Posted Mon Jun 29, 2009, 11:53pm Subject: FS (or trade) - 58mm Reg Barber Short Tamper
Hello All!
I have recently upgraded to a Silvia w/ PID that I picked up second hand. The seller kindly included a tamper with the Machine, and although I have enjoyed using it for the last two weeks, I would prefer to give it an even more loving home so that I can raise some coin for a bottomless portafilter.
*The tamper: 58mm, Stainless Steel Base, Reg Barber Short Handle as seen here: Reg Barber Ent. I will not guarantee that it is Bubinga necessarily, as I was not the original purchaser, but it looks to be identical, and you can see for yourself in the pictures below. On a similar note, I am listing this as 58mm because it fits my Silvia (and my recent Marzocco ridgeless double) very well, with very little wiggle room on the sides. I would be happy to provide pictures of this upon request.
The tamper is in very good condition. There are a couple moderate surface (not any deeper, and certainly not degrading to the tamp quality) scratches, which I have intentionally tried to show in the pictures for full disclosure. The sides and top of the base are in nearly mint condition, and the wood and its delron inlay remain flawless. It is a joy to use - very comfortable to hold, and weighs in at 12.4 ounces as well!
*I am asking 50$ Plus shipping. I will plan to ship USPS Priority Mail for anyone in the US (where I would prefer to sell to as I am not knowledgeable in international shipping at all), which should be around 5$ for most.
*OR, I would also be willing to trade the tamper for a Rancilio Bottomless Portafilter, or possibly another well cared for, Silvia-Compatible bottomless portafilter and hopefully a triple basket as well! : )
Jmanespresso Senior Member Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 1,935 Location: Westchester NY Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale Vivaldi II Grinder: Mazzer Major - Vario Vac Pot: Yama-SY5/SY8/TCA5 Drip: V60, Beehouse, CCD Roaster: Hottop B
Posted Tue Jun 30, 2009, 12:11pm Subject: Re: FS (or trade) - 58mm Reg Barber Short Tamper
Hey Man, how are you?
A question about the tamper... Is it a convex base by any chance? Or is it flat?
Ive got a rancilio bottomless PF. Its a Lino Verna design.. I got it from Chris, and used it on my Anita for a while. I now have a LM bottomless, so I dont use the rancilio anymore. If the tamper is convex, I may be up for a trade.
Lemme know!
Follow Your Bliss
Coffee makes your constantly overcome your prejudices and re-evaluate your own "received wisdoms" when it comes to judging cup flavors. -Tom Owen, SweetMarias
Psyd Senior Member Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1,465 Location: MON AZ Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Astoria Argenta SAE II,... Grinder: Rio and Astoria (Mazzer)...
Posted Tue Jun 30, 2009, 1:32pm Subject: Re: FS (or trade) - 58mm Reg Barber Short Tamper
OTOH, Go here and keep both!
Making a PF into a bottomless is far easier than you'd think, you'll be getting this 15 degree LM pf for your spouted use, and you can get the bottom of the present PF. The LM takes a teeny bit of adjusting the ears to fit well, but I'm using one on my Silvia with no issues. All for under thirty bucks with shipping and whatever taxes. If you're not handy, and/or tool adjacent, any local machine shop can do a decent job of it. Tell them that you just want the part that no longer is vertical to go away, and that you want a smooth and rounded finish on it. They'll probably polish it! And that might cost you ten bucks. If it's more, find another machine shop. If you have a handy friend with a drill press, four bucks for the hole saw and seven for the beer (don't skimp on the beer) and you're in for under forty bucks total.
15 degree La Marzocco portafilter, bottomless portafilter, and Reg tamp? Classy...
I am doing well Jman! Just about to brew up some 'spro this morning as a matter of fact : ) Still grinding away with my PeDE as always, at least until I spring for a Vario! I'm sold on it, and I know it's gonna be my next grinder.
Unfortunately, the Reg Barber is a flat base, which I can't believe I forgot to mention in the original post!
Thanks for the advice Psyd - You've convinced me, lol. I actually have close family with all of the tools and machinery necessary and more to do the job, and it really doesn't make sense to put 50 dollars towards buying my portafilter again with a hole... Any other necessary guidelines for making the cuts except taking out all the non-vertical part? Seems easy enough...
