best refractometer?

[wellcraft]

Hi guys and gals, what's the best refractometer out there with out braking the bank?
Are those from eBay any good?
Would like something accurate that doesn't need recalibrating every time I use it.
Read something about the one from marine depot that needs to be recalibrating every time.

Thanks in advanced.

 

[supra930]

I have one from drs foster and smith and it seems to work great.

 

[skriz]

I use the D&D one an the Milwaukee digital

 

[wellcraft]

Skriz;784218 wrote: I use the D&D one an the Milwaukee digital

What's your opinion with the Milwaukee?
What's d&d?

 

[mustangcaleb]

i have a $10 ebay refracto, ive had it for like 4 yrs and its checked out fine the few times ive taken it to lfs with me to have them check it to theirs

 

[wellcraft]

Never mind, I found what is D&D, how do you like it?

 

[jhutto]

Love the Milwaukee electronic one!

 

[wellcraft]

How easy is to work with the electronic one vs the other?
I've been reading and it seems that you need to recalibrate and clean the regular one every time you use it, it is the same with the Milwaukee electronic one?

 

[jhutto]

I do not clean or calibrate it each time. I just wipe the lens with a clean wet cloth after I finish.

I leave it out, turn it on, wait a few seconds, the squirt the new salt water or tank water to make sure it's right.

 

[wellcraft]

I see so many on eBay with a considerable price difference, from $17 to around $90. What could be the difference ?
I also notice that some of them have atc or auto temperature compensation plus they can measure true salt water, what should I look for when buying one?

 

[ralph atl]

This baby I've had for years, I have never had to calibrate it, albeit I check once a year or so with pinpoint solution.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12132">http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12132</a>

The cheap ones don't stay calibrated, so you will have to recalibrate often, and buy calibration fluid...might not adjust to temp either....

 

[acroholic]

Here's a review on the Milwaukee Instruments Digital Seawater Refractometer I did last year. Love it. One of the best pieces of reefing equipment I have bought.

 

[smallblock]

a calibrated one

 

[skriz]

wellcraft;784222 wrote: What's your opinion with the Milwaukee?
What's d&d?

Love both of them. The digital give you a digital reading: easy! The d&d is a high quality refrac that you have to read. Easy to use, but requires you to see the lines and read them (again, easy unless you have vision issues or poor lighting).

Both have ATC. You need ATC.

 

[ralph atl]

he already bought the Vital Sine....