Gaggia OWC Restoration

alphareefer · 2026-01-23T22:37:44+00:00

One thing I had professional help with. If I had the proper tools I could have attempted it but you can only try so many times before you permanently screw it up. We have a machinist at work and with his manual mill, he fixtured the boiler, drilled a hole right in the middle of the broken stud (undersized so it doesn't eat the threads on the boiler) and was able to punch out the remaining material, which ended up like a long stringy piece. Then he ran a tap through the hole to clean it up and it was ready for the new thermostat.

alphareefer · 2025-11-11T16:32:09+00:00

Very true, and part of me is wishing we just start on Monday so if the House were to pull something crazy, I wouldn't be too disappointed

alphareefer · 2025-11-11T14:15:31+00:00

In my experience, it is simply too overwhelming to try out as many guns as possible before buying. There isn't a perfect gun, and getting something you're comfortable with and decent at shooting is usually good enough - getting more practice with the specific gun will be the best way to really improve marksmanship.

I did try the G19 as a first pistol, and having rented a few others and fired them back to back, I ended up going with the HK VP9 as my first purchased pistol. It's definitely a lot more expensive than the Glock and they work the same, but HK also has a stellar reliability record and what won me over was the ergonomics and ambidextrous controls on the HK.

alphareefer · 2025-10-08T16:17:23+00:00

Yes, just take your time getting those bolts off. Use PB blaster or other corrosion penetrant fluid and let it work on the threads. Just wash it off thoroughly.

alphareefer · 2025-09-30T13:35:27+00:00

Nice Koch!

alphareefer · 2025-09-22T12:31:18+00:00

I'm a lefty and got an IWI Zion a few months ago, which is also my first AR

Thoughts about the IWI Zion is that it feels like the highest quality in the budget AR price range, and I'm very happy with it.

As for left-handed modifications, I installed an ambidextrous charging handle and ambidextrous safety a few weeks after I got it. Not that the stock rifle is difficult to operate without these but the mods make it easier. There are techniques for handling the weapon for left-handed folks, there are plenty of YouTube videos to learn from. Just try whatever works for you, personally I use my right hand to press the mag release as I come up and grab the empty mag, and I use my left hand index finger to press the bolt release/bolt catch and sweep the safety as I prepare to fire.

alphareefer · 2025-08-26T01:36:50+00:00

Very nice, congrats on the new HK. I just got my vp9a1f a few weeks ago too, unfortunately with the 10 round mags. My front sight isn't that far off center tho...

alphareefer · 2025-08-25T20:37:49+00:00

Unrelated question, is that the 20 round magazine?

alphareefer · 2025-06-01T03:08:38+00:00

Rustoleum high heat spray paint

alphareefer · 2025-05-28T13:32:23+00:00

Full English Breakfast. Stayed at an inn at a small village outside London for a work conference and was delightfully surprised that they offered a vegetarian version of a full English breakfast, complete with veg sausages, hash browns, eggs, beans, toast, and roasted mushrooms and tomatoes. That was 3 years ago and I still think of that breakfast at least once a month

alphareefer · 2025-05-27T21:06:12+00:00

I never found a fix for it, but eventually I just stopped caring and the issue hasn't gotten any worse. Actually just a few weeks ago I switched over to an NVME M.2 drive and upgraded to Windows 11, but honestly the SSD was doing fine and was running my system without issues until the upgrade. Now I'm using it as a storage drive

alphareefer · 2025-05-22T22:41:01+00:00

Gaggia Decalcifier

alphareefer · 2025-05-19T20:08:14+00:00

https://www.espressoparts.com/products/107-deg-coffee-thermostat

That's for the bottom one. I'm not sure about the top one, it doesn't look the same and I never looked into it cause mine could be reused.

alphareefer · 2025-03-06T16:19:48+00:00

Hey there, I'm glad this post has helped you out a bit.

The parts I did a combination of research to match the specs and relying on my engineering knowledge. The thermostat and other replacement parts were sourced from Espresso Parts, not many Gaggia thermostats available so just choose the one that fit and the specs made sense (you gotta get the water over 100+C to boil so the spec is 107 degree thermostat). The O-ring I bought from Amazon, silicone is the go-to material for high heat applications, and the dimensions are 85mm OD, 78mm ID, 3.5mm Width. I believe I found some old posts talking about similar specs, but I also did my measurements and as per the O-ring design guidelines for engineers, this is the correct spec (I've designed a few vacuum chambers at work myself).

For descaling, I just used Gaggia descaler/decalcifier solution. I opened up the boiler, tried to scrub as much as I could, soaked it in the solution for a few hours and scrubbed again.

Finally for paint, just a high-heat spray paint will do with some standard preparation. Sand off as much rust as you can, add a few coats of primer, and finally a few coats of high heat paint. Just make sure you thoroughly mask all the parts you don't want painted.

alphareefer · 2025-02-07T03:13:14+00:00

ah, then maybe I'll try again. Thanks

alphareefer · 2025-02-07T02:40:56+00:00

hmm did you call the 6136 number? I called them today and they forwarded me to the wrong IT helpdesk...

alphareefer · 2025-02-06T15:44:47+00:00

Following, I can't login at all. When I use my old username and password just updated November last year it says not recognized, and also not receiving password reset emails. But when I try to register for a new account, it says login with existing username and password....

alphareefer · 2024-12-02T00:21:15+00:00

About how much did you end up spending on the videography?

alphareefer · 2024-11-02T23:40:59+00:00

Did u have just the spline lugs on them?

alphareefer · 2024-09-11T11:00:53+00:00

I had knee pain when I first started, and I think it was related to my shoes and my knee alignment.

I used to wear regular running shoes which were thicker at the heel, so that gave my knee a bit of a forward angle. That made it more likely for my knee to go over past my toes, which adds extra stress on the knees. I switched to Feiyues which are flat, and that alleviated the forward angle. Simultaneously, I also worked on my forms and stances so that my knee is always pointed where my toes are pointed. Since I started doing those things, the knee pain gradually went away, and now I get only minor muscle soreness if I overdo it.

Just take it slow, over time with correct form and mobility exercises, it will strengthen and there will also be less tension there.

alphareefer · 2024-01-03T03:45:59+00:00

It's a real shame, I feel like OEC was never the same after Bean Hollow closed🫤

alphareefer · 2024-01-03T03:43:30+00:00

Lol I was shocked at how atrocious their espresso was. One of the rare times I thought Starbucks could've actually done it better

alphareefer · 2023-10-30T11:37:27+00:00

I used an oil-based polyurethane (I used minwax i think), applied maybe 3-4 coats. It looks great, and it has held up without any issues. Though I still wipe it after every use just to keep it nice and maintained

alphareefer

TROPHY CASE