Cider press questions

[jcaudill]

Hi,

I'm new to cider - been a beer brewer but want to make some hard cider too. So I bought a press kit and have a few questions on the juice contact side.

1) My tray has oak trim to direct the juice out front. Is there anything safe I can use to seal where the trim meets the tray? I've seen there are food-grade silicones for incidental contact but I don't think I'd coin this as incidental.

2) What are you using to seal the tray and prevent the plywood from softening up?

Thanks in advance!

 

[UncaMarc]

Hard to tell from your question just what kind of press you have. Mine has a metal tray under the slats. The slats are hardwood and do not soften. Post a pic and maybe we can help.

 

[biddyk]

I just used wax on my tray and press boards. Buy a block and rub your oak down.

 

[jcaudill]

I don't have it finished enough to post a pick yet - but the tray is oak ply, hopper is oak and stainless and the tray is trimmed in oak.

I bought some Howard Butcher Block Conditioner yesterday which is FDA approved for direct food contact and is basically a mineral oil with bees and carnuba wax added so I think I'll use that on the tray.

And then I found DAP makes a 100% silicone sealant (http://www.dap.com/docs/tech/00000688001.pdf) that is also FDA approved and safe for food contact (once cured) so I'm thinking I'll used that to seal where my trim meets the tray.

And then I only have to figure out how to use the press! Thanks for the help.