Lets get carried away with fruity goodness

[raketemensch]

In a post apocalyptic world the luxuries could be used to secure the necessities but both honey and likker are medicines so I view them as absolute necessities.

There will always be Yeast. People talk about cockroaches surviving a nuclear apocalypse, but yeast would outlive them by millennia.

[cranky]

Exciting times in my little world. I was talking to Yakattack on another thread and he told me he successfully uses a mortar mixer to grind apples. The next day I had to go to Lowe's to pick up some stuff so I looked for a blade style mortar mixer which they had on clearance for $3.75, so I bought 2 I also bought a new food grade bucket and lid to grind them in. On my way home I stopped at the park and picked a bucket and a half of apples to test it out. Today at work I sharpened the blades and drilled a hole in the lid of the bucket and washed the apples. I took half the apples and placed them in the bucket on top of the mortar mixer and took a cordless drill and chucked the mixer in it. This did not work. The drill was far too weak and slow but we don't have electric drills at my work and I forgot my corded drill at home. Looking through the tools we have I managed to find an air drill with a 3/8th chuck and we were in business. On that first bucket full I made a few mistakes. I filled it too full and tried to start at the bottom. Reducing the amount of apples down to about half a bucket full and starting at the top which resulted in the apples being pulped fairly well. Mistake number 2 was not sharpening the blades enough for fear of breaking the seeds with it but after taking a die grinder and rotary file to it and making it fairly sharp it worked pretty well and didn't break the seeds. Another concern is the drill. It takes a drill with both speed and torque to handle this thing but the air drill did fine, I might try it with my big 1/2" drive monster drill that has plenty of torque but may be lacking speed. After I did the bucket and a half I picked yesterday I discovered that someone had left me 2 big bags of my favorite kind of apples in the refrigerator at work My favorite kind of apples are free apples someone else picks So I washed those apples and actually timed how long it took to pulp them. Exactly 6 minutes to pulp a bucket and a half of apples, so 12 minutes to do 3 buckets which comes to about 69 pounds of apples. So far I'm pretty happy with that.

I took pictures of everything I did today, so here they are.
I started with a mixer and food grade bucket and lid

Drilled a hole in the lid and sharpened the mixer

Next, after washing it I added apples

Hooked it up to an air drill

and made some apple pulp

This last picture is the pulp after grinding

12 minutes and 3 buckets of apples are all ground up and ready to press.

Tomorrow I will try to find the time to press the juice and see how it compares to the method I've been using up til now.

[cranky]

Today I pressed the apples that I ground up yesterday. 3 buckets of apples netted me around 4 gallons of juice, so right at 1.25 gallons per bucket which is a little less than I had been getting but given the time savings it is probably well worth the loss of a gallon or two of juice. I also took advantage of the deep freeze at work which happens to be nearly empty, I figure I will leave the pressed pulp in there until Tuesday and it should be properly frozen then I can take it out and let it thaw until Friday or Sat and press it again.

However, now I have a real problem, I still haven't cleaned the coffee dispenser yet so I don't have anywhere to put all this juice. I have one carboy that still has room for about 1.25 gallons but I also have 2.5 gallons of condensed apple juice in the refrigerator waiting to go somewhere. All of this brings me up to 38 gallons of apple cider so far this year, beating last years production already but the apples are beginning to get more difficult to pick and I am getting tired. I don't know how many more apples I have in me. Another hundred or so apples off the antique cider tree would bring me up to a total of at least 40 gallons for the year and I'm pretty happy with that for a total for the year but still have that 50 gallon goal calling me.

50 gallons...That's 12 more gallons to go...1.25 gallons per bucket...9.6 buckets to get to that...150 apples per bucket...that's 1440 more apples minus the 200 I picked yesterday that's 1240 more apples. I'm thinking that is not going to happen. I'm not saying it isn't possible but I just don't think I am up to it.

