Fatcatsplat Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Looking to have a go at making cider and i want to use a cider press as there are hundreds of fruit trees all round me with apples and pears (cor blimey guvnor!!) going begging all the time. Have had a look at the traditional cylindrical cider presses and they seem to go for an absolute fortune, so have had a quick google and i reckon i can make a decent job of building a bottle jack press (make a box frame and use the jack in the middle to squeeze the pulp) - The recommendation is that hardwood be used as pine could taint the fruit and hardwood would be strong enough to cope with the pressures being exerted by the jack, but am having difficulty in opening my wallet and coughing up the fortunes required for oak (especially reclaimed oak), so has anyone got a recommendation for a good hard wood that will be able to take the pressures required while still keeeping me in the black? Think i want to limit the spend to around forty quid as after that I may as well have bought a purpose built press. I was thinking maybe scaffold boards - Any views chaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Make the fram from scaffold, and then scaff boards fir the rest. A bottle. Jack would work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Tool mart sell them. AFAIK it wasnt that pricey. Here you go http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-fp12b-fruit-press?da=1&TC=SRC-press Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Why not just varnish/wax the softwood instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgreco Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 I'm no expert but would metal not be better/cheaper Cheers Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted October 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Why not just varnish/wax the softwood instead? Hmmmmmm - Makes sense I'm no expert but would metal not be better/cheaper Cheers Tom Probably, but i have no method of working metal. Please bear in mind that i am a very clever craftsman, able to turn my hand to anything...........but only in my head - Soon as i bring my hands int the equation it all goes out the window!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgreco Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Do you have a place near you which makes garden tubs out of old barrells? They may supply you with the end of one .... Just a thought Cheers Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosebank22 Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 could you not use a metal drum, like a veg oil drum, cut the top off. build a frame for it, drill some holes in the bottom for the juice then put bottle jack on top to push down. you would need to trip down the edge, or use a can opener to to cut the inside of the drum instead so you have the sturdy top. might need to strength up the top though in case it bends. just an idea - might have to try it myself now i have a couple of drums about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miniross Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 The problem with using metal for any such problem is that the acid from the juice could corrode the metal and in turn taint the flavour of the cider it's the same as when making wine or even when curing meat and fish metal is never a good choice. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deershooter Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 soft wood box around a 5 gallon pastic veg ol barrel (square sided one ) Deershooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hafod Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 as miniross said earlier do not use steel , use a modern press or one made out of hardwood , apple juice contains high amounts of acids that will dissolve steel at an alarming rate , as the acid in the juice corrodes the steel , the cider will turn green in the barrel the cast iron screw was the only iron part of the press , the rest was made out of oak , when cast iron presses were first used in the mid 18 th century many hundreds of people died as a result of drinking cider that was contaminted with dissolved cast iron , cider colic i think it was called ( the cider was green by all accounts ) the modern cast press you can buy today are safe to use as there is a coating on them , so the juice as its being pressed does not come into contact with the steel . ..... good luck ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sky gipsy Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 I've been thinking about a press for a while too. Plastic comes to my mind..... large diameter thick walled pipe for the "cylinder" (drainage or gas mains etc), with a "piston" pressing plate (10mm foamex from a sign makers, glued 3 or 4 thickness together to form a GOOD fit inside the body), reinforced with timber that doesn't come into too much contact with the apple pulp (maybe have to buy a piece of hardwood for a "con rod"). The con rod would be attached to a bottle or hi-lift jack jack which could be attached to a STRONG metal or timber frame, as big forces will be needed to press the chopped fruit. The juices could be collected in a plastic drum. There are loads of ideas of designs & materials on u tube, but I keep thinking about the materials I have to hand. Good luck with your design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosebank22 Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 good point about metal. didn't think about the acid with the metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Nothing wrong with a metal frame and using wood or stainless for the bits that come into contact with the juice. That is what mine is (I press 40 tons a year ish) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lampwick Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 I squashed a shed load of apples in my new £150 cider press a couple of years ago! Got a cracking head ache and gallons of apple vinegar out of the process! Buy it for gods sake! Sainsburys 3 ltr cheap stuff is great! Lampy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted October 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 I squashed a shed load of apples in my new £150 cider press a couple of years ago! Got a cracking head ache and gallons of apple vinegar out of the process! Buy it for gods sake! Sainsburys 3 ltr cheap stuff is great! Lampy He who dares Lampy......he who dares!! I'll never know until i try and if it all goes pear shaped (or apple?) then I'm ok until retirement for cider vinegar!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lampwick Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 He who dares Lampy......he who dares!! I'll never know until i try and if it all goes pear shaped (or apple?) then I'm ok until retirement for cider vinegar!! Go for it Del Boy! If it works and you need some vinegar give me a shout! I think one of my issues was the mix of apples which didn't make it too palatable once fermented. I did squash a few pears and ended up with a quite sweet but reasonable drink with a punch but not much of it. Remember to bash the apples up into small bits before pressing. I used an electric drill with a paint mixer on the end. The juice flowed better. I found it hard to not drink the neat juice as it was quite tasty. Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Essex Hunter Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 Looking to have a go at making cider and i want to use a cider press as there are hundreds of fruit trees all round me with apples and pears (cor blimey guvnor!!) going begging all the time. Have had a look at the traditional cylindrical cider presses and they seem to go for an absolute fortune, so have had a quick google and i reckon i can make a decent job of building a bottle jack press (make a box frame and use the jack in the middle to squeeze the pulp) - The recommendation is that hardwood be used as pine could taint the fruit and hardwood would be strong enough to cope with the pressures being exerted by the jack, but am having difficulty in opening my wallet and coughing up the fortunes required for oak (especially reclaimed oak), so has anyone got a recommendation for a good hard wood that will be able to take the pressures required while still keeeping me in the black? Think i want to limit the spend to around forty quid as after that I may as well have bought a purpose built press. I was thinking maybe scaffold boards - Any views chaps? I would acquire a large ally pub barrel cut the top off; make a frame to fit the jack in, put a pressing lid on and drill holes at the bottom. I guess it depends on how determined you are……. TEH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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