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  • #16
    Re: MDF modifications

    Marco - thanks for the link, works a treat. Deffinately much easier to fine tune the grind now!

    Comment


    • #17
      Re: MDF modifications

      Hi everyone

      I guess this is my last modification. I might change the cone on top of the moving arms inside the doser amd maybe change the grind setting method (a screw might be more reliable), but it works as it is now.

      A few things I changed:

      - I got rid of the plastic piece that went onto the arms of the doser and replaced it with a styrodur cone covered with aluminium tape

      - I added sweepers to the doser arms (only two), made from twoside tape and a soft foam material, around 1mm thick. They work great:

      1. doser full of coffee:



      2. three pulls of the handle, half of the doser is already clean:



      3. a few more pulls and its completly clean:



      I also used aluminium tape here and there, to cover up the outlet reduction piece, a small depression inside the doser and stuff like that.

      So this is it, no more mods. At least for now

      Cheers,
      dsc.

      Comment


      • #18
        Re: MDF modifications

        Top notch mod and outcome there Tom,

        Definitely worth the effort of other MDF owners to have a think about it,

        Mal.

        Comment


        • #19
          Re: MDF modifications

          Hi Mal

          Thanks mate Its really clean now, I did another small mod, where I separeted the doser from the rest of the machine, with a small PCV plate under the front cover with the scale viewer. It also covers the two triangle holes I had around the doser, near the front cover. I had to do it cause I got a lot of coffee inside of the machine, on the motor and other parts. Now everything is covered, the outlet hole in the doser has aluminium foil around to prevent coffee grounds from sticking to it. The removable outlet screen is smaller, which allows the coffee to go right between the doser arms. I added small foam curtains on the screen so even less coffee goes behind the screen. And it is still removable so I can clean the outlet anytime I want.

          Now the last thing is to sand down any sharp edges and paint it with my airbrush

          Go on people, mod your own MDFs. I dare ya!!

          Cheers,
          dsc.

          Comment


          • #20
            Re: MDF modifications

            Hi everyone

            Below you will find some photos of my last mod. As I said in my earlier post I had to change the outlet cover and add a small plastic plate above it, to prevent coffee from falling inside the machine. Now it looks like this:

            1. from the outside with the doser cover on:



            2. doser cover removed, you can see the outlet cover:



            3. but what is this? oh a small button to remove the outlet cover it holds the cover in place during the grind



            4. here you can see foam curtains I added to keep the coffee falling right between the doser arms



            5. and the outlet itself, covered with some aluminium foil to minimize the ammount of coffee sticking to the sides



            Im currently thinking about building a new frame and cover for the grinder and to make it doserless I will try to build a small mockup paper model today and maybe post some photos.

            Mod you grinders people, modem!!

            Cheers,
            dsc.

            Comment


            • #21
              Re: MDF modifications

              Originally posted by luca link=1167433239/0#3 date=1167478087
              Hey Tom,

              The Brasilia Competition grinder that I love so much at work just has a locking screw to keep the burrs in place. Perhaps that would be a better alternative than teflon tape? I cant imagine TT holding up to all that much adjustment ...
              I thought so too, but its been a good long while since the initial mod, and its very easy to turn, with no shifting at all while grinding.

              Its worked much better than I at first expected. I thought I would have to figure out a way to mod it more permanently, but its held up fine.

              Comment


              • #22
                Re: MDF modifications

                Great thread - my very-second-hand MDF arrived today from evilbay. It had obviously *never* been cleaned, and looks to be about 3-4 years old. The only downside is the doser cover is missing.

                I spent the past 2 hours taking the whole thing apart (really, the *whole* thing) and cleaning every little bit - its now spotless, except for a few marks on the outer casing. Its the white version (so I guess they sold at least 1 of the white model), which looks pretty naff, so Im considering spray-painting the case.

                Unfortunately I didnt take any photos while disassembling it, but Im taking some of the re-assembly - which can be reversed for a "how to disassemble" guide.

                The burr plates are almost smooth, so Ill be ordering some new ones from Coffeeparts - hopefully theyve got a doser cover too (unless anyone here has one spare?)

                Comment


                • #23
                  Re: MDF modifications

                  Well done!

                  Are you sure its only three or four years old? That seems a short
                  lifetime for the burrs, unless it was used commercially. Ours is at
                  least 12 years old (thats how long weve had it), and still on the
                  original burrs. Ours is also white, but the older version.

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Re: MDF modifications

                    Its the "newer" version (screws to remove the hopper), and its obviously been used commercially. 3 years was a rough guess, but it could be 5 or 6...

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Re: MDF modifications

                      Originally posted by shauno link=1167433239/15#21 date=1185188567
                      The burr plates are almost smooth, so Ill be ordering some new ones from Coffeeparts - hopefully theyve got a doser cover too (unless anyone here has one spare?)
                      New burr plates have been ordered from Coffeeparts (along with some teflon tape for the stepless mod), and Im getting a free replacement doser cover from Gaggia spares

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Re: MDF modifications

                        Will be interested to hear how you go with replacing the burrs, esp
                        recalibrating afterwards. Ill have to do that at some stage ...

                        Also what you think of the stepless mod. Ive resisted doing that so far --
                        I fine tune the grind by moving between two steps and varying the time at
                        each step. The MDF is slooooowwww so this isnt too hard to do. It works
                        pretty well, but Im sure its not optimal.

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Re: MDF modifications

                          Just to add some more MDF pics to this thread... here are some shots of my MDF mid-refurb... this thing is built like a tank, no wonder its so heavy!

                          Naked steel:


                          Solid copper lower burr carrier:


                          Burr carrier installed:

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Re: MDF modifications



                            CoffeeSnob

                            Posts: 10

                            Re: MDF modifications
                            « Reply #9 - on: 08. Jan 2007 at 21:50 » Quote
                            >
                            >For those with a stepless MDF:
                            >
                            >I made a pdf file which contains a drawing for the numbering plate which indications of 0.2 steps as lines like a ruler. It has to be printed >out on DIN A4 format (297*210) (make sure your printer doesnt automatically resize it!), cut out and fits exactly on the numbering plate. >I could also upload it in a different format (US letter..) if anyone needs it. It can be found at the bottom of the following page:
                            >
                            >http://www.eggdisk.com/files/277867_10tcf/MDF_numbering.pdf
                            >
                            >marco

                            Marco,
                            The link no longer works but I would find this to be very useful as I mod my MDF. Could you email a PDF to me (scaled for American Letter sized paper? It would be much appreciated.

                            BubbaBob

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Re: MDF modifications

                              BubbaBob that post was from welone.

                              Ive emailed him and requested a copy.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Re: MDF modifications

                                Thanks Thundergod for filling in - Ive emailed you an A4 and a US letter version. unfortunately eggdisk doesnt provide anymore upload-service

                                BTW my username is welone and the real one marco

                                greets

                                Comment

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