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DIYed steam wand for my Classic:)

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  • DIYed steam wand for my Classic:)

    Hello again,

    Im not showing off or anything (well maybe), I just thought it could be helpful to some people, who have the Classic, are annoyed by the stupid short wand, want to change it, dont have the money and have some DIY skills+tools. Heres a brand new steam wand, which I have been using for around 3 weeks.



    Oh and it works great Plus its much longer than the original:



    Its also easy to make and its cheap Heres what you need:

    - a pipe, I used aluminium but I guess copper would be ok, anything soft enough to bend with your hands. Mine was fi6mm inside and fi9mm outside. 1meter is enough. Cost: 2$

    - a thread maker. Cost: none, had it already

    - a pair of pliers. Cost: none, had them

    - one domed M6 thread nut. Cost: less than 1$

    - one m5 brass washer. Cost: less than 0,5$

    - glass bottle. Cost: none, had it already

    - 1mm diameter drill and a small drill. Cost: also none, had it already

    - sand. Cost: its free, just get out and collect some.

    Total cost: rounding up its 4$

    WAND: Cut the pipe so that you have a nice longer piece to work with (around 30cm). Fill it with sand and clog the ends so that the sand wont spill out. Bend it over the bottle, but be careful not to break the pipe (a little at a time). Remove the sand and cut the bent piece to the appropriate lenght. Using the thread maker add a thread at the end and use some teflon tape on it to make sure the joint will be tight. At the top of the wand add a small depression (with a small saw). Take a small brass M5 washer, cut it to on one side and unbend it a bit, so that it fits over the depression. Place it there and with a pair of pliers bend it back, so its stuck in the depression and cant be moved up and down. This will hold the steam wand in place during steaming (this and the original nut with a hole in it)

    TIP: using a 1mm drill, drill a hole in the middle of the domed nut. Screw it on the wand.

    Voila! You have a new wand

    [Im not responsible for any damage that may be caused by this DIY project. I heard that aluminium can break easily when stressed. Fortunatelly everything works for me and I hope it will, but please dont use pipes which walls are thinner than 1,5mm. We are talking hot steam and hot water, so be careful]

    HTH.

    Cheers,
    dsc.

  • #2
    Re: DIYed steam wand for my Classic

    Great DIY idea,
    Id never thought of making a custom steam tip but its so obvious when you think of it. I guess marine chandlers would have stainless steel nuts that could also be used but stainless is more difficult to work of course.

    Might get a few nuts and try some different spray patterns. I recall those very fine drill bits being pretty fragile so a drill press could come in handy as well especially for anything off centre.

    Well done!

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: DIYed steam wand for my Classic

      Good one DSC. Looks professional, too.

      I wouldnt think that galvanic corrosion between the dissimilar metals should be --a problem, after all, the boiler is already aluminium and has brass fittings on it.

      And drilling through the brass domed nut would be a cinch compared to stainless.

      --Robusto

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      • #4
        Re: DIYed steam wand for my Classic

        If I wasnt so totally useless at DIY Id try that.

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        • #5
          Re: DIYed steam wand for my Classic

          Nicely done dsc! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

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          • #6
            Re: DIYed steam wand for my Classic

            dsc = damn sexy classic?

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            • #7
              Re: DIYed steam wand for my Classic

              dsc = Does Selfmade Changes

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              • #8
                Re: DIYed steam wand for my Classic

                dsc = do send cash.....and maybe hell make you one

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: DIYed steam wand for my Classic

                  I put you in the lead Saambo.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: DIYed steam wand for my Classic

                    Hello everyone,

                    Thanks for the comments

                    The problem with aluminium is that it tends to break when theres a sudden change of thickness (thread). I dont know how much pressure the steam coming from the wand has, but its probably too little to do any damage to the wand, tip or the thread.

                    If someone was to make a smaller hole, like for example 0,5mm it would mean more pressure from the steam and much bigger force acting on the thread.

                    Also be advised that another weak spot is the washer on top of the wand which holds the whole thing in place. Make sure it sits well in the depression, or otherwise it may slip off and the whole wand will come off, together with all the hot steam.

                    Choosing brass is a wise idea, cause it is really easy to work with. SS would be harder to drill for sure and it might not work without the use of a drill press.

                    Does Selfmade Changes indeed

                    Cheers,
                    dsc.

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