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Saturday 18 June 2011

Refurbishing an ugly duckling into a swan

I have been looking for a coffee grinder to use as a herb grinder - for ages.


A couple of weeks ago I saw this:
I wasn't particularly impressed, because it didn't look in such great condition, but, beggars can't be choosers :-)  It had this weird pattern on it...
And it looked pretty rusty...
But the grinding receptacle / drawer looked OK...
... and my on-line bid won it on the auction...


So, when it arrived I set to work - well, with the help of RMan.


The painted pattern came off quite easily, but they had put a chalky white layer below the pattern - that took forever to remove (and that's where RMan's help came in.)  60 grit sandpaper - and it still took about an hour to clean off. RMan said it was a bit of a grind... LOL


The grinding mechanism was stripped out and wire brushed - there was even old dried ground coffee in the grinding cogs.


Then we sanded with a finer sandpaper, and gave it a coat of food-friendly wood preservative.


What am I left with...


... an absolute beauty :-)
The collection bowl is polished bright and sparkling on the outside - I didn't want to contaminate the inside of the bowl with wood ash, so I gave that a good wipe and just a whisper of olive oil...
... the grinder works perfectly, thanks to a grinding adjuster (it's visible on the first photo - it's the nifty little lever thingy below the grinding handle which slots into a tooth on the tensioner according to how fine / coarse you want to grind things ...
Here is a view of how finely it ground coriander seeds...
Don't you just love it :-)


The ugly duckling became a swan - and all it took was about 2 hours of TLC.  It just shows you - if one can see the potential in an ugly duckling, then the results are limitless...


One for coffee and one for herbs - now I'm all set!


And best of all it's re-using something which is in perfect working order.  In place of buying the latest electrical appliance which will needlessly drain our (currently) limited power I have something which will allow me hours and hours of quiet contemplation whilst I work...


I can't wait to try it on my dried home grown herbs.
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17 comments:

  1. Jane @ Hard Work Homestead18 June 2011 at 15:29

    I love it! It came out so nice.

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  2. Dani18 June 2011 at 15:36

    Jane - LOL - thanks - I think so too :-)

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  3. African Bliss18 June 2011 at 16:19

    Its a beaut! well done..

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  4. Dani18 June 2011 at 16:59

    African Bliss - Thanks :-)

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  5. Mr. H.18 June 2011 at 17:34

    It is beautiful, what a transformation....good job.:)

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  6. Dani18 June 2011 at 18:08

    Mr H - Thanks - I am totally happy with it :-)

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  7. Anonymous18 June 2011 at 19:07

    Nice job!! That looks very much like a Zassenhaus. The only thing that would harm the burrs is a small stone. I carry one of these grinders when I travel so that I can make perfect coffee.

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  8. Dani18 June 2011 at 19:19

    Fallerya - Welcome :-)

    Ah now, a Zassenhaus is the creme de la creme of grinders - maybe I'll own one in my next life... LOL

    I will always check the spices for small stones - thanks for the tip.

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  9. Gillie@LivingSimpleFrugalityBlog18 June 2011 at 23:40

    Wow- That looks great!! I have an old second hand cabinet in my bathroom that needs some love- you have reminded me and provided me with some much needed motivation!!

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  10. Barb.19 June 2011 at 01:11

    That's lovely. I bought a plastic one from the op-shop that works but would love one like that. Not sure I would have seen the potential though...

    Barb.

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  11. Tami19 June 2011 at 02:43

    The transformation is amazing! I would never have thought it was the same grinder. Good Job!

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  12. Dani19 June 2011 at 08:14

    Gillie - Thanks - and very glad to have been of inspiration LOL

    Barb - Keep you eye out on the site I gave you - you may find another one on offer...

    Tami - Thanks - promise you, it is :-)

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  13. wickets19 June 2011 at 15:12

    effing stunning You should send pic to seller!!! hahahahaha

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  14. Dani19 June 2011 at 16:40

    wickets - LOL reckon you should be called wicked.

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  15. Anonymous19 June 2011 at 18:50

    Lovely! That is a great transformation. Job well done! Emily

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  16. RobynLouise20 June 2011 at 00:32

    You and Rman did a brilliant job on 'restoring' this! Wishing you many hours of contemplative grinding as a reward for your labours :).

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  17. Dani20 June 2011 at 06:48

    Emilysincerely - Thanks and thanks LOL

    Stitchin' Time - Welcome. You're right - RMan was a g-r-e-a-t help! :-)

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Thank you for taking the time to comment - it makes my day and removes the "loneliness' of sitting at my screen blogging supposedly to myself ;) I try and reply as quickly as possible so please forgive me if sometimes my response is delayed.