DeLonghi La Specialista knobs snapping off, anyone else dealt with this?

[Thomas Martinez]

Saw a few mentions in this thread of how fragile the knobs is on the La Specialista. If the machine is bumped, or if one of these knobs experiences what amounts to a side hit to the machine, the knob will pop off. The fix for these issues is to apply some plastic glue to the broken piece of the knob, reinsert it into the machine, and allow the plastic glue to fully cure prior to using the machine again. Since the amount of stress the machine exerts upon these knobs during normal use isnt especially highly, the use of plastic adhesive is sufficient to provide the knob with longevity.
What people might be curious about is where the knob break on these machines. Is it always at the same spot? Additionally, a few people may have considered using something stronger than plastic glue to secure these knobs; something like epoxy. Epoxy can be strong, but does it make future repairs with these knobs easier? One might think that DeLonghi should of used a stronger plastic for this machine at the cost of the machine. It appears, however, that this is the nature of many DeLonghi machines, regardless of there cost. Has anyone here encountered the need to glue one of these knobs back on to the machine?

 

[Attractive A]

mine snapped at the base of the steam knob. Where the knob attaches to the steam wand shaft. The stress riser from the molding. JB plastic weld held it for over a year now no issues.

 

[Gorgeous Gerbil]

the steam knob is the usual culprit. The plastic for the steam knob is too thin around the D shaped cutout for the brass steam wand shaft. Once it breaks you can see how thin the plastic is, like 1.5mm at it's thinnest point.

 

[Scottish Bible Basketb]

I’ve used epoxy before but it’s overkill and yeah, it does make future repairs with the knobs a pain. Plastic glue works or even superglue with a bit of baking soda.

 

[Bewilder]

I’ve used epoxy before but it’s overkill and yeah, it does make future repairs with the knobs a pain. Plastic glue works or even superglue with a bit of baking soda.

wait does baking soda work with superglue like that to strengthen it? ive heard people talk about doing that with the knobs but never why it works

 

[Scottish Bible Basketb]

wait does baking soda work with superglue like that to strengthen it? ive heard people talk about doing that with the knobs but never why it works

It reacts with the superglue to create a plastic like filler. Stronger than superglue alone in this situation. Though it gets hot when it cures so use on a scrap knob first.

 

[Inc]

delonghi quality control is a joke. Pay $900+ for an espresso machine where the knobs is made out of recycled yogurt cups.

 

[Biblical Chicken]

The steam knob broke after about 8 months of use on my machine. My wife bumped the machine while placing a pan back into the shelf above the machine. I used some Loctite plastic bonder to secure the knob and it has held up for nearly two years now. The break point was very clean at the base of the knob.

 

[Bewilder]

The steam knob broke after about 8 months of use on my machine. My wife bumped the machine while placing a pan back into the shelf above the machine. I used some Loctite plastic bonder to secure the knob and it has held up for nearly two years now. The break point was very clean …

is the loctite plastic bonder the same as two part epoxy? or is it different? the bottles look the same at the store.

 

[Misty Mandrill]

if you must glue knobs on a machine that costs $1000 you bought the wrong machine. A profitec or lelit would of had metal knobs instead of plastic.

 

[Attractive A]

if you must glue knobs on a machine that costs $1000 you bought the wrong machine. A profitec or lelit would of had metal knobs instead of plastic.

not everyone wants to drop $2000+ on an espresso machine to avoid a design flaw.

 

[Funny Fowl]

knobs break at the same point on most machines. At the inner sleeve where the knob attaches to the machine shaft. A thin ring of plastic splits. Plastic molded as one piece instead of metal insert for knob shaft would cost them around 20 cents per unit.

 

[Gorgeous Gerbil]

knobs break at the same point on most machines. At the inner sleeve where the knob attaches to the machine shaft. A thin ring of plastic splits. Plastic molded as one piece instead of metal insert for knob shaft would cost them around 20 cents per unit.

Exactly this. A brass insert would have completely solved it. Every other manufacturer in this price range uses inserts, no idea what DeLonghi was thinking.

 

[Unbeli]

lmao mine snapped the day after the warranty ran out, classic

 

[Envious Emu]

has anyone tried 3d printing a replacement? Seems like a good candidate for petg or something tougher than whatever Delonghi used

 

[Funny Fowl]

has anyone tried 3d printing a replacement? Seems like a good candidate for petg or something tougher than whatever Delonghi used

Yeah, there's a few files on printables. Petg works, abs is better. The issue is the splined shaft match, have to use calipers to get that just right.

 

[Bewilder]

has anyone tried 3d printing a replacement? Seems like a good candidate for petg or something tougher than whatever Delonghi used

oh interesting. Does the file include the d-shaft cutout or should that be done myself? what infill do people usually use for this project?

 

[Adorable All]

Epoxy is not overkill to solve this problem. JB Weld original (not the quick stuff) on a properly roughed up break will outlast the rest of the machine. People say it makes future repairs hard because they did not properly prepare the break with JB weld the first time.

 

[Scottish Bible Basketb]

Epoxy is not overkill to solve this problem. JB Weld original (not the quick stuff) on a properly roughed up break will outlast the rest of the machine. People say it makes future repairs hard because they did not properly prepare the break with JB weld the first time.

The original JB weld is metal filled and gray in color, looks like ass on a white knob. That's the only reason I don't recommend it for visible knobs.

 

[Adorable All]

The original JB weld is metal filled and gray in color, looks like ass on a white knob. That's the only reason I don't recommend it for visible knobs.

who cares what the inside of the knob looks like when its assembled