So, I suppose I would strongly prefer a cash sale now, but would still consider any trade offers...
Foo-ey. Ive been wantin a nice convex tamper for a while now. Ahh well, I would have been settling for this one anyway, I dont really want the small handle.
in any case, Congrats on your new-to-you silvia man! Also, I think you are making a VERY wise choice pairing the Baratza Vario with it. I think that grinder is a real nice piece of equipment. Ive been wanting one for a bit now, but Ive got other plans for my money. Let me know how you like it when you get it!
Follow Your Bliss
Coffee makes your constantly overcome your prejudices and re-evaluate your own "received wisdoms" when it comes to judging cup flavors. -Tom Owen, SweetMarias
I'll be sure to let you know how I like it! As well as all the other coffeegeekers still teetering or awaiting more information or reviews, of course. For me the choice isn't only the quality of grind at different levels, its the lack of waste (money saved!) and tiny tiny footprint (space saved is as good as $ for someone who lives in a dorm 3/4 of the year!).
Well, Bill, some of that will depend on which 'original' Sylvia PF handle you have. Assuming that it's the 'pro' and not the first original nor the new one, all I can say is that a 2 3/8" hole saw is the closest to 58mm that you're gonna find, and it does the job well. The fifteen degree LM handle is going to be a better spouted handle than any of Silvia handles, compared to trying to use it as the naked. They stock handle will lie flat, and the new one will stand on it's own. On the drill press, if you can, and put the PF handle top down on a piece of wood, and secure it with a few drywall screws. Start them in over the 'ears' of the pf handle, and the fluted head of the DWS will secure the handle to the wood piece. Make sure that you've removed the spouts (keep 'em as spares) before you try drilling! ; > Anyhoo, find a guide bit (the one that goes into the center of the hole saw) that already fits the hole in the center of the pf handle, and that will keep you centered on the handle as you drill. After that, it's all about chucking up the hole saw, centering the bit, locking down the wood you've mounted the PF to, throwing the switch, and pulling the press handle like a blue-haired old lady with a Virginia Slim hanging out of the corner of her mouth at three am in 'Vegas! Once you have a hole, get a round sanding drum and chuck that up, smooth out the toothmarks on the cut, keeping the sanding media well away from the inside walls of the PF. You don't want to have to polish out any more scratches than you have to. Go ever finer with the sanding media, and as you get toward the polishing stage, start rounding the edges over. Using the coarser grain media to round will give you a very round finish, and may (depending on bean, grind, temp, basket, phase of moon, etc.) attract espresso as it extracts. Starting the rounding on the finer media give you a sharper edge, and still keeps it from slicing flesh when you handle it. Plus I think it looks sexier... I think that that's all I got, but feel free to ask any questions> I always have an answer, guaranteed. No guarantee of it's correctness, however...
Oh, yeah, bring Silvia and the LM handle when you go to the shop. You're going to have to do some very minor 'adjustments' to the size of the ear lugs on the LM for it to be easy to use, and since you'll have the Rancilio to compare it to, the Silvia to test fit it to, and the tools to make it work all in the same place, you only have to make one trip.
Actually, if you do get the Lm handle, you dont need to mill the ears off. There is a "better" way. Well, different is a better word.
"Instructions". I did this on my new Lm pf, and it works great. I started with 200grit paper and worked my way up to 1400grit. You can test along the way to see how it fits. My LM PF fits the same as my others. AND the ears arent exposed brass.. I dont like the way it looks like that. Very clean, very easy. I think this way ofdoing it is easier, and its a lot harder to take off more then you need, as opposed to taking a dremel to the ears. Use the 200grit(400 would work as well) to get it to how you want the PF to fit, and then work your way up to polish it..polishing mine didnt move where it locks in at all.
Also... I found the thread for you on "making a naked portafilter". Its got a couple peoples different techniques for doing it.
Follow Your Bliss
Coffee makes your constantly overcome your prejudices and re-evaluate your own "received wisdoms" when it comes to judging cup flavors. -Tom Owen, SweetMarias
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