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Buying a used Astra Pro

Postby willy68 on Sat Dec 18, 2010 12:11 am

I am looking to upgrade to a HX machine. Have been planning on an Anita, but a friend of a friend has an Astra Pro for sale. I am not familiar with this company/machine. Looking for advice on purchasing the Astra or continue saving up for the Anita.
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Postby another_jim on Sat Dec 18, 2010 1:09 am

People's experience with these machines has not been good. There are some very poorly conceived design changes compared to the standard E61-clone. A protruding shower head/tamper creates channeling, and an overly large capacity, unjetted and untempered heat exchanger and thermosyphon system reduces the temperature stability and makes temperature management impossible.
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Postby rbh1515 on Sat Dec 18, 2010 11:00 am

I will disagree somewhat with Jim. I had an Astra Gourmet, which has fairly similar components. The self tamping issue is easily rectified--Astra will sell you a dispersion block that is half the thickness. Easy fix!
On my machine I did have to run the pump for about 5-6 sec to get the temp down.
The machine is very well made and there is great support.
Rob
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Postby MikeyDo on Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:14 am

another_jim wrote:People's experience with these machines has not been good. There are some very poorly conceived design changes compared to the standard E61-clone. A protruding shower head/tamper creates channeling, and an overly large capacity, unjetted and untempered heat exchanger and thermosyphon system reduces the temperature stability and makes temperature management impossible.


Jim,

A conventional shower head answers one of your concerns, but can you explain a bit more about the differences in the heat exchanger and thermosyphon system? What are the specific Astra differences from other E61 clones?
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Postby malachi on Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:50 am

I used an Astra in a commercial environment for about 9 months.
Perhaps the worst machine I've ever worked on.
"Taste is the only morality." -- John Ruskin
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