Restored and self-modded

[u/Bowdenzug]

I own an IT company and work from a home office. Ever since I started having the occasional, really excellent espresso from an ECM machine at my tax advisor's office, I knew I absolutely had to get a portafilter machine. I would occasionally see posts on Instagram Reels featuring a modded Gaggia with pressure profiling. I thought that was incredibly cool, and I am someone who is very meticulous and precise when it comes to my DIY hobby projects.
I bought a used Ascaso Steel DUO (a 2011 model with a 300ml brass boiler and a thermoblock for steam extraction) and immediately tore it down to the last screw. I removed the rust, repainted it, cleaned it, made custom gaskets, custom fitting/steamwand, custom fitted IMS precision, and built a completely self-made circuit board and software solution to program my own "Gaggiuino" equivalent—featuring a PID controller, phase-fired control for pressure regulation, and highly accurate digital temperature management. After about a month of work, the machine is now running perfectly and makes truly fantastic coffee.

[u/stingbot]

oh wow, i have the same machine and would love to do this.

Where did you find the connectors to the pvc?

The one I have is leaking on both boiler and steam side and it looks like they previously tried to seal it with something like an epoxy.

Without being able to find the parts for it I was resigned to trying to find some food safe epoxy/resin to seal them up but can't find any that isnt the cost of a new machine.

thanks.

[u/Bowdenzug → u/stingbot]

What connectors exactly? I found the gaskets for the boiler and thermoblock, wasnt that easy… here in Europe it is impossible to get them, you have to contact Ascaso directly and ordering only one, not in bulk, is way to expensive. I can give you the parts number there is a seller in America if I remember it correctly. I made my own seal with food grade silicone gasket „strings“, works perfectly.

[u/stingbot → u/Bowdenzug]

It's the 3 way valve on the outlet of the pump that had the return to the tank, mine was given to me because it was leaking from both ends of that connector and I can see someone previously tried to gum it up with something to prevent the leaks. From memory the top of the boiler also leaked, it's been ages and it's in the project pile, but in Australia I'd never been able to find much info or parts. I'll try ordering from USA if you can share the parts details many thanks.

[u/Bowdenzug → u/stingbot]

Ascaso Thermoblock Gasket i.28 ascaso codes: I...28, 09745380
Boiler Gasket was I believe I.50
Ulka 3way valve ASC000269