Lesson learned today...

[Tmebs]

Calibrate your beakers!
I made a batch of my favorite liquid today and it was off..

Second guessing myself, I went over all my steps, counted ingredients and pipettes and everything should have been correct.

So tonight sitting here still thinking about it the only thing different was the use of a "new" larger beaker.
Well the 15ml mark is not 15ml.

15ml. Calibrated from a known/used syringe actually reads as 20ml on this new beaker...

So for now I guess its back to using the "old" smaller equipment for accuracy.

 

[Cheechako]

Calibrate your beakers!
I made a batch of my favorite liquid today and it was off..

Second guessing myself, I went over all my steps, counted ingredients and pipettes and everything should have been correct.

So tonight sitting here still thinking about it the only thing different was the use of a "new" larger beaker.
Well the 15ml mark is not 15ml.

15ml. Calibrated from a known/used syringe actually reads as 20ml on this new beaker...

So for now I guess its back to using the "old" smaller equipment for accuracy.

You could put tape on the outside to write the correct calibrations on it...just an idea.

 

[Train2]

That's a crazy variance - I wouldn't expect a 15ml mark to be at 20 even with "cheap" glassware. Jeez.

 

[Tmebs]

Both 25ml and 50ml low beaker came from RTS....bought the small one a long time ago and didn't use it much.

But since getting back into it I found a recipe I love and am making 30 ml bottles every other day or so, so I ordered the 50ml recently.

Today was the first day I used it, started with my VG to the 15ml mark and then just added all the other ingredients (this must be the 10th bottle of this I've made) and when i put it in my bottle which is also marked for 10,20 and 30 ml is was off by quite a bit.

15 ml in my small 25ml beaker when poured into the 50ml beaker hits the 20ml mark!

 

[Train2]

I too moved to larger batches (110 mls in a 120 ml bottle), and from syringes to a beaker (for the VG and PG) - didn't note a change, so I never calibrated the beaker...now I'm afraid to, LOL.


Now that I think about it - I got mine from RTS, too.

 

[Tmebs]

I too moved to larger batches (110 mls in a 120 ml bottle), and from syringes to a beaker (for the VG and PG) - didn't note a change, so I never calibrated the beaker...now I'm afraid to, LOL.


Now that I think about it - I got mine from RTS, too.

If it ain't broke....

 

[Cheechako]

Dang it! Now I'm wondering about mine...Off to check the legitimacy of my beaker's measurements.

 

[Alter]

I found my bought from ebay beakers to be inaccurate. I pop the plunger off the syringes, fill from the top and measure that way. I just use my 25 and 50 ml beakers on my magnetic mixer. I only make 30-50 mls at a time anyway so a larger beaker for me I won't use it. I do say building yourself a DIY magnetic mixer is a god send from having to shake, shake, shake till your wrist falls off.

 

[Cheechako]

I found my bought from ebay beakers to be inaccurate. I pop the plunger off the syringes, fill from the top and measure that way. I just use my 25 and 50 ml beakers on my magnetic mixer. I only make 30-50 mls at a time anyway so a larger beaker for me I won't use it. I do say building yourself a DIY magnetic mixer is a god send from having to shake, shake, shake till your wrist falls off.

Made a vortex mixer, you're right, it's great! As Ron Popiel would say, "Set it and forget it!"

 

[Alter]

Only thing I haven't found is that if you can over mix the juice and what extended mixing does to the steep times. I warm up my base with tap water bath before adding the flavor(s), it helps incorporate the flavor better,

 

[Cheechako]

Only thing I haven't found is that if you can over mix the juice and what extended mixing does to the steep times. I warm up my base with tap water bath before adding the flavor(s), it helps incorporate the flavor better,

I use 100% VG, so nuke til viscosity allows mixing, leave on vortex for about an hour.
Don't know to what degree it affects aging of the juice, just love that it's mixed so well with minimum effort on my part.

 

[Tmebs]

Yes to all of the above...started with syringes with plunger pulled, and mixed directly into bottles ( re-used saved B&M ).

Many a 10ml sample batch made, then moved up to small beaker making 50/50 mixes and always started with 15ml VG in the beaker.

I made a diy ( had everything ) magnetic mixer about a month ago and a steeping box. BUT still haven't got my hands on the damn stir bars.

As soon as I think I have everything I will ever need....

Someday

 

[dannyv45]

Calibrate your beakers!
I made a batch of my favorite liquid today and it was off..

Second guessing myself, I went over all my steps, counted ingredients and pipettes and everything should have been correct.

So tonight sitting here still thinking about it the only thing different was the use of a "new" larger beaker.
Well the 15ml mark is not 15ml.

15ml. Calibrated from a known/used syringe actually reads as 20ml on this new beaker...

So for now I guess its back to using the "old" smaller equipment for accuracy.

That is a huge difference. I would complain and send it back.

 

[Capt.shay]

Calibrate your beakers!
I made a batch of my favorite liquid today and it was off..

Second guessing myself, I went over all my steps, counted ingredients and pipettes and everything should have been correct.

So tonight sitting here still thinking about it the only thing different was the use of a "new" larger beaker.
Well the 15ml mark is not 15ml.

15ml. Calibrated from a known/used syringe actually reads as 20ml on this new beaker...

So for now I guess its back to using the "old" smaller equipment for accuracy.

And really, how do you know that your syringe is accurate? It could be off as well.

I bought some cheap syringes from Flea-bay and they were off all over the place.

You need a known amount to check your gear and weighing is the best way to do it at home. We know that one ml of water is one G. Weigh 15 grams of water and then you will know exactly what 15 ml is. This is the main reason why I went to weight based mixing.

 

[Paramaniac413]

One thing a semester of organic chemistry lab did teach me: Beakers are never very accurate. For accuracy, either use a graduated cylinder, micro pipette, or a burette.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk