Trisha wrote:oofnik;

One is perfect for a fine drip grind (up here, drip pots brew a delicious cup if the grind is about half again as fine as commercial drip), and the other makes a perfect grind for the MCaL, and with a firmer tamp, a very acceptable shot from the Arc!

Interesting.. I didn't know elevation was such a prominent factor!

With a bit of cleaning, checking alignment, and some CLP break-Free on the top shaft bushing, both have their assignments and work very well.

I am toying with the idea of taking one of them apart and "freshening" up the burrs with a Dremel and some patience. I'll post pics and a description of the success/failure after all is said and done, though there's no timeframe to get into it.

Hmm, unless you've got a really steady hand, I don't think I'd want to do that. It would be next to impossible to keep the gaps within a reasonable tolerance by hand. But if you're up for it, I'd love to hear how that works out.

Have you pulled the grinder apart to check the condition of the lower burr? Considering the oxidization, it might be worthwhile to pull the bottom set-screw off and drop the burr to give it a little TLC. I asume you can tighten it all the way and lock the handle up?

Yeah, I took a look at the burrs and they seem to be in reasonably good shape. Pretty sharp, too. I even unscrewed the lower burr brace and attempted to recenter it using a flashlight and some not-so-accurate methodology.. I think I made a slight improvement.

As has been said, these were probably never ever designed to grind for espresso - it's just a delight that some/many can, and do it so very well!

Trisha

I know, surprising!

So, update. I tightened it to where the burrs exerted some force on each other. I ground a dose for my Factory, felt the consistency, and was pretty surprised to find little difference compared to my SM90. Packed the grinds into the PF, tamped, and gave it a try, and was disappointed to find very little resistance. The shot pulled in about ten seconds, but it had crema! Flavor was pretty bitter and thin, though, so I don't think this is going to work out. Guess I'll just have to keep looking.

If I get some time, I might actually build my own grinder using the same sort of adjustment mechanism out of the conical burrs from my old Pavoni grinder. Not likely anytime soon, but it's a thought.

I assume you had good fresh beans? Well, if so, and you're still getting 10 sec pours, try adjusting them even a little tighter (if possible). Also, try a fuller dose and or harder tamp.

I just pulled the first Dienes that I bought about 5 years ago out of the cabinet last night, ran a couple of teaspoons of whole dry brown rice through it, and tried it out this AM. No problem nearly stalling the Ponte Vecchio.

Yours may be beyond hope, but it may be worth trying the "rub em together till they re-align" method. You can use white rice for this, which will also clean the burrs thoroughly.

PC

I don't know about the Zass kneemills not being up to espresso grinding. My Zassenhaus kneemill is pretty new. Definitely an outsourced model. Tried to grind through a rock with it just after I got it but the burrs seemed to have survived. I've used it as a travel grinder for my Cremina and now for my Europiccola. I can grind fine enough to choke the Europiccola. The extractions are very good.

I've also tried using the Zassenhaus Turkish mill for lever extractions. It works very well too. Not hard to zero in on the grind.

Okay guys... You have peeked my interest. Also circumstances on the homefront have forced me to find a 'quieter' way of grinding for my thrice daily espressos. My daughter who has been staying with us since her husband was shipped to Iraq, has just had her 1st child (Dominic). It seems the decibel level from the screaming Nemox Lux did not set well with the little duffer.

Anyway I opted to try the manual crank route. Thanks to all of you who have given input on this forum and site! It was very valuable and I must say that I am now hooked. I hadn't anything to compare to the Lux in the past and I thought it was doing an admirable job. It turns out that the 1st manual I bought put the Nemox to shame. It is a Dienes 310... After tearing it apart and giving it a thorough cleaning I put it to the test to see how fine it could grind. It took about 2 minutes to grind 16.5 Grams of espresso and choked the '67 immediately! Wow... After fiddling with the grind setting for a while I am now getting a much superior grind to that of the Lux. Plenty of crema and the flavor is amazingly better and very smooth.

So being a proud carrier of the 'OCD gene' ... I have since begun hunting down other potential candidates for a limited collection of the smaller German and French grinders.

The Nemox Lux? It is stored in a cabinet now relegated to a future that is unknown at this time... perhaps a future Ebay sell candidate.

I haven't yet had to grind for visitors... but Xmas is just around the corner "OH BOY". I guess I could have friends and family grind their own. "Want a espresso? Here stick this between your knees and start cranking!"

peacecup wrote:I assume you had good fresh beans? Well, if so, and you're still getting 10 sec pours, try adjusting them even a little tighter (if possible). Also, try a fuller dose and or harder tamp.

I just pulled the first Dienes that I bought about 5 years ago out of the cabinet last night, ran a couple of teaspoons of whole dry brown rice through it, and tried it out this AM. No problem nearly stalling the Ponte Vecchio.

Yours may be beyond hope, but it may be worth trying the "rub em together till they re-align" method. You can use white rice for this, which will also clean the burrs thoroughly.

PC

Always fresh beans!

Yeah, I don't think it's going to happen. I tightened it to where it took considerable force to turn the handle and I still couldn't get longer than a 10-second pour. Oh well. I'll have to keep looking, I guess. Thank you for the suggestions!

The Nemox Lux? It is stored in a cabinet now relegated to a future that is unknown at this time... perhaps a future Ebay sell candidate.

Right on! Another satisfied customer! Please post a picture!

PC

Yeah, I don't think it's going to happen. I tightened it to where it took considerable force to turn the handle and I still couldn't get longer than a 10-second pour.

Well, sorry about this. It could still be useful for other brewing methods. I've never had to completely give up on a forged grinder with stepless adjustment, but others have said they have.

Again, if you've got the time you can try grinding white rice through it for a while at the very tightest setting. THis may take some time, because you need to wear the burrs until they mesh smoothly. And again, I'm only guessing on this.

Otherwise, you could try finding another. I've had at least 10 of the forged steel grinders that have worked for espresso.

PC

TUS172 wrote:It turns out that the 1st manual I bought put the Nemox to shame.

I don't doubt your experience, I only wonder why the manual results are superior. Does anyone have suggestions?
If I am not wrong the Nemox has stainless steel conical burrs. I'd expect them to be sharper than those of an old and worn off handmill. Is it about the build quality? Strangely I tend to think that the tolerances of a handmill might actually contribute to a more consistent grind. Might it have to do with the speed? Is it partly a psychological or subjective experience since we put our hands on?

oofnik wrote:I'll have to keep looking, I guess.

Look for grinders that are labelled mocca or mokka - they are usually best in the fine range.

Ogatasan Wrote:

Might it have to do with the speed?

Yes I tend to believe the speed of the burrs heat the espresso beans; perhaps causing more bitterness. I also noted the grind from the Dienes to be quite a bit more fluffy and packed better than from the Lux.

I get almost no clumping with the hand grinder.

One thing we have not discussed on this thread is STATIC. With the wood drawer grinders I seldom get any. But I live in a very humid environment where static electricity is very low. Any other users had static issues?