DIY fruit/cider press opinions wanted

[Indygunworks]

I believe I attached the image correctly, but I am in the planning phase of making my own press. The picture shows a trailer jack being used as the ram. I don't want to use hydraulic, as I like the idea of spinning something on top, but don't really want to go with the normal shaft design where your leverage goes up and down. Here is the jack I have ordered.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005CC3NDC/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20


My question is about the basket. I have seen a lot of 5 gallon buckets being used, but they have a slight taper which I don't think is very condusive to complete extraction. I am wondering what other material is out there for the press barrels other than custom making one out of wood staves?

I was thinking about milk crates, but don't know how much stronger than a 5 gallon bucket. The pros here though are that I don't have to drill holes, and they are a standard size so whenever I get a grinding station set up it will be really easy to get a system going. Think these will work?

 

[Silver79]

I have the wooden slat and steel basket common to the store bought presses. I've considered making a 2 nd out of buckets. And since I grind into a cheesecloth anyhow I see no problem with the taper of the bucket as the cloth doesn't like to flow past the 3/4 inch plywood pressing discs I layer in there.

 

[chevalcider]

I press with a rack and cloth system. I've never used the basket type but I've been told it is definitely less efficient.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=rack...AUIESgB&biw=320&bih=492#imgrc=PvRJ46nOs4tsUM:

 

[Wovensummers]

I built mine with a 5 gal bucket and a bottle jack. But recently saw on the whizzbang cider website where he used hdpe and low profile stainless steel screws to make a pressing tube.

 

[BILTIT]

5 gallon buckets works great for me (and cheap) but do a rack/cloth setup inside it for best results.

I built my press after the whizbang but used a different jack. Jack is a telescoping ram (double ram) so no stopping to add blocks.

I didnt want the spinning type jackscrew, too much work lol.

With the hyd jack i can add pressure and get back to grinding then add pressure and back to grinding. Almost able to do both at once until i have to swap the pomice out.