Pressing for some help!

[Maccano Magic]

I have aquired an old 60 Ltr cider press with a steel collecting base and spout, slatted oak container with steel bands and bolts.
The steel has rusted slightly and the oak hasn't been used or cleaned in a long time.

I need to get on cleaning it up today and need advise :hmm:

Shout if I'm gona do something wrong here but so far this is the best I can make out

I'm going to strip the whole thing down sand the timber back a bit to get rid of real surface dirt and then clean with a weak bleach in water then rinse twice with warm/ hot water. Leave to dry

The steel I'm gona clean down with sander and conditioning pad, this was originally painted but I' not sure whether to re paint with a spray or clean down and use a vegetable oil to seal the surface? Prior to use I would wash down thoroughly with hot water let dry and press apples straight away.

For next year I will get all the steel sand blasted and re coated with a powder coat but have no time this year.

What you think? :thumb: Or a big :nono:

 

[31bb3]

Any pics of the press ? how dirty is it ?

 

[foraged_plonker]

IMHO dont over stress, if ot dont wipe off with a cloth it ain't likely to come off in your brew.

My press gets a basic treatment: Spray with a hose and a wipe with a clean soapy cloth. then more hose action. Finally i boil the kettle and pour it over the lot.

If you are using CT and new yeast culture and everything else is cleaned properly you shouldn't have any problems.

Look at the old farm presses, they were never deep cleaned, if in doubt throw the firs litre of juice away as this is there the most of the grime will be.

Good luck, how much are you planning to press? :thumb:

 

[Maccano Magic]

The press was really dirty and the rust very bad in places.
Iv'e taken it apart and ground the rust of and sprayed the parts that arn't in the path of the juice.
The base plate with spout is back to bare metal as the rust was proper naughty and the timber slats are now sanded back ( not completely) just enough to rid of nasty furry bits and to be honest it's starting to look good.
I'm glad I caught your post because I'm not that keen on bleaching and I think I'm gona boil lots of water and give it a good clean down then put it back together.
As for the bare metal base The best I can think to do is coat it in a vegetable oil until I use it then clean it properly and press some juice.
good idea to throw the first bit away, I'm gona be pressing about 10 gallons so it'll be a bit nerve racking
opened a beer to see this through as none of my own on the go

Still if you never try you'll never know :thumb: