I do not have any wood working equipment, but I have equipment for working with small metal parts, I have restored many research type microscopes. My brass La Pavoni Europiccola now has a bit more brass, namely a brass group handle. I made it from brass because brass is dense and it heavy enough so that the handle does not fly up as the machine cools. I also replaced the original steamer valve knob with a brass one.

Brass is not a good material for a porta filter handle because it gets too hot. I made this from Gabon Ebony. As I mentioned, I do not have wood working equipment, so I used a metal lathe to make this. Ebony is so hard that it almost behaves as metal. (I was careful to remove all saw dust, because metal lathes tend to catch swarf, and if left in place I am sure it would seriously damage a lathe.) Ebony is so hard that I cut threads directly in it to attach the portafilter. I realise that ultra hard wood like ebony can have problems with cracking from variable humidity. I immediately gave it repeated tung oil treatments until it would not soak up any more, then I let it cure a week and sanded it with very fine sand paper, and then rubbed it with steel wool. It is amazing how dark this wood really is. It has beautiful grain if one examine it close up.

I want to make a boiler cap from Gabon ebony sometime too, and also try to make another steamer valve knob, but this one from ebony instead of brass. This will certainly require a brass insert, because it will likely crack otherwise from the high temperatures.

Damn, that's pretty!

Handles done,
levers and knobs next.!

Wow. Beautiful handles and machine. Great photo too.

You gotta tell us what kind of wood! Those are beautiful^

Really neat!

thanks,

the wood is Cocobolo!

levers and one knob done.. looking good!!

Interesting design on the steam control. I have made stock like replacements for that machine but that is an novel design. Did you finish it with oil or just buff the cocobolo?

This is really beautiful. There are few materials that are as beautiful as cocobolo. It is also extremely hard, as it needs to be for things like this. Did you treat it with tung oil or something like that? Did you attach it directly, or did you make a brass (or other metal) insert?

Juanjo, nice work! Is this your third commercial machine in like a month!? you had the Brugnetti (beautiful wood work on that as well!) for a while, then a VFA recently, right? and now yet another 2 group commercial unit! Do you have a thing for 2 groupers in the home or is that just what seems to find it's way to you?