Even if I stop now I will have to keep returning to the park because the special apple tree is about 2 to 3 weeks from being ready to harvest. Even then it will be early. Yesterday I visited that tree and spent about 45 minutes cutting back the blackberries so when picking time comes I will be able to dedicate my time to picking instead of pruning. Those apples will get special attention because they are my wife's morning apple juice for the next year and encourages her to put up with all the goofy stuff I do throughout the rest of the year.

[Bushman]

Nice job, just goes to show you don't need expensive equipment. I don't have time this year but next year I will make brandy with Jimbo's method of just grinding the pomace without pressing for at least one batch.

[cranky]

Thanks Bushman. Like I said above, it was Yakattack's idea over in this thread http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 38&t=57715 It was something I planned on doing anyway for plums, I just didn't think it would work for apples. I have thought about fermenting on the pulp but don't like the idea of doing it on the seeds and space is an issue which is why I haven't done anything with the pomace. If I can get some big fermenters I might try something next year. I like comparing different methods, it's part of the fun of this hobby.

[cranky]

Today I ground up the apples I picked Saturday. I brought my antique arm breaker drill which has plenty of torque but is only 550 RPM so it took a bit longer than the air drill. but not all that long.

One thing to be careful of is the mixer digging into the bucket which does this

This last picture I have shows the actual pressing of the juice.

This afternoon I stopped one more time to pick apples. This may be the last time this year for cider/brandy apples, I'm tired and they are getting hard to pick. I cleared out some more blackberries around the tree and picked 300 sweet apples which should be around 2 more buckets full. I hope to grind them and press them tomorrow. This evening I managed to get the 10 gallon coffee dispenser set up and now have 8 gallons in it and 1 empty carboy but if all goes well tomorrow that will be full as well and I will be completely out of fermenters until I somehow find time to run that neutral I need to run but this weekend (Wed-Thurs) is going to once again be all about the front porch.

[Red Rim]

Now Cranky, your getting me excited about firing up the apple press again. I have been planning an apple smashing party so I don't have to do all the work myself.
What is better than your friends bringing apples, helping you smash and get smashed?

[Bushman]

Now Cranky, your getting me excited about firing up the apple press again. I have been planning an apple smashing party so I don't have to do all the work myself.
What is better than your friends bringing apples, helping you smash and get smashed?

Work parties are the best, as you get to visit and you get a lot more accomplished with workstations.

[cranky]

That sounds like the way to do it, fun and productive.

[likker liker]

Canky wrote
Today I ground up the apples I picked Saturday. I brought my antique arm breaker drill which has plenty of torque but is only 550 RPM so it took a bit longer than the air drill. but not all that long.


I've been thinking about building an apple press and grinder for a few years. I've just about gather every thing I need.
I was thinking about building a grinder using 4"pvc pipe like ben stiller made but after seeing yours I like now simple it is. The only thing I'm thinking about doing is building a stand to hold the drill motor.
Again thanks for your posts

[MDH]

If you're willing to drop about 1.2k, look up Spiedel Apple Mill. A german product with a very very simple design and easy to use. Our local cidery has one. In terms of time savings it is well worth the money.

[jedneck]

Figured this was good as place as any. I was gifted 4# of dried cherries( cherries, sugar, sunflower oil are the ingredients). What to do with them my thoughts are maserate in 2x run hearts and rerun putting cherries in thumper. Or add them to a couple gallons of white grape juice an the run as a Brady type spirit. What would you do.

Cranky I think it is great that you are showing it don't takes a large fortune to make a good drop

[cranky]

I've been thinking about building an apple press and grinder for a few years. I've just about gather every thing I need.
I was thinking about building a grinder using 4"pvc pipe like ben stiller made but after seeing yours I like now simple it is. The only thing I'm thinking about doing is building a stand to hold the drill motor.
Again thanks for your posts

I'm still of 2 minds about making the rotating drum type grinder or continuing to use this. The only problem I am having is finding something that gives both torque and speed. Like I said the arm breaker is a slow drill with lots of torque but the apples need a fast drill to get properly chopped up. I got a little impatient today and didn't get them chopped completely which gave me a little lower yield. I figure I will run it through the pulper again after I thaw it and this should pulp everything very well. The 300 apples I picked yesterday only came to a bucket and a half and I didn't let them rest like I have been because I was all set up to press and wanted to get everything done for my weekend. I took the pulp from Sundays pressing out of the freezer and replaced it with the pulp from today's. Friday I will remove that pulp and maybe press the Sunday pulp. Then when the Tuesday pulp is thawed press that. With today's pressing I have 41 or 42 gallons of juice and intended next Friday/ Sunday pressings to be the last for the season...although...

