Sometimes the reason for making something is simply that I want one. JarMagic is one of those projects. I wanted a lid for the little Ball jar I use for espresso around the CL MotoTech machine shop, so I drew one up and machined it from billet 6061 aluminum.

The basic design follows other drinking lids already on the market. There’s no need to pretend I invented drinking coffee from a jar. This is my version, with a few added touches, the CL MotoTech name machined into the top, and a little more time at the mill than a coffee lid probably needs. That’s part of the fun.

I generally use it on a small 8-ounce Ball jar. A stainless steel band holds the lid in place, with a silicone ring providing the seal. The idea is to keep the familiar mason jar setup and give it a lid made here in the shop.

The lid still needs some cleanup. The plan is to finish it up and have it anodized, but this is where the project stands for now: a design turned into an aluminum part, with a bit more work to do.

It’s a small thing, but it’s satisfying to make something for myself that gets used around the machines. A home-crafted espresso jar seems right at home here.