An alcohol refractometer can help you determine quickly the alcohol content of liquor, wine, beer, juices, and a variety of other liquids. Many of the refractometers on the market are made of plastic. However, people who work with alcoholic beverages or industrial fluids on a regular basis believe that metal refractometers provide more accurate measurements and that they simply stand up better over time.

The RHW alcohol refractometer is a metal device that, according to manufacturers, provides you with fast, accurate results. However, it should be pointed out that it, like most refractometers, is more effective with pure alcohols such as liquor grain than it is with liquids such as red wine and wheat beer. With those materials, it's often best to manufacture a distillate for testing.

The measuring procedure isn't difficult, but there are a few steps that you should keep in mind each time you're checking the content of a liquid. First, you should always clean the alcohol refractometer before using it. Once the sample liquid is in place, you should monitor the refractometer to make sure that no air bubbles are appearing. If this does occur, there's a good chance that the accuracy of the measurement will be compromised.

There are slight variations from one refractometer to the next, so it's important to receive a breakdown of the measuring procedure when you purchase the tool. Many pieces will come with a range of scales that allow you to breakdown measurements in different terms. They should also come with all of the necessary calibration tools.