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Old bike tube as a portafilter gasket, good idea or ticking time bomb?
Last week I was swapping out my espresso machine's portafilter gasket after it started leaking at the 11 month mark. Instead of shelling out $12 for a new one at the shop in Portland, I cut a ring from an old inner tube I had in the garage. It seated fine and held pressure through three shots, no leaks at all. But I keep thinking about how hot the group head gets, like 200 degrees, and whether the rubber is actually food safe or if it'll melt or offgas something nasty. Three years ago I did the same trick on a cheap Saeco and it worked for months, but that machine ran cooler. Is this a clever hack that saves money, or am I one bad shot away from ruining my machine or worse, drinking rubber? Has anyone else tried this and how long did it actually hold up?
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umamurphy27d ago
Ha, you've got more faith in that inner tube than I do. Just a heads up, bike tubes aren't rated for food contact, and at 200 degrees they can break down faster than you think, even if it seems fine now. I'd treat it as a temporary fix, not a long term solution, and keep an eye on it for any soft spots or smell.
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