Ponte Vecchio Lusso - advice please?

Moon

on 1384225833:

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

Koffee_Kosmo

on 1384225481:

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.

Mine is engineering grade and it cost about $35 from memory However if you search eBay you will find similar ones that will do the one job fine Make sure you get the right size as it's a one time only job KK

Ol Grumpy

Oh well, that's my lunchtime entertainment over.... Back to work for me... Gotta love the iPad....

C-man

I just took a clamp and clamped mine to something (a stair tread in my case) then just drilled it out with a simple wood hole saw just use the right size hole saw brass is very soft cuts through like butter, just hold it steady then gave it a little sanding to smooth it a little Lacehim looked at mine and said it was fine you will loose the chrome where it was drilled, same with a lathe.

Moon

Checked out eBay for the metal drill saw bits. Very cheap at $8-11 for the 38-42mm bits only the delivery can take 2-4 weeks and I'd like to get it done well before that. Was going to give the wooden drill saw a go like c-man has suggested .. as any problem with that i can easily just drill and file .. seeing the brass is soft. Went to Bunnings to get some proper sized bolts to secure my vice to the workbench ..  and asked one of the blokes in the trade section whether he knew anyone with a lathe. He suggested using an angle grinder with a thin metal grinding disk. I do have an angle grinder .. so this idea became a contender. Although the depth of the PF is considerably more than the basket .. there is not much metal to grind due to only about 3mm of metal to grind below where the handle joins .. and most of this is the thickness of the base. Grinding would go close to ending up flush .. and it would still need filing flat. Although a lathe would be ideal .. being a DIY job doesn't require perfection .. it only needs to end up neat .. regardless of the hack job it takes to get there. I'm holding off until it dries up. Have to join some extension leads out in the open to get power to my little workshop. It's jobs like this one .. which is why it would be great to have your shed/workbench nice and clear .. tidy.. and with all your tools organized so that you can find the things you need easily. Well .. that's the dream. Man .. the thought of watching that gloopy golden flecked coffee dripping down from the basket is all the incentive I need.  :P

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The coffees are going pretty well .. although the pour is a bit slow. It is taking a few pulls on the lever during pre-infusion before any drips appear from the PF. I am tamping firmly, as previously it was pouring too quickly.. especially when you do the 2nd pull to get a larger volume shot .. as the puk of grinds must loosen or soften on the 2nd pull allowing the water to quicken due to less resistance. Still tinkering with the grind setting and tamp pressure. There's something not quite right with the flavour of the coffees I'm making .. even using different brand/beans. My latest move is to back the fine grind off a tad at a time .. while maintaining the same tamp pressure. I'm grinding 20g of beans and tamping to 3mm from the top of the basket. I've noticed some tiger flecking in the pour .. and a bit more crema. Getting there .. it's not happening overnight .. but it will happen.  8) Edit: Backing the grind setting a bit & then a bit more got rid of that yucky cardboard taste and is smoother now. Pour was good even though it took a few pulls to get it started.

littleroundman

You may like to try pulling down the lever fully and holding it there for 7 - 10 seconds before letting it go. Together with a polish only tamp with a close fitting tamp which ensures the puck is level, it works for me

Moon

Because of the no tamp .. just polish method .. I adjusted the grind back finer. No drips after holding the lever down for 10 secs .. still took a few short pulls to get it started The pour was a little quick but the taste of the coffee was definitely more to my liking. Appears like the pre-infuse .. then the water pressure does the necessary tamping of the grinds? I will try a slightly finer grind again in order to slow the pour a little.  :coffee2: little .. after you've  polished .. what is the level of your grinds in relation to the top of the basket?

conikal

... suggested using an angle grinder with a thin metal grinding disk. I do have an angle grinder .. so this idea became a contender. ..I'm holding off until it dries up. Have to join some extension leads out in the open to get power to my little workshop.

You know, that is a 5 min job with a hacksaw..and probably  a cleaner cut too. ! :thumb:

Ol Grumpy

on 1384466192:

You know, that is a 5 min job with a hacksaw..and probably  a cleaner cut too. ! :thumb:

+1  a perfect example of why should *never* get advice from the very well meaning but I'll advised Bunnies staff... Following this logic, perhaps a chainsaw would be "quicker" Using this logic is like considering mowing your lawn with a chainsaw...... : intentionally exaggerated That's the problem with 'free' advice... I've been a specialist tradie for 30+ years. The market dictates I must do 'Free Quotes'. I am very open and honest with my clients so they can understand why they need to pay me $5K for a job they 'think' can be fixed for $500-.... I've lost count of the number of times clients ring me back 6 months later to 'proceed' and I discover that the delay was because, "The Bunnies man told me this $50- can of 'super goop' would fix my problem....."  Yeah, Right! : rant over

Moon

on 1384467066:

+1  That's the problem with 'free' advice... "The Bunnies man told me this $50- can of 'super goop' would fix my problem....."  Yeah, Right! : rant over

In my local Bunnies .. if I need some advice from a person I think has been employed because of their Tradie experience, I seek out this older grey haired bloke who at least looks like he knows what he's talking about. This bloke told me lots of people chase him up for the same reason.. cause most of the rest of the staff are around 20 years old (sorry girls) I can't recall him saying he was a Tradie .. so for all I know his 'experience' may be limited to the odd job around home? Same may apply with the blokes around in the Trade section? Too bad they don't have a few staff wearing a T-shirt with 'I'm a Tradie - ask me?' printed on it. So .. new hacksaw blade eh? .. that's a cheap fix .. or should I skip all the foreplay and just pay a Pro .. like Grumpy $1k to get the job done properly?  :laugh:

