we need a bigger press!

[ozzy1000]

hi guys,

newbie here. I've made some cider before but when I do things I tend to "go a bit agricultural" on them. the thing I love about cider is that it lends itself to making stuff and doing as much as possible for free. last year I did about 35gal in demijohns and plastic that were donated by people around the village, all with free apples from mine and friends gardens, with a press made from an old car jack, some old bits of cloth and some oak sheets I had in the shed. I experimented with an upside down lawn mower with a bodged funnel as a scratter, but in the end settled on a large flexi tub and sledge hammer...

anyway this year I've gone fully agricultural and gone for large budget batches. Again I've spent very little money, I've built a larger press that is powered by a donated 10ton lorry jack and does 10-13gallons per press and a 1.5hp scratter built from scrap and the motor from my lathe. So far I've put well over a ton of apples through it (all free so far and at least 50% lovely cider apples) to make 700+litres, about 150+ gallons. I'm planning on doing at least that again before the apples run out. its all going into plastic barrels but some will spend its last racking in oak before being imposed on my friends.



http://goo.gl/photos/38p1VNpkR7CjJRHV9

https://goo.gl/photos/VRJo1hexHQgDULf17

https://goo.gl/photos/RiPXBf6tooR4ig3U7

https://goo.gl/photos/S3DgzF5Ac8Jf86nY9

https://goo.gl/photos/AhZhFFjxnHrXMhb77

https://goo.gl/photos/jkdbK7X3jgprNtwMA

all the best,

O

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Is number 5 the apple of your eye. :wink:

 

[ozzy1000]

Is number 5 the apple of your eye. :wink:

LOL, yes, well one them anyway. She's totally happy for hours with a bucket and a few apples :)

 

[Roddy]

wow that's amazing matey !

 

[Bramble]

Puts my press to shame.

 

[NCFCcrazy]

Puts my press to shame.

Is that a home made press? I want one but a bit steep to buy so got some plans to make one, its finding the time :-(

 

[Bramble]

Is that a home made press? I want one but a bit steep to buy so got some plans to make one, its finding the time :-(

Yes it is, I got the idea from watching a Utube video on home made Cider presses. Being as I'm told handy with timber it wasn't difficult to build without a design it was all worked out in my head first. :drunk:

 

[NCFCcrazy]

Yes it is, I got the idea from watching a Utube video on home made Cider presses. Being as I'm told handy with timber it wasn't difficult to build without a design it was all worked out in my head first. :drunk:

Looks great, just picked up some bargin timber, wasn't priced up so they said just chuck a couple of quid in charity box!
View attachment uploadfromtaptalk1445083787090.jpg

 

[Bramble]

That's sounds rather expensive for second hand timber.
My son brings timber from his work place and its all good clean wood for me.
Its meant to be burnt in our wood burner but I put a lot of it to better use.
Below is a dog kennel I made from what he brings me.

 

[brumbrew]

I used my tiny home built press earlier to squash the last of the juice out of my damsons and sloes.

There is a thread on here of my pressing Apple's too.

I just made mine from scrap off cuts. Looks ugly but it works.

I just have to do multiple loads instead of one or two big ones.

 

[Bramble]

I used my tiny home built press earlier to squash the last of the juice out of my damsons and sloes.

I just have to do multiple loads instead of one or two big ones.

Me too....I must do at least 10 presses to achieve 6 gallon.
I cut the apples into quarters and then put into food processer which then pulps the apples into a slurry.