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Shed machine. Boema single group.

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  • Shed machine. Boema single group.

    Got one to keep this time. The Azkoyen is cool and all but it's a bit on the ridiculous side for a garage workshop.

    If anyone's got a boema volumetric panel in good nick, let me know. This one works but I'll need to make a new bezel and I'm not sure I can be bothered.



    It seems just as happy on the bottle as plumbed in.

  • #2
    Shed machine. Boema single group.

    That looks nice. With a rotary pump it'll work fine drawing from a bottle. You probably don't need to have the bottle sitting on top of the machine, bench height should be fine. In fact under the bench would work too, it'll just make the pump work harder and could lead to it burning out. Although I'd say the relatively light use it'll get might mean that won't be an issue.

    I wouldn't bother with the volumetric panel, unless you can find one cheap. If the rocker switch works fine just use that. You could fill the void with a nice stainless panel that you could decorate somehow (Boema decal, personalised sticker, etc.). If you really want volumetrics Boema will be able to supply a touch pad, but it'll be expensive. I don't imagine you'd need a Boema one though, just a Gicar one that'll fit the hole. Maybe try your local repair shop, or even eBay.

    Also I see it's got one of those stupid froth assisting steam wand tips. I'm sure you've worked out already that these make good milkshakes, but not the best microfoam. Unfortunately Boema no longer sell the better steam tip on its own, you have to buy the whole wand for $100+. The tip screws off easy enough, but it's a BSP thread rather than metric, and BSP threaded steam tips are almost impossible to find. I think La Marzocco have them, but you'll struggle to find one in Australia. What I've found is that you can get stainless steel cap nuts with BSP threads easily enough. You can then just drill it with whatever number and size hole you want. If you do this I recommend either 1 or 2, 1-1.5mm holes.

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    • #3
      Some Boemas will struggle drawing water from at or below pump height, some work but some don't.

      Also, Boema do sell steam tips, they make a 4 hole tip with large or small hole sizes for differing flow rates. It doesn't fit flush onto the old wand but you can also buy the new style wands where the new tip will fit flush. There's no functional problems using the new tip on the old wand, it's purely aesthetic.

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      • #4
        Yes, yes and yes. I've pretty much come to all those same conclusions. The volumetric controls still work, just the plastic parts have broken. Quite right though, they're completely unnecessary.
        The steam tip is terrible. No doubt you could get the hang of it but for a single cappuccino like I usually make it's pretty damn hard to not make a mess. I tried getting a dome nut from my local supplier but no joy. He wasn't sure on the thread though, stating that it is in fact bsp might make the difference.
        I have a lathe, I can always make one. Odd ball threads be damned.
        I did a bit of poking around on the machine tonight and, as usual, dislodged a bunch of crap which plugged the machine up in short order. Have to take the group solenoid off in the morning as I suspect it's got a bit of scale stuck in the outlet. Damn small holes in those things.

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        • #5
          If the touch pad still works you might be better off trying to source or make a new insert for it rather than replace it. A new one could be either expensive or hard to find.

          The steam wand thread is definitely BSP. You can get cap nuts on eBay if your local engineering shop doesn't have anything. They come in a 10 pack but are super cheap. However it sounds like it could be worth asking Boema if they'll sell you a steam tip on its own from what Luke said above. I may have been trying to get a 2-hole tip from them which is the one they don't sell individually anymore. Nothing wrong with grabbing a four hole and plugging up a couple of holes if it's too powerful.

          I'm guessing you've popped off the group jet mushroom valve for a look. Any evidence of scale in there? Also I have some spare bits and pieces from an old 2-group Boema I've bought for spares. Let me know if there's anything you need.

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          • #6
            Yeah, I've drawn up a replacement bezel in CAD. Just need to cut it out.
            There is some scale in the head but a lot less than my two group had. At this point I'll just give the group head a quick descale and leave it at that.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by LeroyC View Post
              If the touch pad still works you might be better off trying to source or make a new insert for it rather than replace it. A new one could be either expensive or hard to find.
              From memory the last one we had to source for a customer was $400+. Seems they are more expensive as they don't have a separate control board - the touchpad incorporates the autofill control and the memory for the volumetric settings.
              Pretty sure that one was still mostly functional but the plastics had become brittle and the touchpad had collapsed in on itself.

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              • #8
                Yep, that's what's happened to mine. You're right about it being one unit too, quite a compact little package. As I've mentioned, I'll make a replacement bezel and case.

                I descaled the group head and a couple of the hard lines this afternoon. It's all together again and running like a champ. Just have to nestle it into a corner in the shed and hook up a drain now. Really happy with it.

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