Cider - Apple Press's..

[Geezah]

o.k, I'm a metal fabricator / engineer by trade and I reckon I could make good, strong, lightweight press frames out of steel.
If you guys could feed me some information about sizes and type of pressure required to press I think I could help out the comunity next year with affordable cider press's.
Trays etc.... I might be able to get some stainless steel ones made up, but would have to investigate prices, again size and depth indicators would help.
I'd imagine you would want the screwthread to be quite fine to hold the pressure well and to make the 'squeeze' easy on the arms? If anyone could measure the thread pitch on a good press I could replicate it.
What would you consider a 'fair price' ?

Just a thought at the moment, but I could easily make it a reality if there is enough interest and its cost effective to all involved.


Your thoughts?

[avtovaz]

what sort of stuff do you make now mate? Im make tipper trucks,,, Welding sucks

[GrowlingDogBeer]

I am planning on making some real cider next year so could well be interested in one of these. I don't know anything about them though so I can't help on that front.

[Trunky]

[Geezah]

what sort of stuff do you make now mate? Im make tipper trucks,,, Welding sucks

I work for JCB.... we make excavtors & diggers.
Its been a few years since I was on the tools (currently in QC/Engineering) but still have the skills


All the metalwork will be ecoat and powdercoated so no worries there.
Press trays will be seamless stainless steel... had a word with a colleague who can get that sorted at the right price.

I just need somt dimentional info so I can start drawing up plans and get our designers to 'virtual test' the plans

[Trunky]

I'll take some measurments tonight and get back to you.

[jason123]

How tempting is this to incur the wrath of SWMBO for spending more dosh on booze.

Great idea though. I work in a gas fired power station and there's sod all here worth nicking for home use. I have just been made up to a workplace union rep though so I can fleece them for more overtime.

[Trunky]

I'll take some measurments tonight and get back to you.

'Tonight' is actually looking like the weekend, sorry.

[DREADSKIN1]

i built mine using steel tubing to form a scafold.on this i set an old table top. i built the tray using ply and 1x2 screwing and wood gluing them around the edge to from the tray. i drilled a hole for drainage. for the press i use an old floor tom drum as a piston style press. the plunger is a circluar piece of ply. the pressure comes from a lydl bottle jack. it works a treat, breaks down easy for storage and transport. ive found tho that less is definitly more in vield. less goes in, more juice out. im sure an engineer could explain...