Hi all,

I have an 18g VST basket which I've been getting the hang of over the last few days. I've been using a 58mm flat tamper and decided to bite the bullet and spring for a short Reg Barber. I went with a flat base as per VST's recommendation. I chose a 58.4mm base as this is the maximum diameter compatible with the VST basket. I guess my question is whether there is a chance that the 58.4mm tamper will fit the VST properly? I suppose my idea behind choosing the maximum diameter is to get as close to the basket wall as possible. Now I'm worried that I should have gone with a 58.2mm tamper just in case. Thoughts??

Have you measured the basket between the walls? At least as far as the tamper should fit, considering the higher dose you could use. I'll measure it as soon as I get it.

Márcio.

I've measured the 18g VST filter basket internally and it's 58.7mm. I think a tamper with 58.5mm should fit it very tight, maybe 58.4mm. The Cafelat tamper I have is 57.9mm.

Márcio.

I have been using the VST 18 gram basket for a few weeks now. I have a 58.6mm Euro Curve tamper from Reg Barber that will not fit. I also have a 58.3mm Euro Curve Reg Barber that fits snug, so much so that some of my friends prefer the 58mm. I wouldn't go any larger myself. My 9th Street EPNW 58mm works just fine and I find myself alternating between the 58.3mm and 58mm.

myspresso wrote:Hi all,

I have an 18g VST basket which I've been getting the hang of over the last few days. I've been using a 58mm flat tamper and decided to bite the bullet and spring for a short Reg Barber. I went with a flat base as per VST's recommendation. I chose a 58.4mm base as this is the maximum diameter compatible with the VST basket. I guess my question is whether there is a chance that the 58.4mm tamper will fit the VST properly? I suppose my idea behind choosing the maximum diameter is to get as close to the basket wall as possible. Now I'm worried that I should have gone with a 58.2mm tamper just in case. Thoughts??

Did your 58.4mm fit the VST?

myspresso wrote:my question is whether there is a chance that the 58.4mm tamper will fit the VST properly?

Yes, I'm using a 58.4mm flat bottom tamper and it works very well with the VST filters. I prefer the results now to the shots made previously with a 58.0mm round bottom tamper. This difference greatly surprised me, but that's the way it is. YMMV.

Hmmmm....looks like I need to go measure some of my tamper bases....

Generally, the tampers are accurate to their exact stated size, as their manufacturing is usually more precise. It is the basket(s) that vary slightly from one to the other.

Bear that on mind when you are asking each other if their XYZ millimeter tamper fits into a particular basket, or when asking another to measure their basket. While your tamper actual size will be the same, your basket actual size might not!

LaDan wrote:Generally, the tampers are accurate to their exact stated size, as their manufacturing is usually more precise. It is the basket(s) that vary slightly from one to the other.

Apparently you're not yet familiar with the somewhat controversial VST basket
http://store.vstapps.com/collections/fr...er-baskets

JonR10 wrote:Apparently you're not yet familiar with the somewhat controversial VST basket
http://store.vstapps.com/collections/fr...er-baskets

Jon,

I have 2 La Marzocco Strada baskets. 21g and 17g. The 21g is measured 58.6mm, the 17g is measured 58.9mm diameter.

The VST are 22g & 18g. Although my baskets don't say VST on them, they are to my limited knowledge manufactured the same way or by the same company. There is the bar code, the basket serial number, and the grams dosage marked on them, there is the document with the actual holes size distribution graph, and the photo of the holes just like VST. It is also mentioned in the attached document that the imagining is VST. There is the theoretical access to that rumored database. The price is identical $29.00.

You see I am careful not to say that these are VST baskets manufactured 1g smaller to LM specifications for their Strada machine - because I don't have the proof, knowledge or confirmation of that.

Their diameter is not identical as you can see above.

Do I know what is the actual diameter of VST? Nope. I see the post above that someone said 58.7mm. So now we have 3 different diameter sizes.

I double checked on VST website and there is no mention of the diameter of the baskets. The only reference to diameter is the recommendation to use tamper size 58.3 or 58.4mm.

I don't know if there is a difference between LM Strada and direct VST tolerances. I sent an email to VST this last Friday and did not receive a response yet.

Thus far, it look like the old advice still valid: Get your basket and see what diameter it is. We have posters here who said that there is a difference for them between the tampers sized 58.0 and 58.3 or .4 - Their tamper gets too tight, and some of their friends prefer the 58.0mm.

All of the above is leading me to believe that the diameter of the VST or Strada baskets is not made to precision.

Since you have much more experience than I have in this area, I would like to know your thoughts of the above?

Thanks,
Dan