Dioptric Oil

[Flyman]

My optical moisture meter needs to be calibrated with "Dioptric Oil". It did not come with any and was wondering what this stuff is and what may be a suitible substitute. I did google the stuff and found lots of information. Just wondering about anybody with actual experience.

[Bee Draggle]

You need to contact the company that made the refractometer and ask for the appropriate dioptric oil. The oil is used inconjuction with a small plastic calibration block that should have come with your refractometer. Ask for that too if you don't have it. You put a thin coat of oil on the small plastic block and place it on the refractometer where you would normally put honey. Then you can calibrate your meter by turning a screw. Your instructions should tell you what number to clibrate it to. If your refractormeter is a recent purchase you should complain that you do not recieve the oil for calibration. Ebay has sellers that like to forget the oil. I've been through all of this last summer.

[Ardilla]

The oil has a specific refractive index - using a substitute would probably shift the calibration a little.