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Fruit Press wanted

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  • 25-09-2010 11:23am
    #1
    kaizer_soze
    Registered Users Posts: 87 ✭✭


    I have some excess fruit and wanted to make different preserves and juices from it. I was wondering if anyone has an old fruit press that they no longer use? I can give it back some use. Anywhere in the country considered for collection.

    Thanks

    Kev
    Tagged:


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    #2
    blue5000
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,659 Mod ✭✭✭✭blue5000


    Any chance of a few gallons of cider?:D:D

    It should be fairly easy to make one using strong timber and a bottle jack.

    If the seat's wet, sit on yer hat, a cool head is better than a wet ar5e.



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    #3
    kaizer_soze
    Registered Users Posts: 87 ✭✭kaizer_soze


    Yea cider is one of the things I want to make. I know what you're saying about making one but using an existing fruit press would be much easier!


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    #4
    Saruman
    Registered Users Posts: 11,389 ✭✭✭✭Saruman


    It will need to be a pretty tough one to press apples. Getting a small one designed for grapes etc will result in a broken press.


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    #5
    kaizer_soze
    Registered Users Posts: 87 ✭✭kaizer_soze


    Yea ideally a sturdy cider press means I could do a few different juices. No luck so far anyway!


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    #6
    reilig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,401 ✭✭✭reilig


    Loads on ebay

    http://cgi.ebay.ie/WINE-PRESS-fruit-cider-CHEAPEST-EBAY-5-5-LITRE-/220672251603?pt=Home_Brew&hash=item33611756d3


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    #7
    vcsggl
    Registered Users Posts: 91 ✭✭vcsggl


    Saruman wrote: »
    It will need to be a pretty tough one to press apples. Getting a small one designed for grapes etc will result in a broken press.

    Whatever press you use you must chop up the apples first! I make about 200 litres of cider each year. I have a big "mincer" - bit like the old turnip choppers that you still find lying about some farms - and then use a 30litre press. One pressing gives about 5 litres of juice. Most of the mincers - called "scratters" in Somerset - come from Hungary or Czech Republic and are very solid machines, the best presses are cast iron with a very strong beechwood "basket". The kit isn't cheap - this place has the best prices in the UK -http://www.hamstead-brewing-centre.co.uk/itmidx56.htm but you can pay twice as much for fancy stuff.

    George


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    #8
    kaizer_soze
    Registered Users Posts: 87 ✭✭kaizer_soze


    Thanks George, yes that's what I was hoping that there might be an old press or chopper lying around a farm somewhere. New ones are expensive enough.
    I've seen people using a bark-chipper machine to chop up the apples. Fail on that, I have a decent food processor that holds 3 litres and would chop them in seconds. I can transfer the pulped fruit to the press then for squeezing.

    If all else fails, I can go the DIY route but I've got a few other DIY and decorating projects to finish in the meantime and would like to finish them off first if possible. I'd be a little late by that time.


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    #9
    vcsggl
    Registered Users Posts: 91 ✭✭vcsggl


    The bark chipper sounds great! You could process a lot of apples in a very short time I imagine. So far as pressing the pulp goes you can get a good yield with a car jack and a few bits of 4x4 to make a frame - put the apple pulp in something like those log nets and jack it up - or down! Yield is not so good as a purpose built press but if you've got plenty of apples the yield isn't a big issue. If you make your cider now you should be able to drink it by Christmas!!

    George


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