A couple weeks ago when I was brewing, I noticed something odd. After I started the mash, I carried the rest of my equipment, including my refractometer outside. I figure this would be a good time to calibrate it, so I do so. I then set it back on the table in the sun. A couple hours later, as my wort is coming to a boil, I think "Maybe I'll double check that calibration before I measure the pre boil gravity". It turns out, it had managed to lose its calibration over the course of two hours. The only thing I can think of is that it was sitting on a table in the sun, and was noticeably warm to touch when I picked it up the second time. Now, my refractometer supposedly automatically corrects for the temperature of the sample, but can the temperature of the refractometer itself actually skew things?
On another note, I calibrate with tap water, as DI is not handy; will this make any measurable difference?