[cranky]

If you're willing to drop about 1.2k, look up Spiedel Apple Mill. A german product with a very very simple design and easy to use. Our local cidery has one. In terms of time savings it is well worth the money.

I've actually looked at those before, they look like a great well made product but there is no way I could afford one of those unless one happens to show up at auction and nobody can figure out what it is for. I got my Maytag multi motor that way for $30.

[cranky]

Figured this was good as place as any. I was gifted 4# of dried cherries( cherries, sugar, sunflower oil are the ingredients). What to do with them my thoughts are maserate in 2x run hearts and rerun putting cherries in thumper. Or add them to a couple gallons of white grape juice an the run as a Brady type spirit. What would you do.

I think this is the perfect place for this. I think I would go the macerate and thumper method because a few years back I made a wine from dried cranberries and had a hell of a time getting it to start fermenting even though the package said it had no preservatives. It did eventually start and had a good ferment and nice final product but it is something to consider.

Cranky I think it is great that you are showing it don't takes a large fortune to make a good drop

Thank you Jedneck, I know there are a lot of people out there like me who are cheap bastards with very limited budgets, so I like to show that there are ways to do things that don't cost a fortune. I do once again have to give credit to Yakattack on this thread http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 38&t=57715 for giving me the idea to actually try one of these mixers on apples.

[cranky]

I intended next Friday/ Sunday pressings to be the last for the season...although... today while pressing I had a big bowl of apples sitting on table because I separated out the largest non wormy apples to use in some pies and or other apple related food. One of the guys came in and said "Wow those are some nice looking apples, mine are all wormy so I'm not even picking them" So me being the opportunist I am I told him I am not bothered one bit by wormy apples and will even cut the worms out before I grind and press them (a blatant lie ) but he said he would pick them and give them to me to make more cider out of so I may not yet be done with apples for the year and these will be my favorite kind, as you already know, free apples someone else picks

[likker liker]

Free apples and you don't have to pick. I wish they all came that way. Ask him if he'd wash them also

[cranky]

Free apples and you don't have to pick. I wish they all came that way. Ask him if he'd wash them also

I think that might be a bit much, besides I use the sink in the break room at work to wash them so it's not really a problem, besides, last year he gave me something like a bucket and a half of pears and when Christmas came I couldn't remember his name and didn't see him so he didn't get a bottle of wine. He changed shifts this year so I see him more frequently but by the time that happened I was completely out of wine so he still didn't get any. So this year I owe him and he is still willing to give me apples so I wouldn't want to push my luck.

[cranky]

I think I could use some advice if anybody is still reading this thread.

Yesterday I stopped by the super sweet apple tree to verify it isn't yet dropping apples, it isn't. but while cutting some more blackberries I looked across the street and noticed a green/yellow apple tree that had started dropping apples. Well, I cant pass that up now can I?
So today on my way home I stopped and picked 103 apples off that tree, I could have gotten a few more but figured 100 was enough. While I was doing that a pickup stopped under the sweet apple tree and a guy got out and picked one of the apples...MY APPLES OK so technically since they are in a public park they belong to the city, but I have been caring for that tree for 3 or 4 years now. He got back in the truck, bit the apple and drove off. When I was done picking across the street I went to the sweet apple and picked 10 to do a test juicing. I then went back to the antique tree and picked another 103 apples.

