shanapunim Junior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2013 Posts: 7 Location: McLean, VA Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Mon Mar 11, 2013, 8:51am Subject: Current owners of rusting Silvia espresso Machines Unite
I own a rusting Rancilio Silvia and have found a significant number of other members who have made the same purchasing mistake. All Silvia had to do was use stainless steel in their base, rather than plain, easy to rust steel, and this problem would have never appeared.
I suggest a forum where we gather as many unhappy customers so that we can make our sentiments known in a powerful way to the manufacturer perhaps motivating them to arrange for a factory warranty repair or replacement program.
This machine will eventually corrode into a rusting hunk of useless metal at a cost of $760 (for me).
Please respond with your email so that we can effectively organize to make our point powerfully.
Posted Mon Mar 11, 2013, 11:23am Subject: Re: Current owners of rusting Silvia espresso Machines Unite
This type of rust is typical in older espresso machines as well. It's an easy fix thankfully. A bit of sand paper to remove rust and semi gloss black Tremclad rust paint has an Identical finish. Just go over the entire under chassis where the drip tray sits and you won't have anymore rusting. Stainless steel body would have drove the cost of the machine way up. I assume that is why Ranchilio never took that route.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,313 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Mon Mar 11, 2013, 11:31am Subject: Re: Current owners of rusting Silvia espresso Machines Unite
Mine had a tiny bit of rust on Oscar when I opened him up the first time, I used a wire brush and some rust paint in black and it looks like new a year later when I opened him up again. You have to look for rust and stay on top of it with any machine.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
Mine is 12 years old and is nowhere near a "useless hunk of metal". You can certainly try to pressure Rancilio but treating the rust yourself will probably be much more effective.
Posted Mon Mar 11, 2013, 6:05pm Subject: Re: Current owners of rusting Silvia espresso Machines Unite
SOLUTION:
1 - Take machine apart 2 - Take frame to powder coating establishment 3 - choose color of your personal preference (Ferrari red comes to mind) 3b- you could have it chrome or gold plated... !
I documented the problem I had with my Vibiemme Domobar Super Black which had rust so bad that the two spot-welded supports for the drip tray fell off. Search on Home barista.com for the details.
earlds Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 488 Location: Mobile
Posted Mon Mar 11, 2013, 6:59pm Subject: Re: Current owners of rusting Silvia espresso Machines Unite
Ive had mine in service every day since 2005 with no problems with rust except for a little surface rust on the drip tray section .Ive been getting a bit lazy with maintenance the last few years..
Posted Mon Mar 11, 2013, 7:53pm Subject: Re: Current owners of rusting Silvia espresso Machines Unite
Hi Steve,
If you can drum up enough interest, I'm in. One of the selling points of this machine is stainless steel. It was only after I had it a while that I realized that the stainless was just the skin.
Mine has been rusting for at least 7 years and still has its structural integrity.
For years I have been planning to do as Randy suggested. I am due for a group head gasket, and steam valve rebuild. I also have most of the pieces for a PID conversion. Soon I plan to connect up the PID stuff and test it on the machine. After I am satisfied with it I plan to tear down the machine, braze all the seams on the frame, drill all the holes for the mounting of the PID parts and possible steam wand conversion, chamfer the edges of the frame, sand-blast it, then send it to a powder coater.
Is the new steam wand worth the bother of should I rebuild the valve in the one I have?
Phil
shanapunim Said:
I own a rusting Rancilio Silvia and have found a significant number of other members who have made the same purchasing mistake. All Silvia had to do was use stainless steel in their base, rather than plain, easy to rust steel, and this problem would have never appeared.
I suggest a forum where we gather as many unhappy customers so that we can make our sentiments known in a powerful way to the manufacturer perhaps motivating them to arrange for a factory warranty repair or replacement program.
This machine will eventually corrode into a rusting hunk of useless metal at a cost of $760 (for me).
Please respond with your email so that we can effectively organize to make our point powerfully.
shanapunim Junior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2013 Posts: 7 Location: McLean, VA Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Wed Mar 20, 2013, 4:34am Subject: Re: Current owners of rusting Silvia espresso Machines Unite
Dear PJK -
Sounds to me like you have quite a task ahead of you regarding refurbishing your machine. I have had mine about 4 years so my rust is a bit behind yours.
I'll file your email and if I get enough feedback from interested people. we can see what we can do on the web.
Meanwhile, I suggest if you have to time, post as many negative blog/forum postings on as many coffee sights as possible to send a bit of pain to Ranchilio. They deserve it, as does any mftr. who builds anything for the home with non-stainless steel - especially something that lives in water and steam.
CarloM Junior Member Joined: 1 Apr 2013 Posts: 40 Location: Los Angeles Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Mon Apr 1, 2013, 2:09pm Subject: Re: Current owners of rusting Silvia espresso Machines Unite
Purchased mine 10 months ago (May 2012), v.3, new, and it's already rusting at basically all the points where it contacts either the metal drip tray or the drip tray cover. I take very good care of my machine and don't let water sit for very long. It looks like the black paint they use for the base is not very durable, and the act of removing the drip tray and cover for cleaning, maintenance, and dumping of the tray (which I have to do every 2-3 days since it's has so little capacity) wears the paint easily.
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