Project by generic | posted 09-25-2014 01:53 PM | 8418 views | 8 times favorited | 17 comments | ![]() |
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I made this grape crusher because I didn’t have the hundreds of dollars that a commercial one would cost. The way it works is the inside gears are intermeshed but there is a small gap in between them. When you turn the handle, the outside gears keep everything indexed and the indside gears cannot hit each other. the grapes get squished and the skins get broken for maximum juice removal when pressing them.
The entire thing is built from Baltic Birch ( a marine grade wood )
It sits on a 5gal bucket that you dump right into my new homemade press.
I have used the crusher for 4 years now and it works great! It comes completely apart and you simply hose it off when done.
This is obviously a picture from when it was new.. It is now dyed wine grape purple….
-- TMF
17 comments so far
Underdog
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1908 posts in 3494 days
#1 posted 09-25-2014 02:11 PM
Cool! Cost much less than a new one, with three times the satisfaction.
-- Jim, Georgia, USA
PaulDoug
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#2 posted 09-25-2014 02:27 PM
That is awesome. I have some table grapes, that need crushing, this would be just the ticket! How did you cut the gears? Did you have plans for this or is it you own plans?
-- “We all die. The goal isn't to live forever; the goal is to create something that will.” - Chuck Palahniuk
generic
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#3 posted 09-25-2014 03:03 PM
I made it up as I went along. The grape press in in my gallery! Thanks
-- TMF
JoeinGa
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#4 posted 09-25-2014 03:13 PM
Pretty cool! Did you put any finish on it to seal it? Or has the wood sucked up enough of the juice and warp or swell the plywood?
-- Perform A Random Act Of Kindness Today ... Pay It Forward
generic
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#5 posted 09-25-2014 03:23 PM
I left the wood raw because I thought finish would just trap the moisture. It doesn’t seem to swell enough to be a problem. I left plenty of room for it to swell but it really hasn’t. Baltic Birch has 18 lams so each one can only swell so much.. I used plastic where the metal shaft runs through the box and it has done a great job for many years now. I take it apart when done and let it all dry off every year.. So far so good..
-- TMF
JoeinGa
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#6 posted 09-25-2014 03:35 PM
Thanks Tom
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mcoyfrog
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#7 posted 09-25-2014 05:58 PM
thats awesome, I would love to see a pic with it all stained purple LOL
-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug
kaerlighedsbamsen
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#8 posted 09-25-2014 06:26 PM
I 2nd Mcoyfrog. And perhaps one in action..?
-- "Do or Do not. There is no try." - Yoda
ThumbHammer
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#9 posted 09-25-2014 08:45 PM
Nice crusher. What I need is a De-Stemmer. Anyone have ideas on making one of those?
-- Are we all Square?
Woodbridge
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#10 posted 09-25-2014 10:10 PM
a great idea and super project
-- Peter, Woodbridge, Ontario
palaswood
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#11 posted 09-26-2014 12:11 AM
i love it! And I would love if you would post an After pic – I’m dying to see the natural grape stain on the birch
-- Joseph, Irvine CA, @palas_woodcraft on Instagram
hoss12992
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#12 posted 09-26-2014 02:25 AM
That is really cool. Absolutely love it. Being as how I started my own small vinyard a couple years ago this would def come in handy. Great job
-- The Old Rednek Workshop https://www.facebook.com/theoldrednekworkshoptn
Paul
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#13 posted 09-26-2014 12:36 PM
video?
punk
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#14 posted 09-26-2014 01:11 PM
like it nice job
-- Punk in PA
generic
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#15 posted 09-26-2014 02:02 PM
I am working on one right now but it won’t be ready for this year. As of now, we have a grape plucking party for that part and have a lot of fun while doing it, plus you get to really sort the grapes that way.
I just posted a pic of my homemade squisher..
-- TMF
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