How to build a cider press

Any hardware used for mashing, fermenting or aging.

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Bushman
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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by Bushman »

Yes, we like pictures. I also use a woodchipper as my scatter. Here is a link to my set-up.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 83&t=51537
flying cowman
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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by flying cowman »

Ok, hopefully these will work -

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Jimbo
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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by Jimbo »

Flying Cowman,

Welcome to the forums. Your comments and stories about cider are very much welcome. That's a beautiful press. I have pics and such of mine in the signature just below. Ive been at it a while myself, 20 years+, but not nearly as long as you. I do about 1500lbs of apples a year, most of it goes to brandy. I'll keep 5-10 gal of cider to put on tap. Cheers.
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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by flying cowman »

Thanks Jimbo,

Not so experienced as you'd think as I had a long break from my early days on Dartmoor as a teen until I started making cider again about six years ago. However, my cider seems to be consistently good (so I and most of my friends think anyway) so I must be doing something right :D

Distilling is a new thing though and the learning process is steep - My eyes really do hurt from all the reading I'm doing here!

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cranky
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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by cranky »

Very impressive setup flying cowman, I did about 1,000 pounds of apples last year mostly with a food processor and 3 gallon press. :crazy:
Like Jimbo most of it went to brandy. Here is my thread on my fruity adventures http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 1&start=90 Pg 4 is where 2014 ends and 2015 begins. I did mostly apples in 2015. This year I am working on upsizing my setup to handle many more apples.
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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by flying cowman »

I only started making cider again as we moved into a house with a few trees in the garden - I now collect apples from half a dozen local with trees plus a mate of mine who has a small orchard! Spend most days off in September and October on it now much to my wife's annoyance :wtf: :thumbup:

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Bushman
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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by Bushman »

Thanks for the follow up and pictures as mentioned very impressive you should be able to handle a lot in a short time with that set-up.
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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by aduckyfour »

Kiwistiller make one here https://medicinalpurposes.wordpress.com ... der-press/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
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Re: How to build a cider press

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aduckyfour wrote:Kiwistiller make one here https://medicinalpurposes.wordpress.com ... der-press/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
thats cool
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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by yakattack »

Dam. Just spent an hour reading his blog. That is one lucky guy to have access to that equipment. I will be back after mopping the floor of all this drool.

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raketemensch
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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by raketemensch »

I've been seriously considering going the washing machine route. It seems so ridiculous and so sensible at the same time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj9z7NbO9mk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by flying cowman »

I've seen that before but having taken a few washing machines apart over the years I'd only consider doing it by using a cheap new one. Have you seen all the milky white gunk that accumulates in washing machines? Even loads of acid washes would struggle to remove that stuff! :shock:

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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by Radek »

Hi. Why You want to build, is it not easier and cheaper to buy ??

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http://alcofermbrew.com/en/Equipment/Fr ... 4c169.html
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cranky
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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by cranky »

Radek wrote:Hi. Why You want to build, is it not easier and cheaper to buy ??
At £119.00 - £189.00 for an 18 liter press I would hardly call it cheaper than building. My press handles about 10 gallons (37.85 liters) of pulp at a pressing and cost maybe $50, that's only £38 and it is still too small for my needs but to make it bigger will cost almost nothing but time. I used to use one of those little presses and it takes forever to do a lot of apples and the bigger you get with a commercially made press the more expensive it is.
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Corsaire
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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by Corsaire »

Radek wrote:Hi. Why You want to build, is it not easier and cheaper to buy ??]
I guess same reason why some people choose to build their own still, or distill their own booze..
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Re: How to build a cider press

Post by Pikey »

Corsaire wrote:
Radek wrote:Hi. Why You want to build, is it not easier and cheaper to buy ??]
I guess same reason why some people choose to build their own still, or distill their own booze..
I bought one of those 2nd hand in the spring for £30 - because I've been threatening to make one for years and never got around to it :oops:

Our washing machines are "front loaders" which have the drum mounted in teh hoizontal plane rather than vertical, so they are effectively a bloody great cheese grater from the outside - minor (major) adaptions should be able to make that into a great "chipper".

I was thinking that a pair of washing machine drums welded one on top of the other, with the fiddly bits cut out would make a super stainless cylinder for the barrel of a fruit press, but soe many other things to do ! :oops:
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