hi! I would like to become member 75... so I hope I get it right now... pm means "private message" not "post message" as I thought.

A question I would like to ask is about wooden handles. i am concerned that wood exposed to heat and water will deteriorate relatively fast. What would be the maintenance of the wooden handles? Probably Les would be able to tell us. I would appreciate his email address to ask him.

They certainly look great but for how long will they have the looks? What is the experience of the ones in this forum who have had wooden handles for a while?

"also enjoy the company"

stgui2

The wooden handles on my Pavoni does not deteriorate, but the one on the portafilter have difficulty handling the heat. The end towards the machine is flossed and the wood peels off in small flakes, and the machine is only 10 months old. A little maintenance might have prevented this. I have no idea about what kind of wood Pavoni uses for these handles.

Smile

/Anders

Les using a coating of Bartop to seal his handles. This is very tough and mine still look great after a year. I have had better luck with the wooden handles than with the bakelite handles. I think I replaced two sets on the Pavoni, due to them not being able to take the heat/pressure and cracking.

stgui2 wrote:hi! I would like to become member 75... so I hope I get it right now... pm means "private message" not "post message" as I thought.

A question I would like to ask is about wooden handles. i am concerned that wood exposed to heat and water will deteriorate relatively fast. What would be the maintenance of the wooden handles? Probably Les would be able to tell us. I would appreciate his email address to ask him.

They certainly look great but for how long will they have the looks? What is the experience of the ones in this forum who have had wooden handles for a while?

"also enjoy the company"

stgui2

I have had the wood handle pictured at the top from Les for just over 6 months.



I cracked the end through misuse but there is no heat damage whatsoever. I make 2-4 shots every morning and 3-4 every evening. I would guess the machine has been heated up at least 325 times ±.

KS

Linseed oil (as used on cricket bats) and also baseball bats? might help preserve the handles.

Don't use polyeurethane as the handles get sticky in the heat.

and welcome