Over the past few weeks I have been compiling a "roundup" of the Alicorn process with Jake's help. He's been incredibly patient answering all of my questions! This document pairs well with his videos, and each step is written out in detail.

Alicorn Alignment Roundup - Google Docs
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Nhu ... sp=sharing

Please feel free to suggest any edits and inclusions on the document. Hopefully this helps clarify the process!

Thank you for compiling all of this in one place. Did you do this with the original plastic Vario burr carrier or did you order the upgrade?

My suggestion would be to add some clear photos of each step or, even better to add video time stamps and break down the steps a little finer. Jake's video is better than the photos in the original threads but it is just too poorly shot to illustrate exactly what is being moved in each phase and why. I'm dying to do this but since this is my only grinder the idea of no espresso for weeks should something not work out is unappealing for obvious reasons.

And to state the obvious MANY thanks to Jake for coming up with this in the first place. The video may be lacking but what an inspired idea.

As one of the people contemplating a steel forte, I remember reading somewhere if you tighten the burrs to finger tight by holding the shaft of a screwdriver, it will be good enough to prevent TBS. Have I misremembered it? Or should I source some glue as suggested by baratza guy?
I don't have access to a 3d printer so won't be able to print it, and sanding it down sounds like a whole lot of fun

From what I have gathered so far, I should be able to follow both the pictorial guide for vario and the videos here for forte, as the internals are similar?

And not gonna lie, really hoping the initial alignment is ok like the guy from the vario thread and he was told not to mess with the internals due to the ink test being good enough

PIXIllate wrote:Did you do this with the original plastic Vario burr carrier or did you order the upgrade?

I did it with a Forté BG.

...even better to add video time stamps and break down the steps a little finer.

I'll do this tomorrow!

neohk wrote:I remember reading somewhere if you tighten the burrs to finger tight by holding the shaft of a screwdriver, it will be good enough to prevent TBS.

I'm not sure if it will hold or slip in the future, but this is how Jake_G instructs us to tighten the burr screws before alignment.

And not gonna lie, really hoping the initial alignment is ok like the guy from the vario thread and he was told not to mess with the internals due to the ink test being good enough

You misread - that photo was his dry erase pattern on ceramic after alignment. I saw that post too.

For those of us without a printer or want to get something that doesn't require hours of sanding, would a 'hive' of 0.06" thick washers work similarly?
then just need to find the right material that's both hard-wearing and resistant to coffee oils

PIXIllate wrote:...even better to add video time stamps and break down the steps a little finer.

I just finished adding the timestamps.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Nhu ... sp=sharing

neohk wrote:For those of us without a printer or want to get something that doesn't require hours of sanding, would a 'hive' of 0.06" thick washers work similarly?
then just need to find the right material that's both hard-wearing and resistant to coffee oils

I did the sanding in about 20 minutes total. I tried to be very careful of removing too much material, so I definitely took my time. Wasn't hours!

Oh ic
So I just need to find a 3d printer
400 sandpaper is it? Thanks!
(DIY hasn't ever been my thing so hopefully i am not misunderstanding anything)

• A 3D printer or simply the spacers printed by a friend, service, or fellow user. Maybe Jake_G can share an OBJ file with us?
• 150 grit wet/dry sandpaper
• 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper