Making cider

[chris2012]

I'm looking at making cider, so far I'm thinking of buying the following for the press:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Timbertech%C2%A ... +press+12t

And doing something similar to what this guy is doing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u0RW-HzHK8

I'm just thinking about the scratter at the moment, I was looking at

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371096032062? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Which looks cool, but isn't exactly cheap, I'm just wondering if I could DIY something.

I was told some people use those american sink garbage disposal thingyjigs to pulverise the apples, but that first requires quartering them.

[steambrew]

Could I suggest you look at ukcider website were you will find all the info you need ie press and scratter both home made cost very little

[6470zzy]

Could I suggest you look at ukcider website

+1 great website

http://www.ukcider.co.uk/wiki/

[Pinto]

Most electric garden shredders make for good scratting, and can be had for a lot less than the one you posted - even consider a good second hand one if it's not been too abused. Some models are easier than others for dismantling tho (cleaning) and brand names will be better for spare parts should you need them.

Never seen a mechanics press used that way, although it should work really well - wont get a stronger frame. My press is a timber frame one that compresses a deck of 48mm worktop onto the apples via a 10 ton hydraulic ram from a defunct body frame straightener - probably cost me about £40 to make but I had all the materials (and skills - carpentry and welding involved) to hand.

Shame that the last few years I've struggled to find any apples to put in it as I lost my source Mind you, turbo cider is a damn sight faster/easier/cleaner to make

[chris2012]

Cheers guys.

Yeah I'm thinking the shop press should be nice and sturdy, unlike my wood working skills

I'll checkout that cider website.

Yeah I have been looking at garden shredders too, but I was worried that they're generally not SS blades.

[Pinto]

Yeah I have been looking at garden shredders too, but I was worried that they're generally not SS blades.

Mine doesnt not hada problem yet - mind you I do keep mine cleaned after every use and coated with cooking oil when stored/

[JamesF]

I believe the main concern with non-stainless parts is that the malic acid in the apples can react with steel/iron and blacken the juice.

For quite a few years I used a Vigo manual crusher and I've processed a lot of apples that way. It's quite hard work physically though. Depending on how energetic I feel and what our cider apple harvest is like I've processed anything up to a tonne of apples this way over the course of a month or so.

I built my own press from some scrap timber using a 12-tonne bottle jack to operate it and net curtain material as the "hairs". Here's the first one in action:



I decided that wasn't beefy enough after a couple of years though, and made a new frame from 6x2 that works a treat:



It looks pretty much the same arrangement for that machine press, but I suspect there might be problems with having insufficient vertical travel and the pressure is spread over quite a small area so you'd probably want a lump of relatively thick steel underneath to spread the pressure. If you could rig up something to help you raise the press bed every so often that might help.

James

[Pinto]

Never run into black juice either but if it's a possible problem, it wouldnt be hard to make your own blade(s) from a bit of 314 or 316 flat plate.

[chris2012]

James - I'm a bit confused aren't you using the same kind of bottle jack on your wooden press, as the shop
press I linked to, with regards to vertical travel.

[JamesF]

James - I'm a bit confused aren't you using the same kind of bottle jack on your wooden press, as the shop
press I linked to, with regards to vertical travel.

It does look very similar, but the press in the link looks like it might be fixed either at the top or bottom or both. It's hard to tell. If it is then you may have more limited travel. If the top is not fixed and has the screw-out extension that you can see in the photo of mine then it may not be so bad, though I still end up putting blocks under mine because the cheese compresses so much.

James

[jmc]

The shop presses work really well.

I got a 20T one last year. Dusting it off next week to get ready for this year.

See post New 20 Ton Cider Press




Last couple of year's I've used a home made scratter from a (new) waste disposal unit. It does work well, but produces an apple sauce mix which some say is too runny. Pic below from 2013 season using old 12L basket press
see post Scratter Build + pics - Mark 2


This year I'm going to try out a more traditional scratter / apple crusher recently purchased from eBay.

[chris2012]

Wow jmc that looks awesome.

Since I don't know anything about presses, would 20T one be much better than 12T for apples?

Oh also I see you're not using the standard jack that came with it, do you think the smaller travel of the ones they ship
with would be ok.

[jmc]

Cheers. I've still got work to do on it. Make some more racks for 1.

20Ton v 12Ton
Totally up to you. Its all about how much cider you're making and how big your rack / cheese is.

I think 70psi + is best for efficient extraction. You can press at lower pressures but the % juice you'll get is likely to reduce.

To work out max cheese size for 70psi, just a bit of math.
Each metric ton gives you ~ 2205lb force
2205/70 = 31.5sq in to get 70psi

so a 12T press allows you a cheese size of 12 x 31.5 sq in = 378 sq in = 19.4" x 19.4" cheese
similarly for 20T allows you a cheese size of 20 x 31.5 sq in = 630 sq in = 25" x 25" cheese

To be honest the main reason I went with a 20T was the width between the upstands allowed a G2/1 ss tray to fit nicely with a small mod.
Its probably over specified for my use, but I'd rather I over rather than under speced it.

Andrew Lea's website is excellent : http://www.cider.org.uk/

Two great books that helped me a lot

Andrew Lea: Craft Cider Making (3rd edition 2015 available now)



Claude Jolicoeur: The Cider Makers Handbook

[JamesF]

Andrew Lea is a star. I have the second edition of his book on my "brewing bookshelf". I'd not seen the Claude Jolicoeur one though. I might have to have a gander at that.

Do you have more information on the tray? I can see that as quite a handy addition to my own press.

James

[jmc]

Wow jmc that looks awesome.

Since I don't know anything about presses, would 20T one be much better than 12T for apples?

Oh also I see you're not using the standard jack that came with it, do you think the smaller travel of the ones they ship
with would be ok.

Sorry missed the bit about jacks.

As you reach max length of jack, you'll need to release pressure, place in spacer blocks and press again until all juice for that cheese is extracted.
Shorter jack / piston travel means you'll probably need more pressings (& spacers) for each cheese.
But that's probably fine if you've just got a few chesses to press.

I got my press at a discount as the jack was broken. I then sourced my jack separately.
Long travel and fact it was nickel plated were beneficial but not essential.