Refractometer - calibration

[samiam_orami]

Does anyone know how to put a refractometer back to gether
and re-calibrate it ?

http://zenreef.com/images/refractometer.jpg

I think the guys at airport securtiy took it apart and srcewed around with it ......
All I see is blue .....

Any help will be greatly apprecieated ....
samiam

[RobertG]

Hey why did'nt you sell that? I would of taken it. Hope all is good Sam. Had a scare, Flash is doing great! ( Popeye in one eye )

[texasranchers]

OOPs! If you still have the box, send it back and tell them you didn't know you had to assemble it. JK
I don't suppose the directions tell you how to calibrate it.(re-calibrate)

[brewercm]

Not sure on the putting back together, but for calibration I think you have to have a liquid you can buy that is a set ppm and adjust using this and the small adjustment screw.

[Instar]

Hey samiam! How are you doing in HI? Is that where you are?

The eye piece goes on the end opposite the glass wedge. The lense barrel goes inside of it and is probably tapered or keyed so that it only goes in one way. Since they didn't take the flap off, the scale will be on that lense barrel. It will only be in focus and right side up when its in correctly. Right side up is when the glass wedge is on the up side as the entire instrument is held horizontal to the ground. The scale should also read perfectly horizontal to the ground across, highest numbers to the top, lowest to the bottom. If you can't see that, its not in correctly. The lens may flip the scale so you will have to look thru it all to see if its in correctly. It might be marked with a notch somewhere. Look for that. To check for deviations, use RO/DI for the zero and then you will have to obtain a standard/control to check for other points on the scale. We usually use at least 2 check points, a low and high s.g. control. If you can't find any of that, pm me and we'll figure out something.

[samiam_orami]

think I've got it put back together (sort of)
I can see the scale, its upright, but very very blurry ....

thanks for the info ...

may try sending it back to Dr Fosters to see if they can tune it up for me ....

I figured I would need some sort of water sample to calibrate to but I fear
that may be difficult to mind in my immediate future ...

will keep you all informed ....
life is good ....
Hawaii is beautiful ! ! !

[Instar]

Is there a thread in there to twist and focus? Most eyepieces will turn a little to focus. Dr Fosters is a warehouse. The best you can hope for is that they would replace it although for the cost of shipping to and from HI, just buy a replacement there. So, when will you have a huge show tank and host a meeting again? :lol:

[Ram_Puppy]

Sam, try this before you send it back, there is a formula for making a homeade calibration solution via table salt and pure water in the article, specifically for calibrating refractometers I think (didn't read it all)

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/

I need to come visit! ;)