Steam Tip Swap...
Hello to all... proudly use a 2 group NS Aurelia daily and have one minor issue. I'd like to remove the stock steam tips for cleaning often, but find them rather difficult to remove. Have tried the usual soaking and light wrenching with pliers to no avail. Will probably crank down on them with ViseGrips for removal, then replace with something more user friendly. Tips that have flat sides for easy removal with a wrench. Have contacted NS, they recommend their "competition" tips and they are around $32 each factory price. Are there cheaper alternatives... something that will work well regardless of brand, etc? Thanks in advance.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Joseph Robertson on
-
Shadow,
I have the same machine so I will watch this post with great interest. I want to do the same. Just don't have time right now.
JoeR
-
Permalink Reply by Daniel King Pizzutti on
-
Definitely, change them. Like you said, ones with two opposing flat sides will be best. There is even a tape that is handy to make sure the seal on the threads is tight. Which is important if the wand is used a lot, and consequently cleaned a lot. Although I don't know of any brands off the top of my head, the workers at espresso parts are very helpful and can help you find a match for your machine. But in my opinion, you should just buy the comp. ones from NS, as well as an additional one. Don't worry, you shouldn't need to replace them often at all. But be careful of using a wrench, I once broke of the thread tip of the wand, and if NS is like La Marzocco, finding another wand can be long and expensive.
-
Permalink Reply by Brady on
-
I struggle with removing the stock steam tip as well. No tricks here, I'm afraid. I've half a mind to take a handful to a machine shop and have some flats milled...
The competition tip is very nice. The tip itself is much smaller in size but it still has 4 holes that appear to be the same diameter as stock. They are clustered closer together, but I seem to recall that usability is about the same.
There's also another alternative that might interest you - a tip with even smaller holes. I spec'd this tip for a customer that only did small milk pitchers - nothing bigger than an 8oz latte. They liked how it turned down the steam power, but this option is clearly not for everyone. If your shop does lots of maccs and traditional capps it might be worth considering.
That price sounds about right for list.
Can't speak to aftermarket tips.
-
-
Thanks for the heads up Brady, on the "tip." HAHA pun intended.
Anyways, I'm curious if the tip has flats on it, cause if it did. It wouldn't be too hard to change the tip on the fly. Could be interesting, and sounds like fun! Thanks again.
-
Permalink Reply by Shadow on
-
Thanks for the replies! Brady, I will probably stick with the standard tip hole size because we do quite a bit of large batch steaming (hot chocolate at large events, etc) and our average latte sold is 16 oz. Good idea though!
Jeff, just quoting what one of the Simonelli tech guys told me to do with the Vise-Grips. Of course I would wrap tape over the tip or cover with a cloth to minimize marring.
Plan is to now order the competition tips then get the stock tips off as carefully as I can to possibly save for backups. I am totally satisfied with the steaming ability with the stock tips, just have no easy way to get them off for routine cleaning. Would like to add I don't care too much for simply submerging the tip/wand in a pitcher of cleaning solution for long periods of time. Would also like to be able to scrub inside of the wands with the Pallo Steamy Wanda brush I bought months ago. Again, thanks for all replies!
-
-
Jeff Jaworski said:"Will probably crank down on them with ViseGrips for removal"
^^ Please do not do this to Miss Aurelia.
Find out what size the threads are first. 10mm is the most common I believe. If so, you have many different choices to play around with, not to mention there are adapters available as well.
Like tampers you can never have too many steam tips in your arsenal!
OK, Jeff. How do you remove the Aurelia tip? Really. I hate the vise grip as much as you do, but don't know what else to do.
Be careful with wrapping cloth or tape around the tip. I tried that a few times and found that the vise grip slipped, causing even longer and deeper gouges than the small nicks if I got a good grip in the first place.
I had an idea for a tool specifically for this and will play around in the shop. Something along the lines of a miniature oil filter wrench (the wrap-around kind, not the giant socket kind) with a soft, tacky inner surface... anyone run across a tool like that before?
