anyone built a cider press?

[Chris Walls]

I hope to have access to apple's this fall and would like to press some cider. I wondered if any one had built a cider press and if they had ,did it work as well as you would have liked ? I can get the maple and can weld so I could make some brackets or parts but really don't have a plan to work from. I have some idea's but have not started to collect the parts yet. So how about it, anyone out there like cider?

Chris

[Ken Garlock]

Chris, check out Lehman's Hardware (http://www.lehmans.com/)in Kidron Ohio. It is an Amish hardware store. They list at least on cider press, and several book about making cider and vinegar.

[Mike Monroe]

Chris,

I haven't built a cider press from scratch, but I re-built one. My wifes family had an old, old cider press that was pretty much falling apart. I replaced all the wood parts with native burr oak. The metal grinder cover has "Pat'd 1874" embossed on it. I cleaned up and re-painted all the really rusted metal parts. There is an identical cider press at the Living Histroy farm in Clive, IA. We use it every year to make some excellent cider. You might check out auctions and flea markets for an old cider press you could restore.

Good Luck.
Mike

[Mike Cutler]

I used to live near a cider mill, Clyde's Cider Mill in Old Mystic Ct., It was just a big press.

I've also seen a "Honey Press" made from and old car jack. This link may give you some ideas. Just adapt it to apples.

http://www2.gsu.edu/~biojdsx/press.htm

[Chris Walls]

Just a quick note to say thanks for the idea's. I checked out the honey press site. Very interesting. I was aware of the comerical cider press's being sold under several names and had decided early on not put that much money into a press. I guess I would rather try and build one. Thanks again, I am going to keep looking and planning. Chris