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Enhancing My HotTop (3 of 5) - Chaff Handling:
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| ciel-007 |
Posted on 07/13/2012 20:32
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1/2 Pounder
Posts: 299
Joined: 04/03/2012 20:37
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This is the 3rd post in a series about modifications to my HotTop. The 1st post contained a list of potential annoyances with the roaster:
http://homeroaste...post_37257
The 2nd post talked about the absence of a bean mass temperature probe in the HotTop, and how to modify and improve the roaster in this regard.
http://homeroaste...post_37580
This time, I look at enhancements that help me cope with chaff. Capturing and disposing of chaff is a challenge for every home roaster. In the case of the HotTop, most of the chaff drops into a special tray below the roasting chamber; however, some chaff stays behind and accumulates in the roasting chamber above. During use, chaff will also get trapped in the front roasting window. Some chaff will eventually find its way into the back of the machine, where the motor and electronic components are housed. Chaff build-up can be messy, and might eventually encumber proper functioning of the roaster. After experiencing these annoyances first-hand, Randy Glass prepared some excellent instructions on how to go about cleaning all parts of the HotTop roaster:
http://www.espres...resso.com/
The HotTop owner’s manual recommends periodic dismantling of the roaster for cleanup. The most frequent cleanups involve removing the front of the roaster for cleaning inside the roasting chamber. That is also a good time to take apart the front viewing window assembly to dislodge the unsightly chaff that gets stuck between the glass and the steel back plate. In order to reduce the time and the effort required to clean the HotTop, I have come up with a couple of chaff handling enhancements:
Ciel... seeking Heaven in a cup with......................................................... EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLKÖNIG/Baratza Vario - GENE CAFE - HOTTOP KN8828P2 - HotTop KN8828B2
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| ciel-007 |
Posted on 07/13/2012 20:36
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1/2 Pounder
Posts: 299
Joined: 04/03/2012 20:37
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Chaff Tray Vacuum Tool
The first solution involves making a vacuum accessory to clean out the chaff (see photo) in the roasting chamber; having such a tool reduces the need to dismantle the front of the roaster (i.e. removing the front cover, unscrewing the bearing plate, and pulling out the drum):
ciel-007 attached the following image:
Ciel... seeking Heaven in a cup with......................................................... EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLKÖNIG/Baratza Vario - GENE CAFE - HOTTOP KN8828P2 - HotTop KN8828B2
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| ciel-007 |
Posted on 07/13/2012 20:37
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1/2 Pounder
Posts: 299
Joined: 04/03/2012 20:37
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Chaff Tray Vacuum Tool
To make this accessory, I took a spare ShopVac plastic crevice tool, and softened the long narrow tip with a heat gun. I then slipped a small aluminum tube inside the crevice tool. After the tube was in place, I pressed the soft plastic up against the metal tube with my hand (wearing gloves) to ensure a snug fit. I used a ¾” x 14” aluminum tube, and it projects about 9 inches beyond the plastic crevice tool. A metal tube this size is small enough to fit inside the chaff tray cavity of the HotTop, and long enough to reach all the way to the back of the roaster.
ciel-007 attached the following image:
Ciel... seeking Heaven in a cup with......................................................... EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLKÖNIG/Baratza Vario - GENE CAFE - HOTTOP KN8828P2 - HotTop KN8828B2
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| ciel-007 |
Posted on 07/13/2012 20:39
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1/2 Pounder
Posts: 299
Joined: 04/03/2012 20:37
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Chaff Tray Vacuum Tool
With the aid of this vacuum tool, I now rarely need to dismantle the front of the roaster to manually remove the chaff inside the roasting chamber. Here is how I use the tool.
As soon as the HotTop has ejected the beans (while the beans are cooling), I remove the chaff tray and empty it. Then, I turn on my shopvac and insert the vacuum tool into the chaff tray opening, and suck out any remaining chaff. I make sure that the metal tube reaches all the way to the back of the roaster. Before pulling out the tool from the roaster, I angle the tube tip upwards until it touches the drum, and to the right until it touches the side of the roasting chamber; then I gently pull it back towards me. I do this for both sides of the chaff tray cavity; however, I pay special attention to the back right side of the cavity, above which most of the chaff tends to accumulate inside the roasting chamber.
ciel-007 attached the following image:
Ciel... seeking Heaven in a cup with......................................................... EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLKÖNIG/Baratza Vario - GENE CAFE - HOTTOP KN8828P2 - HotTop KN8828B2
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| ciel-007 |
Posted on 07/13/2012 20:40
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1/2 Pounder
Posts: 299
Joined: 04/03/2012 20:37
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Chaff Tray Vacuum Tool
I use the vacuum tool after every roast, even while the HotTop is still hot. The metal tube is long enough to prevent any heat damage from occurring to the ShopVac’s plastic components. Once in a while, I do dismantle the front of the roaster in order to inspect the roasting chamber, and to wipe away residue on the window glass. So far, I am impressed by the effectiveness of the vacuum accessory in preventing chaff build-up inside the roasting chamber.
