CafeRetro Senior Member Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 57 Location: Saginaw
Posted Wed May 23, 2012, 10:26am Subject: Blank piece of canvas, retrofitting a Silvia
I have a no longer used 10 year old Silvia in deep storage and as more or less an experiment, I'd like to try some different modifications. Is there a supply house for all the different espresso machine components? Tubing, valves, Boilers, etc?
coffeeee Senior Member Joined: 30 May 2011 Posts: 52 Location: over the rainbow Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri May 25, 2012, 12:17am Subject: Re: Blank piece of canvas, retrofitting a Silvia
Hey,
This sounds like a start of an adventure… For 10 years old Silvia I would consider adding the new OPV and a new steam wand. But first, I suggest you check the boiler and find out if you can still use it. The rest depends on how much $$$ and time you want to invest. See some options of mods that I added to my Silvia.
Have fun Avi
Coffee is not a drink...it is an adventure... Author of Rancilio Silvia Mega-Mod and Rocky Timer Mod (see my website)
CafeRetro Senior Member Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 57 Location: Saginaw
Posted Fri May 25, 2012, 1:53pm Subject: Re: Blank piece of canvas, retrofitting a Silvia
coffeeee Said:
Hey,
This sounds like a start of an adventure… For 10 years old Silvia I would consider adding the new OPV and a new steam wand. But first, I suggest you check the boiler and find out if you can still use it. The rest depends on how much $$$ and time you want to invest. See some options of mods that I added to my Silvia.
Thanks for the information and links. Is there a non-OEM replacement Boiler available for the Silvia, perhaps in a Stainless unit with a bit larger capacity?
Not that I’m aware of. If this is your line of thought, it seems you are about to rebuild a new machine, which is fine, but… did you took into account the cost ? Based on my experience and if you still want to stay with this lady, I suggest you get a used V3 and use your old one for parts or display… This way you’ll end the project with a much reasonable budget.
Coffee is not a drink...it is an adventure... Author of Rancilio Silvia Mega-Mod and Rocky Timer Mod (see my website)
CafeRetro Senior Member Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 57 Location: Saginaw
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 2:37pm Subject: Re: Blank piece of canvas, retrofitting a Silvia
coffeeee Said:
Not that I’m aware of. If this is your line of thought, it seems you are about to rebuild a new machine, which is fine, but… did you took into account the cost ? Based on my experience and if you still want to stay with this lady, I suggest you get a used V3 and use your old one for parts or display… This way you’ll end the project with a much reasonable budget.
"Rebuild a new machine" Not sure what you mean as the V1 Silvia is 10 years old and I don't have any other use for it. With the increased prices of the Silvia through the years, a good solid used V3 will possibly cost me more than I paid for the V1 when new. Even If I sold the V1 which was functioning when put into storage to offset things, I'd probably be lucky to get $100 for it.
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 2:53pm Subject: Re: Blank piece of canvas, retrofitting a Silvia
When you start buying very many parts - "perhaps in a Stainless unit with a bit larger capacity?" - you can quickly and easily spend more on parts than on buying a used machine to use for parts. And about half the time when I buy a used machine for parts, the parts machine ends up being a better machine than the one I started out to rebuild - so they switch roles.
coffeeee Senior Member Joined: 30 May 2011 Posts: 52 Location: over the rainbow Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 8:58pm Subject: Re: Blank piece of canvas, retrofitting a Silvia
I totally agree with Andy here. Out of getting the V1 back to service and you don’t know yet its boiler/gaskets condition, you’ll probably want to add some V3 parts to it and/or additional mods as you wrote. Unfortunately, parts cost and cost way too high so you really should ask yourself what is your target and how much you are ready to spend on it. The rest will follow…
Coffee is not a drink...it is an adventure... Author of Rancilio Silvia Mega-Mod and Rocky Timer Mod (see my website)
CafeRetro Senior Member Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 57 Location: Saginaw
Posted Mon May 28, 2012, 10:39am Subject: Re: Blank piece of canvas, retrofitting a Silvia
I'm fully aware of costs, just looking for a well equipped espresso supply house as stated in my original posting. Thanks for the input though. Caferetro
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,761 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Wed May 30, 2012, 6:04am Subject: Re: Blank piece of canvas, retrofitting a Silvia
No, yes and possibly.
No I do not know of a bigger SS boiler for the Sylvia and I DID look for a bargain ..... not gonna happen without some REAL luck.
Yes, do check out my rebuild thread Andy so kindly linked to. I started with a low low cost basket case and still wound up with about $550 total into it. Do replace parts with higher quality if you can, such as the boiler screws. Why they used carbon steel in this application I don't know when SS screws will NEVER have the issues that carbon screws do and they would add only a buck or two to the cost of the machine when new.
Likely you will need to "update" the boiler to the new style, I had to as the old style boiler is not made anymore.
Possibly a used machine just might be your best source of parts. I had a brand new, in the box Expobar thermoblock machine to steal parts from, it cost me about $70 I think and I used nearly all the internal parts in my Sylvia rebuild.
When it comes to parts, it is like anything, you find them where you find them, likely as not, you will not find a one stop shopping place for ALL your needs.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
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