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SkiNuke · 10-28-2011, 02:03 AM

I am in the process of building a press. I have built the frame and am about to build the basket (as soon as I iron out my BOM). I was following the following plans:

The only issue I have run into is with regards to the screw assembly. I can't weld, nor can I seem to locate a piano screw.

Now! My challenge to all of you is to help me come up with a cheap (but durable) press mechanism. I was thinking of using a stainless steel threaded rod (HD/Lowes), but I am running into roadblocks with how to connect it to the squeeze board, as well as attaching some sort of nut to the top 4x4. I have also considered using a hydraulic jack or a scissor jack, but I figured that if I was spending the time to build a round basket, I might as well try to make it a bit more "authentic".

ryane · 10-28-2011, 02:46 AM

a hydraulic jack is most likely going to be a lot more efficient than a screw type press. What in the end do you care about. authenticity of the press, OR efficiency at juice extraction?

sashurlow · 10-28-2011, 03:19 AM

I've heard of but never tried a boat trailer jack.
I personally use a car jack, but that may or may not help you out with your design.

SkiNuke · 10-28-2011, 02:43 PM

I was originally going to use a hydraulic jack for my press, but after looking at my frame and deciding to go with a slat style basket, I figured I should try to put the time into making something that I could be proud of. I definitely see how the hydraulic jack would probably be the most efficient method (and I will probably cave and go with that method), but for some reason I seem to dislike the jack method because it seems too easy (I know its a silly excuse).

**Homercidal** · 10-28-2011, 04:17 PM

I've got materials for both screw type (ACME thread and Ball Screw) and Hydraulic Jack. I think the Hydraulic would be easier to build.

The plans I saw for that style showed a guy barely able to press down on the jack. I guess you can put a LOT of effort into it. Maybe use an extended handle?

The nice thing about the hydraulic jack is that it's capable of plenty of force, and doesn't require any fancy holes to mount it, or a bearing surface on the press plate, like a screw style would.

And you can use it to replace your differential when you're not making cider...

**paulthenurse** · 10-28-2011, 05:17 PM

Guys, don't get all caught up in 'authenticity.' Sure, the old presses you see are all screw driven. That's because the guys who built them didn't have access to hydraulic presses. If they had, you can bet that all of the old cider presses out there would be made that way. Why in the world would you intentionally build something that takes twice the effort and produces inferior results? They used to build Model T's back in the day, too. That doesn't mean you want to own a 2012 model.

frydogbrews · 10-28-2011, 06:05 PM

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200326415_200326415?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Metal%20Fabrication-_-Shop%20Presses-_-145212&ci_sku=145212&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw={keyword}

buy this,
then build a wooden square with a inch rise at the edge, chewed up apples and some cloth, square plywood to go between layers of cloth/apple.
one hour of work and 200 bucks total.
done and done.

the machine for chewing up the apples is a much different story though.

Devo9 · 10-28-2011, 06:08 PM

I found a site with instructions for building a hydraulic cider press instead of the threaded design used here. Just in case anyone was interested.

http://www.van-vliet.org/dempseywoodworking/appleciderpress.shtml

I think I might try this some day!

SkiNuke · 10-29-2011, 01:16 AM

alright you sold me. I plan to use a hydraulic jack. However, I was wondering what people were thinking in terms of a pressure plate. I had seen a picture of some guys pressure plate snapped in two and I wanted to avoid that.

**paulthenurse** · 10-29-2011, 02:03 AM

Big two inch thick piece of oak.