Fracino Retro lever machine

BLrdFX · December 2012

on 1356295714:

Elektra (and I believe Victoria Arudino) make a couple if models with that kind of look.

I had a couple of shots on a Victoria Arudino yesterday and it does as nice a job as it looks. Now the looks are the hand hammered copper and I am not sure if that could be replicated in vinyl. Cheers! Stephen

Koffee_Kosmo · December 2012

on 1356299676:

I had a couple of shots on a Victoria Arudino yesterday and it does as nice a job as it looks. Now the looks are the hand hammered copper and I am not sure if that could be replicated in vinyl. Cheers! Stephen

Not sure if this will suit - http://www.tri-kes.com/products/product-search/results/Colorway/show/XQ-HM-10/ A few other types available if look arround KK

Ol Grumpy · December 2012

What a great thread.... There are certainly some real nuggets and gems scattered through the posts... As you are aware, selling a commodity, as you are, you need to stand out in the market. The Kombi will do that for you, as a delivery device, if done properly. Here in Oz it is the sun-bronzed surfie/lifesaver image... You know your market and what will appeal and put a smile on the face of wide demographic. The van may catch the eye *but* The thing that sells is the *STORY* that you tell... That will be the difference between selling a few coffee's and having a throng of raving fans... The fact you are using a lever machine is such a wonderful and powerful marketing tool- but only if you extract the "story" and then share the love with your audience... Ahh yes... You must treat your fans as an audience and engage them, involve and entertain them... Why do people whinge and moan about paying $3- for a coffee but think nothing of paying $200- or $500 or more for a ticket to a concert... Because they are totally immersed in an emotional feel good ride... Don't underestimate the true power of those last few words... Why buy a lever coffee- because the coffee is 'made with love'... If you really want to take business to another level give each lever a 'name' and build a fan club around each lever... :success unlimited! (Yes! I mean that literally-in every sense of the concept) Don't give away a loyalty card- have a hostess and sell a fan club membership... The *money* (read millions) is in the list! You build a list- you write a newsletter to your members and you inform and engage them and occasionally make 'offers'... Sell advertising space, etc, etc, etc.... This right here is where 'the millions' is hiding in your business... Pick up a major woman's magazine.... Women live for/love these.... Your van needs to be a real live living moving breathing woman's magazine.... Every time it pulls up it needs a little romance, a little gossip, a little sense of real life drama... Engage all those women in all those offices in a little real life love and drama and they will be your single greatest asset! BTW... Where will all the boys go? Answer: Where all the girls are going. 'Celebrities' are surprisingly cheap and add much to the theme... Coffee is so much more an experience than a drink.... Best wishes with your venture.... Luv it.... Luv it..... Luv it... And pls do keep us posted.... Ps. You may not realise it but that right there is a loose framework for a $150,000 business plan.... You can post my cheque, after you make your first million... Pps. Would you like to know the 'secret sauce' of the 'Star Wars' success or perhaps why 'Avatar' was such a compelling story? Well ok I'll share some Xmas cheer... Google "The Hero's Journey" and you will find the story template on which the previous two stories and so many other blockbusters are based... Even with the little you have shared you should clearly recognise so many elements of this story that you already have... Good luck! PPPS. You only have perhaps 3-5 minutes with your fans each day. So, clearly not one second of that time can be left to chance! Every second counts! Absolutely nothing is left to 'chance'.

BLrdFX · December 2012

on 1356301793:

Not sure if this will suit - http://www.tri-kes.com/products/product-search/results/Colorway/show/XQ-HM-10/ A few other types available if look arround KK

Exactly! Thanks for the link, I just might have to put some on the Londinium that is on its way to me

That was a good find. Cheers, Stephen

Ratrodzcafe · March 2013

Few pics without the handles,will get a few more up and get a bit of a review done over the next few days:)

derrilex · March 2013

on 1356304993:

Ps. You may not realise it but that right there is a loose framework for a $150,000 business plan.... You can post my cheque, after you make your first million...

