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Feb
9
By Ben Uyeda

EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade




HomeMade Modern DIY Coffee Pot Upgrade Postcard

I use my Hario gooseneck kettle for making pour over coffee. I like everything about it except for its plastic handles, so I decided to carve new handles out of a scrap piece of walnut using my cordless drill. Carving with a drill is really easy using a brad point drill bit, a drum sander and a carving bar. I really like the idea of partial DIY projects that result in an upgraded and customized object. I'm excited to customize more of my stainless steel kitchen items with walnut handles so that they'll match.

HomeMade Modern DIY Coffee Pot Upgrade Supplies

HomeMade Modern DIY Coffee Pot Upgrade Supplies

SUPPLIES:

HomeMade ModernScrap Hardwood
Salvage or at your local lumberyard
I used a scrap piece of 1" thick walnut, but any hardwood would work.

HomeMade ModernHario V60 Buono Coffee Drip Kettle
Available at Amazon.com
I love the iconic shape of this stainless steel kettle.



HomeMade ModernCarving Burr
Available at Home Depot
I got a wood carving burr from the tool section at Home Depot.

HomeMade ModernSanding Drum
Available at Home Depot
A sanding drum can turn any drill into a handy sanding machine.


TOOLS:



HomeMade ModernRYOBI 18 Volt Cordless Drill
Available at Home Depot










INSTRUCTIONS:


STEP 1: Trace the Handle
Trace the outline of the original handle onto the wood.

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 1



STEP 2: Drill Holes
I used a 3/16th diameter brad point bit to drill a series of holes around the traced outline. I like brad point bits for this task because their sharp points keep them from slipping when you drill holes right next to each other. I cut out most of the handle but left a small piece connected to the large piece of wood so that it would be easier to clamp and sand.

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 2



STEP 3: Carve
I clamped the wood to my work table and used the carving burr to shape the handle.

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 3



STEP 4: Sand
Once I hade the rough shape of the handle, I switched to the sanding drum and smoothed down the handle.

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 4



STEP 5: Finish Cutting Off the Handle
After shaping the handle, I cut it off from the larger piece of wood with a drill. I used a knife to clean up a few of the drill marks.

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 5

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 5



STEP 6: Sand
I used 120 and then 320 grit sandpaper to finish the handle.

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 6



STEP 7: Stain
I finished the walnut with a coat of Danish oil.

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 7



STEP 8: Cut Out the Top Knob
I didn't like the design of the original knob because it was too close to the stainless steel and my knuckles would bump into the hot kettle when I would try and remove the lid. I drew a completely new profile for the wooden knob and cut it out with the drill.

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 8

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 8



STEP 9: Carve + Sand
I carved and finished the knob the same way as the handle.

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 9



STEP 10: Remove Plastic Handles
I drilled a series of small holes through the plastic handle and then used wire cutters to clip away the plastic between the holes.

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 10

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 10



STEP 11: Install New Handle
I drilled two holes in the walnut handle to accommodate the coffee pot's metal prongs. The handle fit on securely, but a 2-part epoxy can be used if you don’t achieve a tight fit.

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 11

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 11

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 11

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 11



STEP 12: Screw On Top Knob
The original plastic knob for the Hario kettle screws off. I drilled a hole into the new wooden knob and screwed it onto the lid.

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 12

HomeMade Modern DIY EP58 Coffee Pot Upgrade Step 12

HomeMade Modern DIY Coffee Pot Upgrade Options

HomeMade Modern DIY Coffee Pot Upgrade Options

Good luck making your own coffee pot upgrade and please email or tweet photos to @benuyeda or ben@homemade-modern.com. For more detailed instructions, dimensioned drawings and different variations of the project, check out our soon-to-be-released book.


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