Ciel... seeking Heaven in a cup with......................................................... EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLKÖNIG/Baratza Vario - GENE CAFE - HOTTOP KN8828P2 - HotTop KN8828B2
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| ciel-007 |
Posted on 07/13/2012 20:42
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1/2 Pounder
Posts: 299
Joined: 04/03/2012 20:37
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Front Window Gasket
Having to periodically dismantle the front cover in order to remove the unsightly chaff (see photo) that’s wedged between the glass and the back steel panel can be irksome.
ciel-007 attached the following image:
Ciel... seeking Heaven in a cup with......................................................... EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLKÖNIG/Baratza Vario - GENE CAFE - HOTTOP KN8828P2 - HotTop KN8828B2
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| ciel-007 |
Posted on 07/13/2012 20:43
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1/2 Pounder
Posts: 299
Joined: 04/03/2012 20:37
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Front Window Gasket
I solved this annoyance with a simple bead of high temperature silicone (RTV). The idea was to fill the empty space (between the glass and the metal frame) in which the chaff falls into and gets stuck. I dismantled the front cover in order to access the glass and the retaining steel back panel. Before proceeding with the silicone, I applied a releasing agent (a thin coat of petroleum jelly) to all surfaces to which I did not want the silicone to adhere – that included the glass and front cover. In order to protect the 4 threaded screw holes inside the front cover, I inserted round toothpicks into the openings. I applied a silicone bead to the steel back panel as shown in the photo. I then gently repositioned the panel over the 4 toothpicks, the glass and front cover. I removed the toothpicks and partially engaged the 4 screws in their respective holes, taking care to NOT to squeeze out the silicone; I did this to ensure that I would have good gasket thickness after curing.
ciel-007 attached the following image:
Ciel... seeking Heaven in a cup with......................................................... EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLKÖNIG/Baratza Vario - GENE CAFE - HOTTOP KN8828P2 - HotTop KN8828B2
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| ciel-007 |
Posted on 07/13/2012 20:45
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1/2 Pounder
Posts: 299
Joined: 04/03/2012 20:37
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Front Window Gasket
In order to accelerate curing, I placed the entire front cover assembly into my stove oven; at the bottom of the oven, I also placed a large cookie tray filled with hot water. I kept the oven in the 199F-212F for several hours; the hot moist environment acted as a catalyst to speed up the curing process. The next day, I tightened the screws to compress the new gasket before trimming the excess silicone with a sharp blade. Before conducting my first roast with the modified front cover, I disassembled the cover in order to clean all traces of the releasing agent (petroleum jelly) still remaining on the cover components using a solution of TSP.
ciel-007 attached the following image:
Ciel... seeking Heaven in a cup with......................................................... EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLKÖNIG/Baratza Vario - GENE CAFE - HOTTOP KN8828P2 - HotTop KN8828B2
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| ciel-007 |
Posted on 07/13/2012 20:48
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1/2 Pounder
Posts: 299
Joined: 04/03/2012 20:37
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Front Window Gasket
So far, the high temperature silicone gasket works very well; it does indeed prevent any chaff from getting stuck between the glass window and the metal frame. The new gasket is also preventing air leakage that had been occurring earlier around the loose-fitting glass. As a result, there is an additional unexpected benefit; there is now less roasting residue accumulating on the glass than before the modification, and a reduced need to remove the front cover to wash the glass.
The combined benefits of the Chaff Tray Vacuum Tool, and the Front Window Gasket have greatly reduced the frequency with which I previously had to dismantle the HotTop for cleaning.
I now have more time to enjoy what I love most – Roasting!
Ciel... seeking Heaven in a cup with......................................................... EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLKÖNIG/Baratza Vario - GENE CAFE - HOTTOP KN8828P2 - HotTop KN8828B2
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| Dan |
Posted on 07/14/2012 04:01
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Founder - Member
Posts: 1798
Joined: 10/24/2005 17:09
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Nice article! Informative and good use of pictures.  |
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| smico |
Posted on 07/15/2012 05:59
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1/4 Pounder
Posts: 96
Joined: 12/17/2011 12:09
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Very nice articles ciel. Most people, like me, live with anoyances, but I like your thinking out of the box and fixing the issues.
