Ponte Vecchio Lusso - advice please?

Ol_Grumpy

Perhaps; Hacksaw & file(s)?.... Touch up with emery paper.... It might be a bit hard for someone less experienced than yourself Cman, to start a hole saw on a shiny smooth chromed curved surface.... : eek I wouldn't recommend it... But he's absolutely right... It can be done... And would not be 'that difficult' "IF" you are experienced and competent.... Like our Cman... You'd have to be very game or desperate to do it freehand... The minimum to do it predictably and relatively risk free would be a drill press and a decent solid vice to hold the portafilter square, plumb and stable... YMMV Really, it's a six-pack job for any competent lathe operator, who can quickly and easily round off the cut section- for a very professional looking and smooth finish that you cannot get with a hole saw or will waste many hours achieving by hand....

Moon

It is tempting to have a go .. although mucking it up would be a bit of a tearjerker. Centre punch for a small drill to get it centered .. I do have a bench drill and a small portable vice along with some round hole saw blades. Will have to check if I have the right size? I guess the worst that can happen is having to spend extra time filing it out after drilling a number of holes in the base if the round blades don't make the cut? Went to the Orphan Espresso site and saw the tampers .. wondering whether those aluminium PF funnels are worth getting for the extra $18 .. as the 45mm baskets are a bit small to catch the grinds from the grinder chute? Would be kinda neat to once filling the PF .. tapping on the bench and being able to tamp straight into the funnel collar .. then removing it and Bobs your Uncle. I've been grinding into a container, giving it a few shakes to break up the clumps .. and then using a teaspoon to load the PF. Not a particularly efficient way to go about it? Just wonder whether the tamper fits into the collar? Will have to shoot off an email to OE to find out?

Brett_H

I Did my La Pav naked on the drill press and then smoothed it off with the Foredom. A dremel would suffice. Easy and effective. I'm sure it could be messed up but you'd have to be really trying hard to make a disaster.

hiphipharar

It might be easier to just remove the spout from the group handle. It should screw off.

conikal

hiphipharrar wrote:

It might be easier to just remove the spout from the group handle. It should screw off.

..?? Tricky !

.... wondering whether those aluminium PF funnels are worth getting for the extra $18 ..

Try first with a cut down yogurt pot as a funnel, Settle the dose with a few taps on a rubber matt, then remove the funnel and tamp. It works for me..zero grinds outside the PF ....and zero cost for a trendy funnel ! :thumb:

littleroundman

hiphipharrar wrote:

It might be easier to just remove the spout from the group handle. It should screw off.

The spouts are integral with the group handle i.e. cast or machined in as per conikals' pic

littleroundman

Moon wrote:

Went to the Orphan Espresso site and saw the tampers .. wondering whether those aluminium PF funnels are worth getting for the extra $18 ..

I bought mine along with an OE boiler insulation kit and a tamper at the same time, so the freight was reasonable AND it was at a time the Oz dollar was high compared to the USD. Having said that, it works a treat and was worth every cent. Anyway, I buy my yoghurt in 2kg tubs and the damned things simply won't fit in a PV basket.

Koffee_Kosmo

Do you want to make it into a naked PF ? If so I can write a post of the step by step procedure KK

Brett_H

Koffee Kosmo wrote:

Do you want to make it into a naked PF ? If so I can write a post of the step by step procedure KK

That may save a lot of portafilters and fingers.

Moon

[quote author=littleroundman link=topic=5026.msg42620#msg42620 date=1384216951] The spouts are integral with the group handle i.e. cast or machined in as per conikals' pic At a guess, I took hyphi's suggestion as meaning the black plastic handle (that does screw off) .. perhaps to not damage it in a vice .. which is a good idea. Due to the grinds being above the basket .. the idea is to tamp the grinds down, and then take the collar off. Found 5 hole saws for my drill in the shed. Bugger .. are there 6 in a set? I'm missing the size I need? Sound familiar fellas? Man .. sorting out the shed so that I can find stuff .. is, ..you know, ... umm .. on the agenda Edit: Yeah KK .. that would be good :thumb: The idea of sending my one n only PF off for a week or so is .. err? <...........> <--- fill in this space 😢 I'm willing to accept that it may not turn out as slick as a machinist would do it .. but hopefully perfectly acceptable .. .. and not much inconvenience .. all going well? :o Ahh .. good news .. found the missing drill saw size .. it fits