When I got home I took the 10 sweet apples and processed them like I usually do for my wife's juice. I peeled them, cored them and removed any bad spots. Then I ground them up in the food processor and rather than press them I just squeezed them in my hands to juice the pulp. This produced a little less than a pint of juice, so the apples are plenty juicy. I tested the juice and it has an S.G. of 1.062 which is a potential alcohol of 8.14%. Which sounds good but in previous years they ran about 1.068-1.070 and on other trees this year the sugar content has actually been higher than normal due to the drought we are having. Tasting the juice it has a powdery taste I know can be contributed to the apples being under ripe but I also know this will settles out in a day or so.

So My question is do you guys think I should be concerned about the guy who stopped and picked the apple and if so should I go pick all the apples tomorrow before he can? Or should I risk it and let the apples continue to ripen for another couple weeks and hope nobody else picks them before they reach their peak? I really want to let them go a bit longer but don't want to lose them to that guy.

[rad14701]

Coming Soon...!!! Apple Wars...!!! Will cranky beat the truck guy to the apple harvest or will he lose the season harvest to the opportunistic picker...??? Stay tuned...

Sorry, couldn't help myself...

[S-Cackalacky]

It's a dog eat dog world.

[cranky]

I missed out on a tree or two last year because someone else hit the tree just before it was fully ripe which is why I'm worried this year, that and I have spent the time cutting the blackberries around the tree to make it easy for me to pick, not truck guy.

Also, I thought I was the opportunistic picker

[raketemensch]

When I was in grade school, I used to get off the bus every day and check my blackberry bush, and it took forever to ripen, but I was patient. I wanted them to be sweet, and I was really trying to learn patience.

My sister, though, was in high school, so her bus got home earlier than mine. Girl ate all my blackberries.

So, me, I'd not risk it for a small percentage of potential alcohol.

[cranky]

Thanks for the input guys, I'm still of 2 minds but may stop this afternoon and pick. The tree is pretty loaded this year and if the wife wants it a little sweeter I can always freeze concentrate it just a bit.

[cranky]

Well I didn't pick the sweet apples today, what can I say, I'm a gambler, maybe try to push them another week. If they were for cider or brandy I would pick them but they are for juice for the wife and her input is to wait. She's a gambler too

This picture shows the powdery stuff that settles out



Since I picked apples yesterday I ground them up today. I think I finally have the mixer/ chopper figured out. The trick is drill speed, you need a fast drill, the 550 RPM wrist breaker drill is just too slow. I used the air drill quite easily today. The other trick is to never do more than 1/3rd of a bucket at a time, 1/4 is even better. I timed the pulping and was able to do 1/4 bucket in 40 seconds with a finer grind than I could get from a 1/2 bucket because the drill never bogged down. Ideally I could set up 4 or 5 buckets with a helper and fill them 1/4 full then I could move from one bucket to another while a helper emptied and refilled them. You could do a lot of apples very quickly this way. As it was I managed to do the 1.33 buckets I had in about 7 minutes, taking time to stop and empty the bucket between each session. Here are the pictures to go along with it.

This first one shows the perfect amount of apples 1/4 bucket

40 seconds later it looked like this

7 minutes total with about a minute spent emptying and refilling between grinding.

I also pressed the pulp from last Sunday which I froze until Tuesday, then took out of the freezer and let thaw. This got me another gallon plus a pint of juice. Yesterday I also took the pulp I had frozen from Tuesdays pressing out of the freezer but it is not anywhere near thawed yet. It usually takes a couple days, so I may be pressing again tomorrow or maybe Monday depending on when that is thawed and if I decide I just have to have another couple hundred apples. As it is I am up to 44 gallons of juice, I should get at least another gallon from the post frozen juice and a gallon and a half to 2 gallons from what I picked yesterday, that will bring me up to 46-47 gallons which puts my 50 gallon ultimate goal in sight. If I figure 133 apples to the gallon that is only another 400-500 apples. That seems pretty doable to me, after all what's 500 more apples when you have already picked 6,100 of them?

