at some point, i just gotta ax myself:

why am i relying on my weaknesses and using a patience based drilling solution, when i can rely on my strengths and use a gripping-power based snipping, bending, and snipping solution?

why indeedly?

the coffee roaster seems to be much closer to fixed than ever before. it survived a cold bean test, and now i (once again) have a copper cap for the drive shaft. tomorrow i guess i can try a real roast. there's a stopper nut in there and if the roast melts that, it's back to the drarwing board.