Beekeeping Basics - How To Use a Honey Refractometer - The Norfolk Honey Co.

[@JnJShiffler]

Very few videos on how to calibrate: Use cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. Set brix scale to 71.5. Check calibration each day of use. I have found the heated honey room (95-100*F) seems to read higher moisture falsely by around 2-3%. Best to check at room temp I believe.

[@andrewwhite4837]

Can you tell me which refractor you purchased?

[@framcesmoore]

Thanks for this I have had one and i did not know what to do with it or how to use it I just tested my honey and it was 18.5 that is great. Keep the videos coming they help every one. have a great day and thanks again

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Thanks for your kind comments. Stewart

[@FrederickDunn]

Very nice! Thank you very much for sharing, mine did not come with the cal oil or tiny glass block, what's your opinion on using virgin olive oil as the cal standard?

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Frederick, Thanks for your comments. Depending on the type of refractometer you have will depend on the calibration method. I have just helped a fellow beekeeper at our local club calibrate his unit using distilled water as described in his instructions. We had to match the calibration line to a null line (zero mark), turns out the unit was faulty anyway! If you have any instruction leaflets with it I would just have a quick look at those and see if it gives any indication of calibration. If you have a zero line then distilled water should allow you to calibrate to the null line. Stewart

[@FrederickDunn]

The Norfolk Honey Company Thank you! Mine does not have a "zero" line for distilled water calibration, I'll figure something out soon :) I appreciate your fast response!

[@DreamInspireMotivateEvolve]

Nice video. What does the Baume ' actually mean and is it used for honey testing?

[@farmanshaikh6405]

Great video 👍 thanks for sharing!

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Farman, You are very welcome. Stewart

[@weedoization]

is there a way to set up the measurement without the prism?

[@patrickbaxter5720]

Thanks Stewart for the video , just bought one awaiting delivery.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Patrick, I'm not sure I should be giving away all my secrets to the Honey Show King of the Norwich and District Beekeeping Club!

[@mauramcfall9289]

Such a helpful video - thank you. Would you happen to know if this type of refractometer would work with jam, jellies, marmalades please? I'm having to put % of sugar to fruit details on my labels and hoping this will do calculations for me. Also would you know if the budget range (£15+) of refractometers are suitable as I'm on a tight budget as all my products are sold to fund raise for charities. I hope you don't mind my asking and thank you for any help.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Maura, thanks for your comments. Regarding your question about the % fruit to sugar question I'm don't think the refractometer will help. You could use a calculation to work out the % so, if I'm understanding the % you need, weight of sugar divided by weight of fruit multiply by 100 will give you a % of sugar to fruit, for example, 500g of sugar divided by 750g fruit x 100 = 66.7% sugar. I hope that helps. Stewart

[@peterlightbody8443]

Well I learnt from this video , I will be purchasing a refractor eternal in the near future , be interested to know Stewart what the g stands for in SGS on all your hives , take care and keep on passing your knowledge on in future videos .

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Peter, Glad you found the videos helpful. The G is my middle name initial, Graham, is the answer! Stewart

[@Cubrider]

What would you do if it showed your honey had too much water and you have already spun it?

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi, Great question. In the early days I would leave the honey in the buckets after extraction and pop them in our conservatory on a warm late Sumer's day. This easily reduces the water content but you must remember toreplace the lid as soon as the late afternoon arrives and the temperature starts to fall otherwise the Hygroscopic nature of the honey will suck all of that moisture back in!

[@Cubrider]

@@TheNorfolkHoneyCo brilliant reply thanks

[@jayl8813]

Perfect thanks for the vid. Actually picking one up today.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Great, they are really simple to use and adds a level of understanding to your beekeeping. Let me know how you get on with using it.

[@IdAngiang]

So, we are only reading the exact water content of the honey is. I want to know the brix content of honey. Because in Vietnam, the suppliers sometimes mix glucose with honey. How can we test the brix with this refractometer?

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Id Angiang Hi I'd Angiang, here in the U.K. We generally only need to check water content, other less scrupulous activities are usually checked by the authorities. I'm away from home this week but will check on Brix when I get back and see what my refractometer instruction say regarding brix. Stewart

[@IdAngiang]

Thanks a lot. Good luck for you guy!

