Peruvian802
Well-Known Member
I shared some photos last year but they were buried in another thread, so I thought I would take new pics to share.
I build a scratter (to chop up apples) and press several years ago out of scrap lumber and a Sears garbage disposal. I paid $80 for the disposal, $10 for the bottle jack, $20 in a new extension cord and water tight switch box, and a few bucks for bolts/nuts/screws but even most of the hardware was already in the garage.
Here's the scratter on the stand I built (don't hate my crappy carpentry, it works!):
The pomace is like apple sauce:
My press is styled after a rack and cheese version like the big boys use. I don't have racks between every cheese because I haven't made them yet and so far they haven't been necessary.
Building the first cheese (those are santizier bubbles):
I lay up a rack and then build another cheese on top until it's four high:
You can see juice pouring out and I haven't even pressed yet.
I lay the rack on top and then use a 4 ton bottle jack to press. I use some scrap wood to take up top space as the cheeses press out:
It's been a banner year and I've pressed 24 gallons so far. My neighbor has plenty more apples so I probably will exceed thirty gallons this year.
I build a scratter (to chop up apples) and press several years ago out of scrap lumber and a Sears garbage disposal. I paid $80 for the disposal, $10 for the bottle jack, $20 in a new extension cord and water tight switch box, and a few bucks for bolts/nuts/screws but even most of the hardware was already in the garage.
Here's the scratter on the stand I built (don't hate my crappy carpentry, it works!):
The pomace is like apple sauce:
My press is styled after a rack and cheese version like the big boys use. I don't have racks between every cheese because I haven't made them yet and so far they haven't been necessary.
Building the first cheese (those are santizier bubbles):
I lay up a rack and then build another cheese on top until it's four high:
You can see juice pouring out and I haven't even pressed yet.
I lay the rack on top and then use a 4 ton bottle jack to press. I use some scrap wood to take up top space as the cheeses press out:
It's been a banner year and I've pressed 24 gallons so far. My neighbor has plenty more apples so I probably will exceed thirty gallons this year.
