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  • Grindenstein mod

    Howdy,

    I bought myself a grindenstein recently because my Sunbeam one was too big. Its neat but, like CoffeeGeek observed, surprisingly loud. I quickly concluded this was due to the bar material because Id noticed the Sunbeam, which is quieter, had a wooden bar where the Grindy had plastic (or so I thought). So I set out to replace it with a bit of wooden dowel.

    After a Herculean effort forcing out the bar, I discovered its actually solid steel with plastic caps on either end. Not surprising its loud! Retrospectively, it would have been a hell of lot easier to just pull one of the caps off and push the bar out than try and drive the cap through, but at that stage I thought it was just a plastic cylinder. Actually, the rubber tube has moulded ribs that enclose the bar and recesses at the end for the caps. Good construction.

    This also meant the dowel I had lovingly crafted based on the diameter of the caps wasnt going to fit. Luckily I had an unused cheap wooden spoon lying around whose handle happened to be just the right diameter so I stuffed that in, sawed it off and voila!, quiet(er) knockbox. I left the caps off in case I want to do it again but they could easily go back in for an invisible job.

    Obviously this mod isnt going to appeal to those who like to whale on the bar and/or make lots of noise but theres probably some other quiet-freaks out there. Heres a pic of the bar and the not-yet-sawn-off spoon.

    cheers,
    Liam




  • #2
    Re: Grindenstein mod

    The original bar.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Grindenstein mod

      No wonder mine feels so solid!

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      • #4
        Re: Grindenstein mod

        hmmm my Grindenstein had a plastic bar which broke 2 weeks after I bought it, due to the amount of thumping required to remove the soggy puck from the pressurised portafilter on the Breville 800es, so I fitted a length of 16mm dia aluminium tube, no problem with it since.

        with the new Domabars portafilter it only requires a gentle tap to remove the puck so the original plastic bar insert would still be ok.

        http://flickr.com/photos/54203117@N00/2711640613/

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        • #5
          Re: Grindenstein mod

          Guys, I am totally mystified. Why wouldnt you start with a bit of plastic pipe if you wanted to build your own? :-?

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          • #6
            Re: Grindenstein mod

            Originally posted by simone link=1216206611/0#4 date=1217585900
            Guys, I am totally mystified. Why wouldnt you start with a bit of plastic pipe if you wanted to build your own? :-?
            Its the male brain simone - no further explanation should be necessary. ;D

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            • #7
              Re: Grindenstein mod

              I dunno -- when I 1st saw these things, I couldnt believe that they (Grindenstein in this case) could charge so much for an itty-bitty plastic bucket with a rod added. But to pay it, and then butcher the thing anyway -- wow

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              • #8
                Re: Grindenstein mod

                Originally posted by simone link=1216206611/0#6 date=1217588316
                I dunno -- when I 1st saw these things, I couldnt believe that they (Grindenstein in this case) could charge so much for an itty-bitty plastic bucket with a rod added. But to pay it, and then butcher the thing anyway -- wow  
                yes I agree the price is over the top for what you get, seeing them listed on ebay at $33 to $40 when for not that much more you can buy a metal Sunbeam box.

                I think I only paid $20 for mine a couple of years back, but it lasted 2 weeks before the plastic bar broke, yes it was plastic no metal insert like the new ones have, so I fitted an alloy tube to fix it, I could have used a dowel if I had one the right size.

                a cheap option would be to use a length of PVC pipe with a cap glued at one end and dowel with a silicon or rubber tube fitted into the top.

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                • #9
                  Re: Grindenstein mod

                  I have a cheap knockbox that was made for me using some 100mm dia poly pipe, and a plastic rod with screw on caps, and which has also been fitted with a lid (standard poly end cap) to keep the smell in.
                  Works a treat, looks a bit ordinary, but my wife has not complained about the smell, and you can wash it if so desired.
                  You can custom make the height to suit your requirements.
                  So far has been robust and relatively quiet.

                  Bullitt

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                  • #10
                    Re: Grindenstein mod

                    Originally posted by Bullitt link=1216206611/0#8 date=1217978175
                    with a lid to keep the smell in.
                    Whats wrong with the smell of coffee?

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                    • #11
                      Re: Grindenstein mod

                      Originally posted by simone link=1216206611/0#4 date=1217585900
                      Guys, I am totally mystified. Why wouldnt you start with a bit of plastic pipe if you wanted to build your own?  :-?

                      OT
                      I made mine with a 1 kg honey bucket, and a bamboo stick pushed through silicon rubber tubing. Disassembles easily, quiet, cheap.
                      Greg

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                      • #12
                        Re: Grindenstein mod

                        Originally posted by Thundergod link=1216206611/0#9 date=1217978585
                        Originally posted by Bullitt link=1216206611/0#8 date=1217978175
                        with a lid to keep the smell in.
                        Whats wrong with the smell of coffee?
                        Clarification...Nothing wrong with the smell of freshly made coffee...
                        however those with sensitive noses might not appreciate the smell of coffee pucks, that could be a few days old, sitting in the knockbox.

                        Im genuinely surprised that some commercially made units arent available with a lid.

                        Bullitt

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                        • #13
                          Re: Grindenstein mod

                          Yeah, I can imagine the lids getting pretty manky after a while, after the "outta site, outta mind" attitude wears off.... haha

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                          • #14
                            Re: Grindenstein mod

                            I say if the smell gets to you then youre not really a coffee drinker...just kidding. I say just pop it into the bin.

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                            • #15
                              Re: Grindenstein mod

                              the Grindenstein is only big enough to hold 6-7 double shot pucks, so I usually empty it every second day or so, they dont have a chance to go mouldy, anyway a lid would be nuisance.

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