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Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

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  • christos10
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    After a 3 month inspection i would think every 12 months is the go. I am using the Coffee Parts inline filter with scale reduction cartridge. So this should do the job for 12 months.

    Leave a comment:


  • trentski
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    Im not sure you would want to descale that often. You are essentially running acid through your machine and acid loves to eat metal.

    Leave a comment:


  • skelly
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    you guys made me paranoid enough to go check my mushroom assembly. Found a tiny bit of white scale present which had eaten through the (very thin) chrome to the copper below..nothing that worries me. machines just 4 or 5 months old and only does about 2 coffees per day.
    may descale a bit more regularly now though - maybe once a month.

    do people find descaling sometimes strips the group lever cam of its grease?

    Leave a comment:


  • trentski
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    I live in Altona, Melbourne and CityWest Water say

    Melbourne’s water supply has very low hardness and therefore can be regarded as quite soft. For example, Australian drinking water guidelines state that total hardness (expressed as calcium carbonate – CaCO3) should not exceed 200 mg/L (milligrams per litre), whereas the average water hardness level in City West Water’s area is approximately 22 mg/L (with maximum levels less than 30 mg/L).
    furthermore the most recent tests show
    PH 6.8 to 8.5 average 7.3
    hardness 27mg/L
    iron average 0.04mg/L

    Am I correct in saying that based on that, scale shouldnt be a much of a problem in Altona?

    Or is it worth trying to drop the hardness down to <15ppm to drop below the Maximum Non-Scaling Hardness by Temperature and Alkalinity as shown in the insanely long water FAQ?

    thanks in advance for your advice 8-)

    Leave a comment:


  • Brewman
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    Originally posted by 4B4F697070756A7D721C0 link=1252582962/115#115 date=1257545445
    Originally posted by 1B1F392020253A2D224C0 link=1252582962/113#113 date=1257471477
    ps not bagging Bombora, just wondering
    Originally posted by 0E3E293B212D224C0 link=1252582962/114#114 date=1257478559
    harsh to be pointing finger at Bombora  
    ? hence i said im not bagging them , im not getting into an argument with you brewman, i havent got the energy today, i think AM is still sleeping from your little discussions last week........ ;D

    all i was wondering was whether bombora had found the reason the pre purchased unit wasnt doing the job.........thats all, end of story, no pointing fingers, no argument. I buy an icecream maker, i expect it to make ice cream 8-).........

    cheers
    warren

    Leave a comment:


  • WSullivan
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    Originally posted by 1B1F392020253A2D224C0 link=1252582962/113#113 date=1257471477
    ps not bagging Bombora, just wondering
    Originally posted by 0E3E293B212D224C0 link=1252582962/114#114 date=1257478559
    harsh to be pointing finger at Bombora
    ? hence i said im not bagging them , im not getting into an argument with you brewman, i havent got the energy today, i think AM is still sleeping from your little discussions last week........ ;D

    all i was wondering was whether bombora had found the reason the pre purchased unit wasnt doing the job.........thats all, end of story, no pointing fingers, no argument. I buy an icecream maker, i expect it to make ice cream 8-).........

    cheers
    warren

    Leave a comment:


  • Brewman
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    Originally posted by 5652746D6D6877606F010 link=1252582962/113#113 date=1257471477
    Great to hear that it seems to be sorted JB, any indication why the initial unit that your purchased and installed with the intention of curing the problem didnt work? seems like an expensive investment basically for an inline solution?

    ps not bagging Bombora, just wondering, as i have an inline scale inhibitor from coffee parts, not sure on the hardness difference as i dont have a tester, anyone know where to get one?

    cheers

    warren
    It seems a bit harsh to be pointing finger at Bombora at this stage. Resins are stored in an inactive/safe mode for longevity and are chemically activated before sale, use or placement in disposable cartridges. If a shipment of resin was not activated by the supplier, as per request, noone would know


    As to water hardness tests, there are a lot available, via internet or local chemical suplliers. Personally, being the retentive chemist git that I am, Id only use any from this mob
    http://www.merck-chemicals.com.au/test-kits/c_m_ub.s1LopcAAAEWBOIfVhTl?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=02gg enie%2Cmerck+test-kits&sem_ag=Merck_Test-Kits&sem_kw=02ggenie%3Bmerck+test-kits

    Leave a comment:


  • WSullivan
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    Great to hear that it seems to be sorted JB, any indication why the initial unit that your purchased and installed with the intention of curing the problem didnt work? seems like an expensive investment basically for an inline solution?

    ps not bagging Bombora, just wondering, as i have an inline scale inhibitor from coffee parts, not sure on the hardness difference as i dont have a tester, anyone know where to get one?

    cheers

    warren

    Leave a comment:


  • javabeen
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    Quick update to advise that I received my scale only filter from Bombora yesterday. Its a premium In line filter that goes in after your normal filter. It states its a Cation Resin blend for Total TH reduction and has been installed in line after the water filter I put in in June this year.

    I did a water hardness test and its now dropped to 40ppm. So excellent news.

    I plan to do a descale this weekend again using some of the Bombora Triple Action descale LIQUID and then keep an eye on the machine for scale.

    A very big thanks to Bernard from Bombora for his assistance and advice. Once again, unrivaled service from another site sponsor.

    Javabeen.

    Leave a comment:


  • Brewman
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    Originally posted by 4A4156414245454E200 link=1252582962/110#110 date=1257217560
    I spoke to Bernard from Bombora and we dont know the why.  :-?

    The only other thing we discussed as a cause was that there might be something else in the water that is causing the scale build up. Rather impossible to tell without a laboratory water test, which we discussed as well.
    Javabeen, if you can mail me a small quantity of your water (approx 50mL will be plenty) both pre and post filtration. I can get some analysis done. It may not answer your questions but it may rule a cause out send me a pm if you interested.

    Leave a comment:


  • javabeen
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    I spoke to Bernard from Bombora and we dont know the why.  :-?

    The filter is a Bayonet style and there is no wrong way that it can be fitted/inserted into the housing. The In side was switched around and we made sure that it still remained in. Im confirming the In and Out of the Bayonet with Bernard.

    The only other thing we discussed as a cause was that there might be something else in the water that is causing the scale build up. Rather impossible to tell without a laboratory water test, which we discussed as well.

    So the path Im taking with Bernards advise is installing an Ion Exchange filter in line after the water filter. After this, I will descale the machine again and then monitor the machine for scale.

    Ill post as I go along, so for those interested stay tuned. This is baffling and annoying/concerning  >. My new Mazzer Kony is dampening my concern ATM  

    Javabeen.

    Leave a comment:


  • WSullivan
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    Any updates Javabean? Keen to hear what happened........and why!

    Leave a comment:


  • Matt_King
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    That thought had crossed my mind... Of course, getting the solution strength right could be a neverending process...

    Leave a comment:


  • hotshod
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    I spoke to a gentleman at Cafetto , after my descaling, and I thought I was still tasting the solution after 13+ lires had been pumped thru. Mr Cafetto suggested making a solution of 2-3 ltrs of Bi-Carb & fresh ( 4-5 teaspoons)...... It neutralised the taste ..... then flushed another 5 ltrs of fresh thru it.

    Otherwise you can be diluting the descaling solution forever.

    worked for me.

    hotshod

    Leave a comment:


  • Matt_King
    replied
    Re: Scale in my VBM Super - have a look, ouch!

    cheers, I might go do a few more tanks (I usually have tea every night, so need to get the taste out). It really needs a drain at the bottom of the boiler to empty the whole thing before refilling. The mixing method is very slow...

    Leave a comment:

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