Anybody ever detail an espresso machine?

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dnobel

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This is not a joke; I'm entirely serious. And please forgive me; I realize that my question is technically off topic and a bit of a curve ball, but this is a very narrow area of expertise and generally not expertly addressed in the online coffee forums.

We own an Elektra Semiautomatica, the "Ducati motorcycle" of home espresso machines (see attached image). O.K., with the eagle ornament and slightly retro look, it maybe looks more like a Harley, but like the Ducati, it is made in Italy and is an excellent example of Italian design.

It is also made entirely of solid brass with a heavy solid copper base. All exposed metal is covered with clear coat--and that is my issue. Espresso machines require regular cleaning and descaling, a process involving harsh chemicals and detergents that can quickly cause permanent damage to the clear coat. Even though i am fairly careful and and try to immediately clean off any splashes, followed by treating the area with an IPA-soaked microfiber cloth, there are currently two small spots on the machine where the clear coat was damaged and has subsequently failed. These areas are fairly easy to see because they are the only places where tarnish gradually develops and needs to be periodically removed.

One spot is on the top of the copper base, front righthand side; the second is the lefthand side of the brass grouphead (the part where the portafiler is locked into the machine). I have attached photos of both. The copper base gets warm when the machine is left on, maybe 100° F or so; the grouphead and the central brass boiler are easily twice that temperature.

I am looking for suggestions for two things: 1) how best to repair the damaged clear coat and 2) after the repairs, alternative methods for maintaining the finish. What immediately comes to mind for longterm protection is applying a coating such as Opti-Coat.

With the repairs, I understand that I may not be able to get a perfect result without a complete refinish. Of course, I would love to have "perfect," but would be satisfied with "pretty good" or even just "not pretty but does the job."

Anybody have any ideas or thoughts? I have very little experience with detailing either cars or espresso machines and any input would be greatly appreciated.
 
The general consensus will probably be no, I for one have never detailed one but that doesn't mean it's out of the realm of possibilities...

Copper and brass are non-ferrous metals and providing they're not clear coated will clean up nicely with metal cleaners and polishes designed for these metals.

About a hundred years ago we used to use a product called Brasso. When applied with a soft cloth, it cleaned up just about any copper or brass item to a gleaming shine...

Autogeek may see something here but you'll have to do a little digging...:props:

PS...Flitz works well on brass and copper. I've been suing it for years on firearms and nearly forgot about it!

I see no reason why Optimum Opti-Coat wouldn't work for you...
 
Been there, know the feeling.

Get one 2lbs can of FLITZ polisher $50 and the small yellow tuff ball $20 from the same brand. All this plus shipping.

It will do WONDERS on the brass machine and basically ANY metal you have around, that includes exaust tips and chrome.

It may sound a bit expensive, but a 2 lbs can will last many, many years..
 
Another home remedy you might want to try is Arm & Hammer Baking Soda and vinegar... Sprinkle some baking soda on the area, pour a splash of vinegar then rub with a towel.

Sometimes it takes a while for things to surface.....:laughing:
 
bmwgalore said:
Been there, know the feeling.

Get one 2lbs can of FLITZ polisher $50 and the small yellow tuff ball $20 from the same brand. All this plus shipping.

It will do WONDERS on the brass machine and basically ANY metal you have around, that includes exaust tips and chrome.

It may sound a bit expensive, but a 2 lbs can will last many, many years..
Click to expand...

Right, but he's asking for clear coat failure repair for the coated metal parts and protection - i think flitz metal polish and tuff ball would wreak havoc on the clear coated parts.

my best suggestion would be to contact the manufacturer to see if you can get the clear coating and then make the repairs yourself, or find out what type of clear coating is on the machine, and take the parts to a professional to have the damage parts professionally restored.

Not sure about the 200+ deg temperatures of the upper part, but i would venture a guess that the rest of the machine would be a good candidate for Opti-coat 2.0.

Good Luck!
 
There is a difference between detailing and cleaning something ya know?
 
Agfan said:
There is a difference between detailing and cleaning something ya know?
Click to expand...

Very true, but with the experience on this forum as well as other hobbies/interests, someone may have good suggestions to help the OP out.
 
Thanks for all the responses, but I guess I didn't make myself entirely clear. Except for the two spots that have failed, every inch of the exterior is finished with clear coat; the brass and copper under this coating never tarnishes, which is it's purpose. I want to actually repair this finish, not just clean it. And when I clean it, I need to clean it like clear-coated paint, not like brass and copper, which is sealed in under the coating.

It's a similar type of clear coat as used on cars and motorcycles. My problem is the couple of small spots where the clear coat has failed which I would like to patch/refinish if possible, not keep treating with copper and brass polishes which only make those areas grow larger in the long run.

If this were a car, would it be possible to patch up the clear coat if the missing areas were small? It would probably be worth a try if I knew what to do.
 
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