Koffee_Kosmo

OK then The best and neatest way is to have it turned on a lathe Now the DIY method Step - 1) Find the exact centre and mark it on the spout side 2) Place the PF spouts facing up on a dowel or similar timber ( Remember to remove the basket ) 3) Use a hole punch and dint the brass on your centre mark 4) Drill a small pilot hole 5) Grind off the spouts as they may hinder the next step 6) Use a metal hole saw of appropriate size to drill through the brass area not wanted 7) Funish up with some wet and dry sand paper to smooth it out NOTE - If you can't borrow a metal hole saw it may cost as much to purchase one as taking it in to an engineering shop and have it done on a lathe KK

Moon

NOTE - If you can't borrow a metal hole saw it may cost as much to purchase one as taking it in to an engineering shop and have it done on a lathe Thanks for that KK :thumb: I did google and checked my local papers to find a lathe machinist to do it. Does an Auto workshop have a lathe setup? I've got some drill saws .. only I have no idea whether these are wood saws .. or can do metal? A poster on another thread said he bought a Stanley set that did the job nicely for $20. Upon this advice, another bloke tried and it didn't work for him. He may not have used a saw for metal? I guess if my saw doesn't work, as previously mentioned, I can drill more holes and get into some serious filing. As a previous poster said .. brass is relatively soft .. so plan B isn't that bad should my 1st attempt go belly up. Do I feel lucky? ps. I've got a new batch of beans arriving today and tomorrow .. so I might hold off a day or 2 so that I get to try them before taking the plunge .. in case Plan B ends up getting the gig?

Koffee_Kosmo

Metal saws are different to wood saws I have a 32 mm metal hole saw ? So if it suits I can post it to you ( I have to double check the size but I'm sure its 32mm ) KK

Moon

Thanks heaps for the offer KK I better go down to Bunnings and also Supercheap Auto to take a look at what they have and what the metal ones are like .. cost etc. I will also take one of mine and the PF to get some advice on what will do the job? As Lacehim suggested .. be patient.. so I'll do some research rather than be all gung-ho .. she'll be right mate - which is what you do when you're a bit wet behind the ears.

Koffee_Kosmo

Moon wrote:

Thanks heaps for the offer KK I better go down to Bunnings and also Supercheap Auto to take a look at what they have and what the metal ones are like .. cost etc. I will also take one of mine and the PF to get some advice on what will do the job? As Lacehim suggested .. be patient.. so I'll do some research rather than be all gung-ho .. she'll be right mate - which is what you do when you're a bit wet behind the ears.

Yes 32 mm And here's a couple of photos of my cutter and what they look like [attach=1] [attach=2] KK

Moon

Nice .. those pics sorted that out. The saws I have are definitely for wood only by the look of that chunky one. Can you recall how much it was at the time? .. to weigh up postage v purchasing one v machinist? I won't rush into it, and will also pop into a local Auto repair shop or 2 to see whether they have the facilities, cost etc.

littleroundman

Ol Grumpy wrote:

Not sure where you're getting your info re 'Tampers' here...

What we have here is a perfect example of the dangers of "late night search-itis"

Ol_Grumpy

Nice holesaw @KK, @Moon, that's a great offer from @KK... That's a proper Engineers holesaw, not a Bunnies bit'o'crap... Seriously, the job will be "SO" much easier and straightforward if you use the right and best tools for the job, rather than trying to make silk purses from sows ears..... Follow our sage's step by step process and you'll be fine.... And "yes" you really do need to grind/file the two spouts first... Be 'bold'... Grind em off.... @Moon, when you "quote" a post.... Go to the bottom of the quote and go outside the quoted post by starting a new lineand (return) before you start typing... You are typing inside the quote... You need to type outside the quote, if that makes sense....

Ol_Grumpy

littleroundman wrote:

What we have here is a perfect example of the dangers of "late night search-itis"

Aaah, yes, it's usually 'Beer Goggles' for me.... : Lol3

Moon

Ol Grumpy wrote:

Nice holesaw @KK, @Moon, that's a great offer from @KK... That's a proper Engineers holesaw, not a Bunnies bit'o'crap... Follow our sage's step by step process and you'll be fine....

Yeah .. it certainly is. Sold! :thumb: And .. thanks for the heads up on the quoting. Edit: So what is the right size for the 45mm Lusso PF? The smaller it is .. the more filing needs to be done. I'll check out eBay

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