My Apple Press

 

I decided I wanted my own apple press.  But was not prepared to spend the sort of money commercial ones cost.   Therefore the only option was to make my own.   I managed to source most of the materials for free.   I had to purchase a car jack, net curtain material and a funnel. So the press cost almost£20.  Saving of nearly £200.

The press is also on a different scale. Having  used the Transition Apple pressing equipment (Scratter and press) it had to be!  What do they say - Go large or go home!  I had already modified the Transition press by mounting on a base board to make it stable, and after a workmate was given to the group, this was modified to hold the Scratter and collecting bowl.  However it was too slow for the quantity of apples I was going to have to deal with.

The press below, does what 6 people in 4 hours can do using Transition kit, in an hour solo.  The transition method also takes more cleaning and only produces 1-2 litres a time.  The press below does 20-25 litres in a pressing.

The press breaks down into lots of parts for storage.  Starting with the stand.  which also includes a step and platform to allow me to reach the top.

To the base stand we add the main press frame.  This bit is quite heavy, but has to be strong to take the 2 tonne car jack.

A catchment tray made from a large garden tray.  Complete with drain hole.

                                    

Then the Scratter, which is made up of a computer case lined with the old Queens park swimming bath shower cubicles panels, a piece of 4 inch drain pipe with a lot of screws embedded.   One of the side panels can be adjusted to make the gap between the screw heads and the side variable.   Waste of time as it is always set to smallest gap!

The Scratter then fits directly on the frame over the press drum and with the Hopper added the whole unit becomes very tall.  Also shown on the base is the rear steps and platform.

The Hopper has a lid to stop splash back.  When the scratter is spinning at full speed there is a lot of apple bits thrown upwards.   To keep me clean(er) and stop waste I made a sprung loaded lid.  It is easy then to push the apples safely into the feed hopper.

Then we add the drum, press and a drive system.   The drum is a stainless steel washing machine drum but with the top (front) cut out to ensure the top is as wide as the bottom.   To the drum I fitted some legs to allow the juice to flow out the bottom.   This is one bit I would change if doing again.   The drive system is a standard electric drill.  I couldn't get enough speed and power from a 12V battery drill which I was powering with batteries and Solar.   Perhaps a new motor at some point will be added.

The press lid is again made from Queens park shower cubicles.   The blocks of wood are added under the jack as it only expands a few inches. 

Traditionally presses have a cloth to filter out the juice.  I simply purchased some new Net Curtain material and made a large bag out of it.   This like the rest of the press has to be strong and is double stitched.  When emptying the press this bag holds a lot of dry apple bits and weighs a lot.  This replacement muslin cloth soon changes from White to Brown even with washing.

The bag is shown pulled up around the bottom of the Scratter to catch as much as possible and stop bits flying into the finished apple juice container.  A dustbin is used to wash the apples (more than 1 dustbin full is required).

The apples come out of the Scratter straight into the drum and are pressed.   Depending on the apples then I get about 24 litres a time.  The scratted apples are shown below before pressing.  The bag is folded over the top and the press lid fitted.   The car jack does the hard work.

The funnel guides the juice into a fermenting container ready for the next stage.   But that is for another Blog.