Hi all!
So I took a small financial plunge and picked up a Boema single group volumetric to restore.
The machine follows the common sad tale for these tanks: passing through the hands of a few small cafe owners, never given much by way of maintenance, and never given much by way of water treatment.
I have a tonne of photos and have made significant progress in bringing this superb piece of Australian engineering back to a close level of its original glory. I will post these soon.
For now I need the assistance of the brains trust:
I want to replace the element, it’s in poor shape but I feel replacing regardless is an inherently safe option to extend the life span of the machine. The problem is the element is stuck firm in place and needs a 46mm spanner (which I don’t own - thanks to LeroyC for the info in another thread). Should I manage to acquire such a spanner does anyone have any fancy tricks for getting this thing to budge and/or any other method (without the 46mm spanner) that might see the element break free from its shackles?

The other question relates to the boiler, for which I have descaled and removed a MASSIVE amount of crud! I am just curious if my efforts are enough or should I try and remove more scale (see pics)?
Probably have spent 4ish hours scrubbing and soaking the boiler, I am just unsure if I should be aiming for zero white or black residue or if there is an ‘acceptable’ level? I am a bit of a neat freak so my instinct is to go until I am back to original metal only but I am also logical and I don’t feel that is necessarily achievable!


Many thanks!
So I took a small financial plunge and picked up a Boema single group volumetric to restore.
The machine follows the common sad tale for these tanks: passing through the hands of a few small cafe owners, never given much by way of maintenance, and never given much by way of water treatment.
I have a tonne of photos and have made significant progress in bringing this superb piece of Australian engineering back to a close level of its original glory. I will post these soon.
For now I need the assistance of the brains trust:
I want to replace the element, it’s in poor shape but I feel replacing regardless is an inherently safe option to extend the life span of the machine. The problem is the element is stuck firm in place and needs a 46mm spanner (which I don’t own - thanks to LeroyC for the info in another thread). Should I manage to acquire such a spanner does anyone have any fancy tricks for getting this thing to budge and/or any other method (without the 46mm spanner) that might see the element break free from its shackles?
The other question relates to the boiler, for which I have descaled and removed a MASSIVE amount of crud! I am just curious if my efforts are enough or should I try and remove more scale (see pics)?
Probably have spent 4ish hours scrubbing and soaking the boiler, I am just unsure if I should be aiming for zero white or black residue or if there is an ‘acceptable’ level? I am a bit of a neat freak so my instinct is to go until I am back to original metal only but I am also logical and I don’t feel that is necessarily achievable!
Many thanks!




Comment