I received a very nice surprise when I opened my LM portafilter, what a nice portafilter! I also had one of the thinner 8mm gaskets but even with that the portafilter would not tighten any tighter than the 7 o'clock position (with appropriate resistance).



I didn't want to hack at this beautiful new portafilter and I dreaded a mod that would be visible. Why make such a nice looking piece of equipment look ugly?

The solution was simple first I gathered the tools I would need: (All-purpose sand paper sheet)




By holding the portafilter it was easy to sand off the top lip of the portafilter to shorten the length between the basket rim and bottom of the portafilter ear. Other modifications that I saw involved milling the ear leaving raw brass exposed. I didn't want that look.


Here my other hand is holding the camera, but you get the idea.

The results after about 10 minutes (its slow but you'll have complete control and end up with a clean and level edge!



Having done this I've seen that not too much is needed to be taken off. Above is the finished product and now my Quickmill double basket, Synesso triple ridgeless and LM double fit wonderfully (with or without the portafilter spring). Also the best part is the filter basket completely covers the modified edge (which if using a sandpaper fine enough will be smooth and very even). You could use a coarse then finish with fine grit too.



The portafilter should now fit perfectly!

The Scace II is built on a bottomless LM portafilter. The lugs were a hair too long to fit the group in my Elektra. I trimmed the length and rolled the edges and thinned the lugs, then polished it all off using a Dremel.

Hello Dave,

I actually just did that modification to my new Rancilio bottomless from Chris*. Oddly the portafilter did not fit my group near as well as the last one I had. I confirmed it was the portafilter (as I just had the screen/gasket off) by testing with my other portafilters and baskets.

Looking at it I really like the exposed brass look (man I had no idea I was this vain) as it matches the brass ring left from Lino's cut. Still a remarkable portafilter even if I had to file it a bit (thank goodness brass is so soft). Best of all the fit is now perfect (even better than my stock Anita portafilter handle).

*Note to readers the portafilter issue I had was a quirk of the original portafilter's shape and size and in no way was related to the bottomless modification. I highly recommend this portafilter.

A triple basket lover I see. The only triple I have uses was on a LM. One of these days I need to order one.

cannonfodder wrote:A triple basket lover I see. The only triple I have uses was on a LM. One of these days I need to order one.

I'll admit I've been using my triple baskets a lot here lately and really enjoying the results (I also blame Mr. Rosenthal. ) granted I use my convex tamper. I took the photo above with the LM basket that Chris sells with the portafilter to show the modification on the portafilter as purchased.

My favorite (becasue it goes easier on me) is the Synesso triple ridgeless basket from EPNW. The LM is ok but its not as forgiving with me. YMMV.

I just modified my LM portafilter as described above. I used a circular motion over the portafilter with the small sander block. It took 3 minutes to go from an almost perfect fit to a perfect fit. It looks great and I finished it off with a very fine grit to get it perfectly smooth.

Thank you for such a great simple idea. The LM is such a wonderful portafilter. It is all I use with Vetrano.

SLC wrote:I just modified my LM portafilter as described above. I used a circular motion over the portafilter with the small sander block. It took 3 minutes to go from an almost perfect fit to a perfect fit. It looks great and I finished it off with a very fine grit to get it perfectly smooth.

Thank you for such a great simple idea. The LM is such a wonderful portafilter. It is all I use with Vetrano.

Your welcome! Its great to hear that it worked as well for you as it has for me and I agree the LM portafilter is a piece of luxury. I love mine!

Yes, the "Synesso" 18g basket is the basket I keep going back to. Good combo with the LM PF.

Mark

Great guide. Did this today with my LM portafilter and it was so easy and now it does fit great in the Silvia. Although it is a lot easier to insert than it is to take it out. But hey, it fits.

Thought I would also add, this is a VERY simple mod, and I think it looks better then taking a dremel to the ears. I used 200grit wet/dry sandpaper for the bulk of the work. Once I got the PF to lock in where I wanted it, I then used 400/600/800/100/1400grit wet/dry sandpaper to get a super smooth, babys-butt finish. The PF locks in at about 5:50, and if I felt the urge, I could crank it to about 5:30...but I wont be doing that ever.

And, for anyone reading this, considering getting a LM PF.. DO IT. I bought the "newer" rubber-handled, 15-degree, Portafilters. I had EPNW Bottom it out for me, and I included a new triple basket.

the LM PF is a pleasure to hold and use. The handle is a bit longer, which makes its fit in your hand literally like a glove. The rubber is a nice touch, and beats the pants of the bake-lite-type E-61 handles. Mine is bottomless, and even still, it is heavier the my spouted E-61's, and, it just looks friggin GREAT! The angled handle is nice for tamping.

Down the line, I will probably also buy a single-spout LM PF.. I really dislike double spouts, so when I do use a spout, its a single. But, bottomless is my main-squeeze.

Gosh, this thing is a piece of art.. Im very seriously considering buying one, spouted, and mounting it on my wall above my bar area. Obsessed?

Thanks Tim, I am SO GLAD I didnt have to take then dremel to the ears, this is a much cleaner, MUCH MORE FOOL-PROOF way of making it fit..