Main brewing project this year has been converting a 20 ton hydraulic shop press into a cider press.
I finally had the test run at the weekend.
Just 2 x 65mm deep cheeses for the test run, each about 13L volume.
In this set up it can fit 3-4 cheeses.
The bottom can be lowered to fit more if needed
Press plate and racks that come into contact are oak.
The juice tray is a converted stainless catering GN2/1 tray
An advantage of a shop press is its spring-loaded so when pressing is finished you release the jack and it return to its starting position
I'll upload some more pics when I get a moment.
New 20 Ton Cider Press
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asd
Re: New 20 Ton Cider Press
That's great! Looking forward to more pics and other details with great interest!
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jmc
- Even further under the Table
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Re: New 20 Ton Cider Press
Cheers asd
I bought a 20Ton press from speedy-parts-5 on eBay
They up the price (normally by 10x) if they are out of stock of an item. Looks like they have 12 & 30 ton in stock at the moment.
They were helpful and I got one at a discount as it had a faulty jack. I got a different 20T jack from another source with a longer 160mm travel for about the same total price.
Press Purchased
20T jack
I liked fact it had ENP (Electro Nickle Plating) ram piston to prevent any corrosion & longer than normal travel.
Initial testing the 20 ton jack
After top press plate made to spread load.
Made with very well seasoned pine (over 20 year's old).
There was a lot of play in the beam that goes up & down so I fitted felt (floor protectors) onto parts that slide along sides.
Later on I added a jack-pad at the top and thick rubber base-piece to fix the jack position
Mark 1 of top pressure plate
Mark 1 of top pressure plate to spread load. This doesn't touch the cider as there is a larger oak plate below.
Plate again made of pine plus Ikea LÄMPLIG beech chopping board
Edited 29/9/14
In above pic you can also just see pieces made to space out bottom steel supports and fix lateral movement of (beginnings of) base support.
Pics of spaces refitted after varnishing.
zoom in
with varnished bottom plate (pine + birch face)
with Oak base plate on top 40mm thick work unit. This was subsequently coated in mineral oil with beeswax (25%)
Top looks a bit wonky as springs are not set perfectly even on supplied press. It flattens out in use so I'm not worried.
GN2/1 stainless juice tray. Hole punched for 1/2" BSP stainless outlet
Notches cut out to fit in press (just)
Test fit of stainless tap after hole for tap cut in oak baseplate.
.....
I'll add more pics when I have time
BTW: Last year I made about 30 gallons of cider from about 600lb apples.
I used my home made scratter made from a new waste disposal unit and a fridge shelf.
More info below
Scratter Build + pics - Mark 2
Cider: How do you prepare your apples before milling?
I bought a 20Ton press from speedy-parts-5 on eBay
They up the price (normally by 10x) if they are out of stock of an item. Looks like they have 12 & 30 ton in stock at the moment.
They were helpful and I got one at a discount as it had a faulty jack. I got a different 20T jack from another source with a longer 160mm travel for about the same total price.
Press Purchased
20T jack
I liked fact it had ENP (Electro Nickle Plating) ram piston to prevent any corrosion & longer than normal travel.
Initial testing the 20 ton jack
After top press plate made to spread load.
Made with very well seasoned pine (over 20 year's old).
There was a lot of play in the beam that goes up & down so I fitted felt (floor protectors) onto parts that slide along sides.
Later on I added a jack-pad at the top and thick rubber base-piece to fix the jack position
Mark 1 of top pressure plate
Mark 1 of top pressure plate to spread load. This doesn't touch the cider as there is a larger oak plate below.
Plate again made of pine plus Ikea LÄMPLIG beech chopping board
Edited 29/9/14
In above pic you can also just see pieces made to space out bottom steel supports and fix lateral movement of (beginnings of) base support.
Pics of spaces refitted after varnishing.
zoom in
with varnished bottom plate (pine + birch face)
with Oak base plate on top 40mm thick work unit. This was subsequently coated in mineral oil with beeswax (25%)
Top looks a bit wonky as springs are not set perfectly even on supplied press. It flattens out in use so I'm not worried.
GN2/1 stainless juice tray. Hole punched for 1/2" BSP stainless outlet
Notches cut out to fit in press (just)
Test fit of stainless tap after hole for tap cut in oak baseplate.
.....
I'll add more pics when I have time
BTW: Last year I made about 30 gallons of cider from about 600lb apples.
I used my home made scratter made from a new waste disposal unit and a fridge shelf.
More info below
Scratter Build + pics - Mark 2
Cider: How do you prepare your apples before milling?