There is food grade silicone adhesive that I will use for this mod:
http://www.emisup...-2282.html |
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| smico |
Posted on 07/15/2012 17:24
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1/4 Pounder
Posts: 96
Joined: 12/17/2011 12:09
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I have just bought food grade silicone from Ebay, the same company. Temperature up to 500F:
http://www.ebay.c...0668027353 |
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| ciel-007 |
Posted on 07/20/2012 12:58
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1/2 Pounder
Posts: 299
Joined: 04/03/2012 20:37
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I considered purchasing food grade silicone. However, I found articles that said silicone became inert after curing.
Ciel... seeking Heaven in a cup with......................................................... EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLKÖNIG/Baratza Vario - GENE CAFE - HOTTOP KN8828P2 - HotTop KN8828B2
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| smico |
Posted on 07/23/2012 18:46
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1/4 Pounder
Posts: 96
Joined: 12/17/2011 12:09
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This is good to know. I learned a lot from this post, especially about curing process.
When can we expect continuation of the series? I am curious to see how you resolved smoke issue with HT.
Cheers
Miroslav |
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| smico |
Posted on 05/06/2013 03:59
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1/4 Pounder
Posts: 96
Joined: 12/17/2011 12:09
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Ciel,
I was happy to see that Hottop with your Front window seal has been used for home roasting presentation on Coffecon 2013 at GCBC tent.
Picture is here (registration required):
http://www.greenc...=15244.105
Cheers,
Miroslav
Hottop B2 + HTC, Cremina 83, OE Pharos, Brewtus IIIR, Baratza Vario
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| Barrie |
Posted on 05/06/2013 06:40
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1/2 Pounder
Posts: 206
Joined: 04/10/2012 20:39
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Missed this part of the series and am so glad to have found it. I have only done 30 roasts in the HT to date but, right from the start, the whole issue of having to use a screwdriver to remove the front pieces has been one of the few somewhat irksome negatives. I was going to go to the hardware store today to see if I could find thumbscrews of the appropriate size, but will postpone until I look into using the silicone trick, probably as an addition. To a prior Fresh Roast and GC user, it is very noticeable that this machine only sends a fraction of its chaff to its target tray? That little vac tool will be very useful.
Thank you, Ciel. 
Barrie
"Just one more tweak and I will have the perfect cup."
Previous equipment: You name it, unitl a Fresh Roast SR500 arrived in March, 2012, then a GC.
Now: Hottop B-2K, Jura Capresso ENA 3 (i.e. espresso).
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| Randy G |
Posted on 05/06/2013 07:27
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1/4 Pounder
Posts: 125
Joined: 02/17/2010 10:05
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The one high temp RTV that was food grade I found stated that it gives off formaldehyde at temperatures about about 320 degrees.
Life's too short to drink bad coffee.
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| Randy G |
Posted on 05/06/2013 07:58
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1/4 Pounder
Posts: 125
Joined: 02/17/2010 10:05
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The MSDS States:
"Comments: When heated to temperatures above 150 °C in the presence of air, product can form formaldehyde vapors. Formaldehyde is a potential cancer hazard, a known skin and respiratory sensitizer, and an irritant to the eyes, nose, throat, skin and digestive system."
Life's too short to drink bad coffee.
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| smico |
Posted on 05/06/2013 09:52
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1/4 Pounder
Posts: 96
Joined: 12/17/2011 12:09
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Thank you for the heads up Randy.
Ciel, is the one you are using less nasty?
Hottop B2 + HTC, Cremina 83, OE Pharos, Brewtus IIIR, Baratza Vario
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| fore |
Posted on 05/10/2013 08:40
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Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: 01/30/2013 10:02
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Thanks Smico for the heads up about this thread, and Thanks Randy for actually reading the MSDS. I confirmed that Randy's right about formaldehyde unfort! And, I looked at several "high temp food grade silicon" and they all emit formaldehyde. So I'm just going to scrape off what I have on there and I guess forgo this mod.
Here's what I looked at:
1. http://www.emisupply.com/catalog/emi5005-food-grade-adhesive-silicone-sealant-black-103oz-p-9732.html#DETAILS
2. even this "food grade high temp" is the same: http://www.etundra.com/Red_High_Temperature_Food_Grade_Silicone_Caulk-P1573.html
3. And Sil Bond, advertises as food grade, like the 6500, but none of their products are food grade.
If anyone knows of any non formaldehyde silicon, please post it here. Otherwise, I'll just do without till I can find some seal that's not going to give me cancer. |
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