Daniel, both of the tips that I mentioned have flats.
-
-
Sounds like a good idea. OR what I might try... a tool that I have at home designed for the install/removal of circlips/snap rings pictured in link below...
http://www.amazon.com/Snap-Ring-Circlip-Pliers-Set/dp/B003R6K1BC/re...
Would allow tips to be inserted into steam tip holes and may provide enough leverage to remove them with no damage to holes... just a thought!
-
-
Shadow said:Sounds like a good idea. OR what I might try... a tool that I have at home designed for the install/removal of circlips/snap rings pictured in link below...
http://www.amazon.com/Snap-Ring-Circlip-Pliers-Set/dp/B003R6K1BC/re...
Would allow tips to be inserted into steam tip holes and may provide enough leverage to remove them with no damage to holes... just a thought!
I'd thought about that too, but was concerned about possibly damaging the holes.
Just checked, and the points on my pliers do fit perfectly in the holes, with a fair amount of engagement. The problem is the angle - the tips point outward at what looks about like 30-45 degrees from straight. You'd need to modify a pair in a bench vise to the correct angle to get both tips engaged. It might work though.
Heck, I'll gamble a $5 pair of pliers to save a couple of $30 steam tips (or a couple of dissatisfied $500/year customers). If I get a chance I'll try it out this afternoon.
-
-
Here's the factory NS tip lineup. From L-R Stock, Competition, and "smaller hole one who's name I don't recall".
Note the flats on the alternative tips. Also note the external threads and o-ring on the tip. Not sure what the thread is.
Hope this helps.
-
-
Shadow,
Do you have the no scald wands on your Aurelia?
Joe
Shadow said:Thanks for the replies! Brady, I will probably stick with the standard tip hole size because we do quite a bit of large batch steaming (hot chocolate at large events, etc) and our average latte sold is 16 oz. Good idea though!
Jeff, just quoting what one of the Simonelli tech guys told me to do with the Vise-Grips. Of course I would wrap tape over the tip or cover with a cloth to minimize marring.
Plan is to now order the competition tips then get the stock tips off as carefully as I can to possibly save for backups. I am totally satisfied with the steaming ability with the stock tips, just have no easy way to get them off for routine cleaning. Would like to add I don't care too much for simply submerging the tip/wand in a pitcher of cleaning solution for long periods of time. Would also like to be able to scrub inside of the wands with the Pallo Steamy Wanda brush I bought months ago. Again, thanks for all replies!
-
-
Brady, thanks for the pic. That helps out alot as to the differences. That competition tip looks to be the way to go.
Joseph, I don't think they are no-scald as they get quite warm when used. The wand material is apparently high quality as I find them very easy to clean up. I do believe the Smart Wand on our Aurelia is no-scald judging by the design of it, but I don't use it often. However, I do find it useful for heating things like cider to a preset temperature without having to babysit it or worry about tainting the main steam wands with off flavors.
-
-
Shadow,
I was just curious about your main wands not the auto steam fixture. I opted for the no-scald version. They have a plastic liner inside the stainless wand. Very nice when engineering ideas work out like this. You could hold the wand with a bare hand and not get burned. The best part of them is the milk does not burn on no matter what. I was just curious if you had this option on your Aurelia.
Shadow said:Brady, thanks for the pic. That helps out alot as to the differences. That competition tip looks to be the way to go.
Joseph, I don't think they are no-scald as they get quite warm when used. The wand material is apparently high quality as I find them very easy to clean up. I do believe the Smart Wand on our Aurelia is no-scald judging by the design of it, but I don't use it often. However, I do find it useful for heating things like cider to a preset temperature without having to babysit it or worry about tainting the main steam wands with off flavors.
Barista Exchange Partners
Barista Exchange Friends
Keep Barista Exchange Free
Are you enjoying Barista Exchange? Is it helping you promote your business and helping you network in this great industry? Donate today to keep it free to all members. Supporters can join the "Supporters Group" with a donation. Thanks!
© 2024 Created by Matt Milletto.
Powered by