Thats about 6 million in business advice so far OG :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: and good advice it is too :thumb:

Ratrodzcafe · March 2013

Modified the handles a little,gonna do some regular shaped ones too:)

derrilex · March 2013

Holy dooly Ratrod. Turned timber, resin, now carvings. Sweet. How are they on the hands ?

Ratrodzcafe · March 2013

For the first pair out of the mould they turned out pretty good. Not much difference in size compared with the originals,colours were a little flat so something a little stronger next time.

Ol Grumpy · March 2013

Shake a Bananarama Batman! That's splenderishus...

derrilex · March 2013

Out of the mold. So they are are resin, cool. Epoxy or polyester ?

Ratrodzcafe · March 2013

Another attempt,went off a little too soon but closer to the colours im aiming for. Polyester at the moment,is cheaper to experiment with

Kelsey · March 2013

That'll be a fantastic look.

derrilex · March 2013

Polyester is the only way to go I reckon :thumb:

Ol Grumpy · March 2013

@D You must be brave soul exposing yourself to Styrene and the whole raft of extremely toxic and carcinogenic VOC's that go with it... Sure Polyesters are cheap- but very, very nasty, too! The Vinylesters are only a step away... Sure, Epoxies have sensitivity/resistance issues but they remain the king of resins... Remember, if the stink doesn't give you pause.... The stuff that kills you can be colourless, odourless and absorbed through the skin.... Liquid contact not required... There's a very, very good reason why most so called '1st world' countries have completely banned this stuff from hand lay up.... If there's a mrs D and thoughts of future (or current) little D's, then there's no safe place for this stuff to be around... :cold chill down the spine intended...

derrilex · March 2013

Yep mask up (most of the time) and fan ventilation. Problem with epoxies is they are not UV stable - any of them. All of them will go yellow with UV exposure whereas poly is as good as gold. Poly is also cheaper and stronger and much more resistant to high temperature without spending a fortune on specialist epoxies. Resin casting in colour is ok with epoxy if using solid colour. Clear casting with epoxy, forget it. Even the UV inside a house will turn epoxy yellow -just look at floorboards. For clear casting absolutely nothing beats polyester resin. Most of the old school surfboard makers are still alive and kicking too :D

Ol Grumpy · March 2013

Yeah, kinda agree... UV does need to be considered.. What you call a problem... I call a feature... It's called 'patina'. It's only with 'clears' this is an issue. I've never seen an epoxy that gives the absolute water clear finish, like on your 'terminator' handles- they are top notch 'special'- not knocking your work- I love it! The answer to the uv issue is achievable (not perfectly) with absorbers, and correct finishing. Floorboards should be finished with a clear polyurethane and then if kept 'waxed' as a maintenance schedule they can last, well, till the polyurethane wears through- and then urethane should be re-applied.... With care a floor can easily last hundreds of years with only the natural darkening of the timber under the coating and a deep 'patina' and character being developed.... There is no such thing as a 'maintenance free' finish is there? With Polyester it's failing is that throughout it's life, it (constantly) continues to absorb water and break down... Blistered gel coat and what the ignorant boatbuilding industry call 'osmosis' is not a 'sickness' as is commonly purveyed- but rather a predictable feature/failure of a shitty product. When Polyesters cure their molecules (in simple layman terms) form into long chains which spiral around each other and are inherently weak and brittle- almost glasslike in character compared to epoxies which whilst curing form into more of a a cross-linked matrix with multiple cross-links on each molecule... A much superior matrix that allows epoxies to be formulated into much more flexible, tougher, stronger, etc product than a Polyester will ever be able to be. That's the great strength and weakness of epoxy- because it can so readily be formulated to maximise certain requirements or characteristics by the Industrial Chemist formulating it- each formulation will have a comparatively more specialised application. You can see this with West brand epoxy where there are various different 'hardeners' for the same resin- each one emphasising certain characteristics... Heat: Even garden grade epoxies only begin to soften at 60C... It's anecdotal but proves a point that Araldite is an epoxy formulation that has been used by countless urban and bush mechanics for many years to 'glue' the pot handle back on the pot, or the exhuast bandage, etc, etc, etc.... My point is that in the application being discussed the (practical temperatures being discussed) are a non-issue. Just like the strength issue is a non- issue, because even though polyester resins are weak and brittle by nature- they are still 'strong enough' for the casting of accessory coffee machine handles.... Anyway, it's your poison you choose to use and you can use it any way you like.... As to your throw away line about the Ol Timer shapers still being around... Be careful there because for every one you can show me that is still around... I'm absolutely certain I can show you 10 more who have taken an early dirt nap..... Question is which group would you rather be in? Anyway, clearly I know much more about epoxy resins than I do about coffee- but given this is a coffee forum I will now shut my cake hole and allow the thread to remain/go back on topic....

