even still - it should change if you use different light (or what am I missing)

 

[MnFish1]

I clean mine after each use and it looks like day one. I call it preventative care.

This - The instructions that came with mine say to make absolutely sure that the refractometer is cleaned, etc. IMHO adding oil is as likely to add 'problems' to the measurement. I liked the article btw - but - if my refractometer looked like yours - I would buy a new one... rather than lubricating it.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I checked mine under incandescent, LED, & sunlight. Made no difference to the reading.
The cover not sitting flush against the lens certainly does significantly alter the reading.

 

[saltyhog]

I've never thought of this, but it is a great tip! Living in Alabama, I don't think I'll be able to bring myself to use WD40 or people will think I'm a redneck. I'm going to be more civilized and use white lithium grease spray. Its a much better lubricant for most applications.

Brew, I bet you already knew what an Aperitif glass was and have drank from one!

Great article and thread! I actually bought a new refractometer a few years ago because I couldn't figure out how to lube the pin. I did figure out how to adjust the lid to make it work but it was hard and wasted a bunch of time. I'll drag that old one out, lube it up and donate it someone in the reef club that needs one!

 

[Brew12]

Brew, I bet you already knew what an Aperitif glass was and have drank from one!

People don't know what they are? How do you serve a proper formal dinner without getting the taste buds ready?

 

[NY_Caveman]

People don't know what they are? How do you serve a proper formal dinner without getting the taste buds ready?

First time I ever saw one was my grandfather drinking Drambuie at a fancy restaurant.