Custom Bianca Paddle?

Ernie1

Has anyone changed the profiling paddle on their Bianca or seen one that’s been changed?

I think the Bianca is a near flawless design but the shape of the paddle always struck me as a little out of place and not even particularly ergonomic. Easy to use for sure, and does the job, doesn’t need changing, but then I didn’t need to buy walnut lids for the Mazzer 😂

I’m considering asking a friend to turn a metal rod basically the same as the group lever, get it chromed and finish with a walnut piece.

But before I do, wondered if there’s a technical reason the paddle looks the way it does. Presumably anything that turns the collar will do?

DavecUK

Ernie1 But before I do, wondered if there’s a technical reason the paddle looks the way it does. Presumably anything that turns the collar will do?

Anything that turns the collar will do fine. I agree it is a bit chunky. You could quite easily get some rod, drill tap and grub screw it…then add a little walnut handle that slips over the end as far up as you want.

BigTTony

Agree with you re how it looks. I’d be interested in seeing what you come up with for sure.

Amberale

I have considered this myself.
Initially it was wondering if I could get or would need a higher flow rate and if turning the paddle further would be of benefit.
Now I don’t think so.
Also I fear that there is a real risk of damaging the gicleur by over closing the paddle if it doesn’t have the paddle as a stop.
Maybe a spring loaded, 180 degree end on your “metal rod” that would stop the new Paddle from over closing on the gicleur but allow it to turn more than 270 degrees?

Ernie1

Amberale

That’s a good point actually and I hadn’t considered it. Definitely makes sense to keep the range of the standard paddle.

I wonder if there’s a way of adding the ‘stoppers’ inside the attachment of the new lever/paddle. I think that would be more elegant than having it just stopped by the machine case as it is now.

I need to get the pens and pencils out and sketch something!

Ernie1

I realised today while greasing the flow valve that it’s a standard spline fitting on the paddle like you’d see on a tap…

So presumably a nice chrome Burlington style tap lever with a walnut sleeve would work well and look great.

However I’m not sure if the spline is a standard plumbing fitting, most tap levers seem to be 20-teeth and about 7.5mm.

To my eye the Bianca valve looks like 20-teeth but only about 5mm.

Does anyone know if an E61 flow valve is a standard plumbing size or if there’s a reducing collar or similar?

DavecUK

Ernie1 Does anyone know if an E61 flow valve is a standard plumbing size or if there’s a reducing collar or similar?

No, but you are right about the splines, I’ve never thought of it.. Somewhere I have an old tap, I might see if the splined fitting is the same.

Ernie1

DavecUK

It seems like such an obvious thing now I’ve realised it. If it does fit that opens up a limitless selection of options that almost all look better than standard paddles. The ones below come in a walnut option and that would be perfect.

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an E61 flow paddle that looks as well-designed as the rest of a machine, they all look a bit clunky when a simple lever would look nice.

Let us know how you get on if you find the tap!

DavecUK

Ernie1 You could only use the hot one really

CoyoteOldMan

DavecUK Definitely not the “filter” one…

Amberale

Are push bike gear levers a match for the shaft?
I’ve seen them used on a lot of LPs.