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

Some many many Years later ! Answer is : In this Video Stuarts Honey Sample shows as "17.5" % Water Content (As Shown on his Mobile/Cell) Film Footage ! The "Brix" is in that > Middle Zone on Footage = "80.8" Brix" See his Footage. . . Tip : Shows "80" then above "85" etc. Those Longer Lines in between are each extra "1" and the Shorter are ".5" Get the Idea ! So My Answer Reads "80" + a Short Line (=.5) Then next Line up is Longer (= 1) But that White to Blue 'Reading' is more than '.5' but less than '1'. . . So you eyeball the difference as say its '.8' in my view. So Stuarts Honey is either 17.5 % Moisture level (anything below 18% will be safe and won't Ferment (go off.) Always keep Honey out or Direct Sunlight and in a Cool Storage Area. Nowhere damp. In "Brix" its Showing "80.8" Never heard of the Sucrose / Glucose Ratio re your Country demands (some might think that's 'Diluted Sugar Syrup Feed/ with some Natural Nectar in the Hive. (I would call that 'Honey Fraud.') Interesting that your Label needs this Food Readings . . . Final Tip : If you have a Refractometer that only does "Brix" Reading (No option to show eg a UK % of Moisture. . . Then do this...) Get your "Brix Reading" eg on this Film Footage = "80.8" Brix. Take '100' and Minus '80.8' : 100 - 80.8 = 19.2 from it. The Result = "19.2 % Moisture." (It could be a case that Stuarts Environmental Air Moisture in his UK location is somewhat Wet (maybe Stormy, it Rained he is near a steamy Kitchen Kettle thats boiled,etc. 😂 ) So this Brix to % Water Calculation : makes that Sample a little to 'High' to Jar up ! Either keep the Jar in a Drier, Warmer,Room for say x24hrs. So some Moisture will come off, Evaporate away ! (Keep a Screen Mesh over your Bucket so not Dust, Flies, or Bees get in it !) A Sticky situation that. Or 'Blend' some spare Solid Set Honey with your 'Wetter (19.4%) more Liquid Runny 'Honey', to make a lovely "Soft Set" Honey. . . That will mean the 'Creamed Honey' will be under that '18%' Safe to Store level. (It won't Ferment in the Jar.) Get it. . . 🤞 I have no experience of that Left Field Scale of Baum, in that Filmed Footage. 'Baum' other than on Googling it (!) Stated "Baum" is the amount of Soild that's within a Liquid Sample. . . 🙄 Examples: Sample of Grape Juice / Wine making. Watery or more Juice in that Pressed Fruit /Solids suspended in the Pressed Grape Juice. In Beer the amount of Yeast, I guess, in the Beer Barrel Solution. In Jam the amount of Fruit Solids in the Jam to that of Water and Sugar makeup. Is it a Runny Jam, or a more Soft Set one ??? All the above. . . Do a "Refractometer Test " Hope this helps. 😎 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 I've been Researching Digital Refractometers for Days ! On Amazon, eBay, Chinese Shopping Channels etc, etc. They are all banging on about 'Coffee' and "Brix". What's gone wrong with the Internet, and Nerdy Coffee Drinkers in 2024 and their 'Fancy Coffee Machines ?' With Pods, in Built Bean Grinders. . . Gone made ! In my time 'Folk' made 'Plop, plop Sounds' pretending 'Instant Dried Coffee Granuales' stirred in Cups with (Boiled Kettle,) Hot Water, were them making "Real (Posh) Coffee" Sound Effects.. Check out 1980s TV Ads. . . 🤭 Sorry for my Rant. . . 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Happy Beekeeping 2024 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 I'm a Hobby Beekeeper who want a % of Moisture Reading ! And likes a Cuppa of UK drunk Tea !!! 🍵 Yes !!! Not the 2024 thing of : AI, enabled Mega £'s or $'s Costing "Brix Reading Refractometers for "Coffee" using: USB and Phone Apps all banging on about 'Cawfeee' Percentages and Strengths in confusing Result Charts' !?! 😳 I'll let myself out. . . Off to find my £15 Eye held Glass 'Slide' Refractomter. Its Honey Harvest time now in August 2024 here in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 👍 If, anyone has a good Priced 'Digital Refractomter' that does true Water % Moisture Reading (not Brix !) then please leave your Comment. A Hand Held Eye Glass one is getting 'harder' to See. And is a Phaff to use in the Bee Apiary with a Bee Veil on ! Eg test a Frame right at the Hive. Hence my interest in a 'Digital' one. Always have my Phone and Reading Glasses at the ready. 😁 I'm prepared to Pay up to say £60 or so. Free Shipping is always a bonus too. . . And that is if it's available within the UK ! No massive Chinese Imported 'Postal Fee' from my Postie. Any Recommendations going from Beeks out there. . . ? 😏

[@farhanp4789]

Thank you the video. I'd like to know the process of calibrating a refractometer using distilled water. The refractometer reads 10%-32% water content, so how do i calibrate this one? Thank you in advance

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi farhan, The refractometer measures water content in honey so using distilled water might not be the best way. You need some liquid with a know water content so that you can calibrate precisely. Stewart

[@joebokkie]

I have just done a measure of my honey and it reads 88 ( the blue scale line) off the water % scale. Did I do it incorrectly or have I got the best honey going :-)

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Stephnie, Of course you have the best honey going, it's your own :) I think what you're reading is the Brix value, there should be another value on the scale, perhaps on the opposite side which will likely be the water content, the range will be something like 12-28% or thereabouts. Stewart

[@joebokkie]

@The Norfolk Honey Company is there anyway I can send a photo of my reading to you

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

@@joebokkie Sure, drop me a message via my website www.norfolk-honey.co.uk and I'll email you back. Stewart

[@thabitkarim7597]

How much does this honey refractometer cost in US dollar?

[@gordonhogg4675]

You didn’t show how the little prism is supposed to be placed on the device and my instructions don’t show it either. It’s back to searching KZbin to see if somebody shows that.

[@KH-YOUTUBE-j1d]

where i found brix food table reading including honey to tell me if honey good quality or no

[@lenoretalon9958]

أبو سلطان make sure it tells water content. I bought the wrong one first. eBay has nice priced ones but you must make sure it shows water percentage. I bought the one he has on eBay for 16us”

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Lenore, Yes, exactly right. Stewart

[@lenoretalon9958]

Thank you so much. Wish me luck.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Good Luck Lenore!

[@kien109]

Why did you turn the scale to the wrong percentage?

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Hamchuck, I adjusted it to show the method of calibration using the glass block supplied with this refractometer. Using the glass block I then recalibrated it back to the correct level. Stewart

[@kien109]

The Norfolk Honey Company Thanks! i was really confused as to why. this vid really helps!

[@JamesCrouchX]

I would like to share a mistake I made. I purchased one that measures alcohol. Way out of range for honey. Maybe I will make some mead.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi James, yes, it's an easy mistake to make. At least you realised and mead is always good :) Stewart

[@李桂阳-y5t]

find us! we are manufacturer in refractometer

[@christinagansman6649]

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