I was frustrated at the bazillion (EXPENSIVE) options on the market for a 58mm tamper for my new Sylvia. I'd owned several smaller tampers for my now donated to a needy friend SB Athena, and must admit they all functioned adequately. Having scoured the commercial espresso-addict sites and, as noted, wincing at the cost of most options, I (what else) went hunting on ebay. There are many choices, most not too exciting. I finally came upon McDaniel's listing for a 58mm tamper for 'only' $24.99, but that's a LOT less than the competing pieces. David's ebay rating is 100%, a remarkable feat. I sent David a note asking him some detail, his prompt response was courteous, thoughtful and completely informative, so I paid the man and now have what appears to be the equal of anyone else's tamper regardless of price. While I may not be a decades-long barista, I am extremely picky about my tools, having in a past life fixed things like Jaguars and Benzes for a living. David's very small batch stainless base/rosewood handle tamper is a work of art.
Buying Experience
As noted, David has a perfect ebay sales record under the name david.at.eads (he used to live on Eads street in DC). His responses to questions were completely responsive. He shipped IMMEDIATELY and his packing was thorough. As of 2/19/07 he had 8 tampers listed on ebay at Click Here (cgi.ebay.com) Should they be gone when you see this, his email address is david.a.mcdaniel@att.net.
