MvH
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2024
You use a refractometer for measuring one thing in honey - moisture. This is the only refractometer that has a single scale. By having a single scale, it is large enough to be easy to read, and there is no confusion as to which scale to use. I also have a refractometer that measures brix and another that measures brix (dissolved solids) and baume (density). The more scales you add to the reading window, the smaller the scales have to be, and the harder it is to see an accurate reading of water content. So this has become my favorite refractometer. I keep the others for backup and teaching.
Lisa Harris
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2024
This product works great for testing our honey’s moisture level
D. Y. Wong
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2024
The scale is just for honey moisture. There are no other confusing scales in the viewfinder. With only one scale, the scale is larger than other multi-scale units, thus it's easier to read.
Marc Cunningham
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2023
Received this order did not have calibrating solution with it?
Samuel W
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2023
I raise honeybees and in return get a little of their honey every year. I am not a huge seller of honey but sell small quantities mainly to people looking for local honey.Up to this point I never had a refractometer and just wondered what my honey's moisture percentage was. I knew that people loved my bee's honey but I had no idea how much moisture it had. Well, that is solved now thanks to this refractometer made by TRZ - it is 17%. That means it is grade A honey as the content is less than 18.6%. (According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards, for honey to be considered Grade A or B, it must have a moisture content of 18.6% or less).Anyway, on to the review. This refractometer is not calibrated when you get it - close but not exact. As mentioned before I have never owned one and it took me less than 1 minute to calibrate it. Take off the cap covering the screw, put the brix on it, turn the screw until the line gets to the calibration line (see picture).The meter itself is small, compact, and looks really well made. I did not see anything cheap looking on it. You adjust the clarity of the meter lines with the eye piece. (Please ignore the quality of the meter from these pictures - it took me 5 minutes just trying to get my camera to take one through the viewing hole so you can see what it looks like).It comes with pipettes, lens cloth, carrying case, brix, and the refractometer. I am keeping it in the box and foam that it comes packed in just to make sure it stays safe, but at the price of this I could stand to purchase another one if I have to.Overall, this is a great little refractometer and great for the honey bee keeper. It measures moisture content accurately and quickly and is small enough to carry around. The asking price is great and you get more quality than price. I highly recommend this!!
Bernie Bernbaum
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2023
I'm a beekeeper and I have a refractometer that I purchased from one of the beekeeping supply companies. This refractometer is better than the one I got from the beekeeping supply store.The two units are similar in operation - you smear some honey on the faceplate and frop the cover over the honey. Then point the refractometer at a lighted area (such as out the window during the day) and read the moisture content. It's important that the moisture content be less than about 18% or the honey will begin to ferment. Of course, if you're making mead, that's what you want, but most of us want to sell the honey as honey.I liked that this refractometer came with a little bottle of calibration oil. That's good so that you know the reading you're getting is correct. They even provide a small screwdriver which you use to adjust the refractometer when checking with the calibration oil (it comes factory calibrated).They also provide four plastic pipetts which are useful for getting a sample of the honey and putting it on the refractometer face.It's easy to read the moisure percentage in the refractometer. You can adjust the focus if you're either nearsighted or farsighted.All-in-all, a very nice honey refractometer, and recommended.
ctkag
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2023
Always have been curious as to what the moisture content is of our honey. Have always assumed that if the comb is capped, it is 17% but wanted to check.This refractometer is pretty easy to use, once you adjust the focus so that the scale is readable. Adjusts just like binoculars or a telescope. Instructions are a little vague, made it seem like the refractometer was pre-calibrated but when tested using the control liquid was clearly uncalibrated. Quick, easy adjustment and off to test the real stuff.Again, the instructions aren't clear about cleaning the glass & prism, I just used the included cloth. Couple of drops of my honey and it tested at 18% - within range. Will be interested to test some frames directly off the hive and see what difference (if any) there is.I am not a commercial honey producer so not as big a concern, just want to know. Tool is great, easy to use, just wish the instructions were a little more clear, but that's what the internet is for!
cwright80
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2023
Easy to use, easy to calibrate. Very happy with this purchase.