Ol Grumpy · March 2013

@Ratrodzcafe I can't wait to see these handles set up in th Kombi.... I love your concept, it's so much fun.... Hopefully will be a good little earner too....

derrilex · March 2013

I'm touched OG with your concern for my health :D In all seriousness, Before I got into the resin stuff I did some googling, as you do and found the overwhelming majority of people use poly. The main reasons are cost of the product ( about 1/3 to 1/2 the price of epoxy), the ease of use ( no where near as critical on the mix ratio as epoxy) and the end result, particularly if clear casting. I've tried both and have settled on poly for the above reasons. A few of the woodturning guys use epoxy to clear cast waste wood, nuts, pinecones etc.... but a lot still use poly for pen blanks of all colours and clear casting of feathers, nuts, chain, cable, fish hooks, bones - you name it. One of the main cons when casting in poly is the shrinkage, but it works in your favour too by popping from the mold a bit better. However, I haven't done anything for well over 6 months now

Ratrodzcafe · March 2013

Im actually having a lotta fun experimenting with moulding and casting,im hoping i will be able to incorporate it into my whole grand scheme:) The vids u have up were a big help derrilex,only problem is now ive got more ideas and not enough time to do anything. How come u never did any matching sets, tamper handle and base;) Theres already been a few enquiries abt the handles so am thinking of expanding the range a little when i get some free time. Few other random ideas floating around my head too,now i just gotta see if its all doable!

derrilex · March 2013

on 1363262430:

How come u never did any matching sets, tamper handle and base;)

There was no demand for it

Ratrodzcafe · March 2013

I might be in need of a matching set:) If you start pouring again with the first bit of cash this brings in i think i will invest in a decent handle and holder.

Koffee_Kosmo · March 2013

The lever pull handle, Porta filter and steam/water knob set that Derrilex made for the Strega is still in use and still looks like new If anyone wants to have a look please see thread on Resin Handles - http://www.bestcafes.com.au/forum/accessories/custom-resin-handles/msg31179/#msg31179 KK

derrilex · March 2013

on 1363338636:

I might be in need of a matching set:) If you start pouring again with the first bit of cash this brings in i think i will invest in a decent handle and holder.

When I say " no demand for it" I sort of meant no demand for it for the money they would cost. Truth be told, I make more money as a chippy in 10 minutes than I do out of 1 tamper stand that takes 2.5 hours to make. Its a labour of love but it doesn't pay the bills and more often than not doesn't even cover the costs :D A PF handle takes about 4 hours to do if everything goes perfectly. So 4 hours labour plus the product plus hardware every handle should be about $ 300 to make it viable. See what I mean :D

Ratrodzcafe · March 2013

Quick action shot, pressure on the retro is down a little but its an easy fix. A little more tweaking and should be perfect:)

derrilex · March 2013

Looks tops :thumb:

Brett H · March 2013

Yummy... Lucky customers!

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