Koffee_Kosmo

I laid out the best and correct procedure to achieve the best result for your PF conversion to a naked PF It's also quicker - I would say that it can be done in 15 minutes ( including set up ) KK

conikal

on 1384470408:

I laid out the best and correct procedure to achieve the best result for your PF conversion to a naked PF It's also quicker - I would say that it can be done in 15 minutes ( including set up ) KK

You are 100% correct ...providing you have the tools/facilities/resources available for that method. ..BUT, if you dont have that tool, or the power cable etc, etc,  to use that method,  you have to either,.. not do it,  delay , or find another method. :tearhair:

UNM

Regarding searching out tradies at Bunnings to get good advice. Bear in mind they are quite possibly just as full of crap and ill informed as anybody else. Probably more so. Ask b yourself this, if they know what they are doing, couldn't they do better than work at Bunnings? All advice needs to be considered on its  merits and your personal requirements. Just because you pay for advice doesn't guarantee the quality of it. I used a cheap hole saw from Bunnings and a hand held electric drill to make my naked filter handle. Worked fine, saw  was a bit blunt by the end as it was cheap steel, but I didn't care. An angle grinder will work, but it slips is more likely to cause damage because of the angle you are working at. The filter holder shape helps keep a hole saw aligned as you cut. The above advice is valued at $278.50+GST incidentally. You will be glad to know I can waive the charge for the first person to accept it as a one time only promotional deal ;D

Moon

Thanks fellas .. much appreciated I've just been to Bunnies to get the bolts to secure my vice. I'll make a coffee first <--mandatory .. to have with a gasper <--- optional .. and then venture out into the shed to get the job done. I'll use KKs method .. but trying a wood drill saw  .. seeing I don't have the upmarket metal version.

Moon

Mission accomplished One mighty fine looking naked PF  :thumb: Followed KKs instructions .. cheers  [ 15 mins --> lol ] c-man was right .. the drill wood saw did the job .. albeit slowly .. but surely. conikal is also on the money - you need the right tools and they need to be sharp. Grinding off the spouts using a bench grinder was too slow so I gave up on that .. luckily the round wood saw size I used was just wide enough to cut around the outside of that thick brass Very happy with the result .. suppose I better go fire up the coffee machine for a peek .. and a celebration brew. :coffee2:

Ol Grumpy

That's a shame.... I was kinda hoping you would bring it to @Cmans house warming so we could all watch him demonstrate the 'stair-tred' method..... : pan BTW for $1k, I would do it for you and deliver back a Guaranteed Individually  exclusive18 Carat Gold Plated Nekid Portafilter, with a Ringtail Custom "Terminator" Resin Handle, Guaranteed to satisfy the most discerning tastes.... : Yes, I'm serious.

Moon

Tell yer what Grumps .. I was starting to think more seriously about it myself. No sooner than I connected up the extension lead outside .. when it started to rain Decided to use my bench grinder to grind off the spouts .. took bloody ages and chucked in the towel. The vice I was going to use to hold the PF when drilling just missed out on fitting .. so I couldn't use it The Bench drill chuck was all rusty and wouldn't hold the small drill bit tight to drill the center hole The drill in the drill saw was blunt as buggery .. and my drill set only went up to the drill size just smaller. When I center punched the middle of the underneath of the PF .. the tip of the centre punch broke off. The handle in the Vertical drill to lower the drill chuck was in the wrong position but was jammed so I couldn't take it out to put in the right spot The wood saw must be over 20 years old .. and an el-cheapo at that.. but managed to crawl to the finish line. *Overall .. I'd say I had a bloody good time of it  :tearhair:

conikal

:thumb: ..Top result Moon.   sounds like a classic piece of farm/Bush engineering !  :thumb: I actually envy you , since i have spent the afternoon trying to fix a ..(wait for it...) .Hair dryer !  :head:   Stupid device only had a fractured power lead, but in order to replace it i needed those special "Security Torx" drivers of some miniscule size never used on anything else.....so i have been tooling around "Yuppy land" ( north sydney) seeking out a decent tool shop.( way out numberd by coffee roasters in that area)

Moon

on 1384489907:

:thumb: ..Top result Moon.   sounds like a classic piece of farm/Bush engineering !

They should do some re- runs of that show 'Bush Mechanics' with the Aboriginal blokes. Funny as.. I only caught one episode where they replaced their cars broken tail-shaft with a tree branch .. and it worked. After seeing that stuff .. anything's possible.

Koffee_Kosmo

Well done Moon  :thumb: Don't forget to post some photos KK

Moon

Oh Man .. just watched the tiger flecking .. then it turned out the best coffee so far. Yeah.. baby!

Moon

on 1384491254:

Don't forget to post some photos

Yeah .. I've taken some of the boiler insulation too. How do I post photos in here? Do I use a link to my flickr a/c ..  or is there another method .. like a button below with 'add photo' written on it - would be kinda cool eh?

Koffee_Kosmo

Yes press the button marked Choose File Then choose from the drop down panel you're choice or style of attachment ( on right ) Press More attachments to add multiple photos Keep to the file size requirements KK 

Moon

Boiler and hot pipes insulated with Insulbrite. Both ends are insulated with 5mm cork sheeting.  Cork was used as Insulbrite contains some metal threading which shouldn't be used close to wiring. The cork shields the electrical connectors and wiring from the boiler heat .. as well as moisture & potential water leaks. Nylon ties are used to secure the padding.

conikal

see . "Attach: " .... Its at the bottom when you are in the "reply" window

Moon

Top pic is underside 2nd pic is topside

Moon

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Moon

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Moon

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Brett H

Great pics mate!!