This afternoon I stopped to check on the sweets and couldn't help myself, I had to pick another 100 apples from the antique tree, only 300 more and I should have that 50 gallons of juice. I'm probably going to wind up fermenting in buckets or I have to get that perry run to make room for them. Also I stopped at safeway and discovered they have Safeway brand apple juice on sale this week for 98 cents a half gallon and evil bastard that I am I bought 5 gallons of it to make hard cider to give away to non contributors. I don't like to leave people out when I give away wine or cider at Christmas but I have worked very hard on this juice and many people who will be receiving bottles come Christmas could have and chose not to help, so at $1.98 a gallon I decided to make their cider out of store bought juice. At that price it is actually very tempting to go ahead and buy 10 or 15 gallons of juice to make brandy out of and compare the final product.

[yakattack]

Sounds like you've found your process. Now you just need a bigger press and you can then do a lot more in a lot less time.

Yak

[cranky]

Sounds like you've found your process. Now you just need a bigger press and you can then do a lot more in a lot less time.

Yak

That's true, or I can do a whole lot more in the same amount of time My time frame is based on the apples time frame but I will be able to pick and press more and maybe have a little more free time during apple season to find even more apples. Thanks for the idea Yak.

One thing I should mention in case anybody else tries this is to make sure you have the lid locked down on the bucket. I spent more time cleaning up apple pulp off the shop floor today than actually grinding the apples.

And rounding the lower corners a bit stopped the gouging problem.

[cranky]

Another pressing today, I ground up the 100 apples I picked yesterday and added that to the pulp I had. I also pressed some of the pulp I took out of the Freezer Friday, but most of it still isn't thawed. I am now up to 47.5 gallons. Now I am determined to go ahead and get that final 2.5 gallons to reach 50, only another 300 apples to go, maybe less because I should be able to get at least another gallon from the pulp in my car and another from the pulp I put in the freezer from today's pressing. So in all honesty another 200 should put me well over the top. They are getting pretty hard to reach but I think I may be able to manage that many.

Just before the alarm went off this morning I was lying in bed awake and thinking, if I took my 12ft extension ladder down to the park I could reach a group of apples that are just out of reach of my picker and could probably get enough for 10 or 12 more gallons. I think maybe I need help, maybe I should stop in at Home Distillers Anonymous for some counseling, but apples on a tree that will never get used are such a waste. If I had managed to get the strangler vine off this trunk I would already have those apples because that stupid vine is hiding them.

[raketemensch]

Yup, we'll definitely be needing an Intervention.

Cranky, you're responsible for supplying the beverages. I'll bring.... Ummmm.... Cups.

[cranky]

Today I didn't have any apples to process The frozen stuff from the other day was thawed so I set up the press and pressed it. This got me 1 1/3 of a gallon bringing the grand total up to roughly 48,75 gallons. I figure when I do the second pressing of the bucket of once pressed pulp in the freezer I will get just about that much so I don't need to pick any more apples to reach my goal...but I threw a monkey wrench into my evil plans.

This morning, as happens sometimes, I woke up around an hour before my alarm went off and sat there trying to go back to sleep and ideas started forming in my brain. I was at Lowe's the other day and they still had 3 mixers, so I started thinking about combining multiple mixers to create a better chopper and before I knew it I had designed what I think is a pretty good improvement to the original chopper. Since I didn't have any apples to process I set about making mods to the original design which I think came out pretty darn good but I want more blades so I stopped at Lowe's on my way home and they still had some mixers on closeout, (I can't believe nobody has bought any of these) So I spent the $8 and bought two more. I took pictures of what I did today but will post them when I get the rest of it finished.

Then I had a problem, I didn't have any apples to test this thing when it is finished So once again I had to stop at the park and pick apples. While there I decided to pick some of the super sweets, I picked 118 of the biggest ones, which was around a bucket full, maybe just a bit under. They get special processing so they won't be going through the new chopper. So to test the chopper MK2 I had to pick another 100 apples off the antique tree. This should be enough to do a good test run but will be the last I plan to process this year for brandy because I will be well above the 50 gallon mark. From here on out I plan on devoting my free time to improving the chopper, building a new press and a new product condenser for the muggles and of course running the still