Sacrifice which portafilter for bottomless, removing knobs and handles

[Fr. John]

A couple of questions for those in the know.

1. If you were going to sacrifice either a single or double spout PF, which would it be? I'm going to mill my own BPF.

2. Anyone know how:
a. PF handles are attached (in this case the Vetrano)?
b. to remove the knobs on a Vetrano steam & water controls?

I'm going to upgrade them all with handmade turned ones. I just don't like the stock black plastic.

[Ken Fox]

A couple of questions for those in the know.

1. If you were going to sacrifice either a single or double spout PF, which would it be? I'm going to mill my own BPF.

2. Anyone know how:
a. PF handles are attached (in this case the Vetrano)?
b. to remove the knobs on a Vetrano steam & water controls?

I'm going to upgrade them all with handmade turned ones. I just don't like the stock black plastic.

I don't know your portafiliters but all the commercial and semi commercial ones I have seen can be either singles or doubles depending on the spouts attached. I think you will find that after taking off the spout(s) that the PFs are both identical and therefore it doesn't matter as you can reconstruct whichever type you prefer from the remainder.

If this is not true in your case I would sacrifice the single because you can always use a double as a single by putting both spouts into a cup. In that rare instance where you might split a shot, this can be done easily with a double spouted PF but now with a single.

ken
p.s. most probably the PF handles screw in (most do) and I don't know your knobs but I'd guess they just pull straight off.

[RapidCoffee]

To remove Vetrano steam and water knobs, pry off the outer plastic disk. You'll need to pop off a locknut and washer; then the knob screws off. It's an integrated assembly, so check with Chris' Coffee before starting on a replacement knob.

[cannonfodder]

A couple of questions for those in the know.

1. If you were going to sacrifice either a single or double spout PF, which would it be? I'm going to mill my own BPF.

2. Anyone know how:
a. PF handles are attached (in this case the Vetrano)?
b. to remove the knobs on a Vetrano steam & water controls?

I'm going to upgrade them all with handmade turned ones. I just don't like the stock black plastic.

How to cut your own naked portafilter

The spouts will screw off, but they are tight on every portafilter I have worked on. Usually a pair of pliers wrapped in a towel to avoid marring works good, or a vice if you have one. I kept my doubles and cut my singles, with a bottomless, you are only going to pull into one cup, same with the single spout. If you change your mind, you can always unscrew the double spout and put the single on the extra portafilter.

The handle will unscrew from the portafilter head as well. Once again, it may be tight and a vice may be in order to break it free. I have turned (or my father turned for me) custom wood handles. If memory serves, I believe the bolt is a M10 or M12 size. My lever machine, Isomac, and Faema all use the same size.

[Fr. John]

Thanks for the tips and the pic. Very nice.

I will try and unscrew these handles but they certainly feel like they are not screwed on but rather cast directly to the PF. I hope I'm wrong.

[cannonfodder]

From the photos on ChrisCoffee, they appear to be the standard screw off handle. The handle stud may be molded into the plastic, but the handle itself should unscrew. I believe I put the head in a vice and used a pair of channel lock pliers to unscrew the handle. They usually put a drop of thread lock on them so getting it to break free may take some muscle.

[jesawdy]

For getting the spouts off of a Rancilio "Pro" portafilter, I locked the spouts into the vise of a Workmate stand. The Workmate I have has a wooden platform that works as a vice, so marring was less of a risk. I still really had to wrench the handle. My PF was used, so I wasn't sure if it was just that tight or if it was stuck together with coffee crud.

As to making a bottomless PF, my personal suggestion would be to buy one! Seems like a lot of trouble to get a less than perfect bottomless PF. I bought an OEM chromed job, similar to what EPNW sold during the HB Birthday celebration, but from another vendor (and for a lot more). I am a bit disappointed in it. Yes it is chromed, but is sorta light and as you may have seen in threads here, really sharp on the bottom.

The ones that Lino Verna machines (here) look awesome. Looks like the Rancilio will lock in on a Quickmill. EPNW sells as well, but you've worked with Chris on this purchase already.

-Jeff

[Ken Fox]

From the photos on ChrisCoffee, they appear to be the standard screw off handle. The handle stud may be molded into the plastic, but the handle itself should unscrew. I believe I put the head in a vice and used a pair of channel lock pliers to unscrew the handle. They usually put a drop of thread lock on them so getting it to break free may take some muscle.

If the handles are standard screw in handles, and if you don't care about the handles, you can give the handle (where the threads are inside) a hard knock or two with a hammer. I've done this on recalcitrant old Cimbali handles I wanted to replace with something else. Worked like a charm. The handle might end up with a little dent in it but if you're going to toss it anyway, this is a pretty fast way to get it off.

ken

[barry]

if the handle has a cap on the end of it, then that means it's a full-tang handle. remove the cap and there should be a nut under there. remove the nut and then hope the handle hasn't melded with the tang, and you might get lucky and be able to get it off with a few hammer taps.

i have no idea if that is the kind of handle you're dealing with, but as no one mentioned it, i thought i would.