The Faema stock portafilters have a bowel shaped bottom and are very thick. I cut the bottom out of one of my old Faema portafilter (that video is from a two group I restored) but it was difficult to get correct due to the bowl shaped and extraordinarily thick brass.

cannonfodder wrote:The Faema stock portafilters have a bowel shaped bottom and are very thick. I cut the bottom out of one of my old Faema portafilter (that video is from a two group I restored) but it was difficult to get correct due to the bowl shaped and extraordinarily thick brass.

Using a drill press, I've discovered that a coupla drywall screws will hold a portafilter still on a piece of scrap 3/4 or 1/2" ply, and a 58mm, (2 3/8") or thereabouts, holesaw will do just nicely on brass. going from the bottom up keeps the inside cleaner, and allows you to center using the pilot bit in the center (through the spout-hole) for alignment before the holesaw starts to get a bit on the brass.
Or am I missing something?

I had no hole saw, I drilled out a ring and rotary tool cut it. If you have a hole saw, it will mill it much quicker and easier. It is a matter of the tools you have at hand, a lathe would be even easier.

cannonfodder wrote:I had no hole saw, It is a matter of the tools you have at hand, a lathe would be even easier.

Ya had a motorcycle nearby, neh? Coulda ridden in to the nearest ACE Hardware, Home Desperate, Or stolen, er, used pawned tools receptacle and gotten a hole saw to use with the very same drill pictured for about five bucks. I do admire the work, and the result is really pretty, but I'm way too lazy to drill two-dozen holes and then cut and finish, when I could just take a ride and then drill one big one. Horses for courses, but it's far easier to get the to a hole saw than it is to get to a lathe!