| Project by kaerlighedsbamsen | posted 10-11-2013 09:34 PM | 7320 views | 18 times favorited | 17 comments |  |
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It is apple time again and this year have been extra generous with apples. I have allways used one of those kitchen juicers and they are ok-ish for half a litre ro so. But i have apples by the wheelbarrels and more serious means is needed.
A quick websearch revealed a lot of solutions but not many was siple and elegant. Most were over-done and expensive. As so often before Mathias Wandel was a help: http://woodgears.ca/cider/apple_grinder.html
This is made of 100×40mm construction pine and 27×110mm larch terrase boards. And some scraps. And a piece of firewood for the drum (pear i think)
Most parts are pretty straight forward to make. Two piezes was a bit of a challenge though:
The wheel is made from an old shipping crate cut out in 3 piezes with a jigsaw. Then glued together, screwed to the axle and turned true in place with a scraper iron and just some wood clamped to the frame to support the iron.
The drum i spent a lot of time figuring how to make without wobble. The solution is elegant and simple: Put it in place, turn on motor and use the router!
Being made quickly and with cheap materials i expected this project to be a little ackward and inefficient to use. And it is no at all! It takes about 2 minutes to grind 2 large buckets of apples, then 2 more minutes to load the pulp into the press and 5 minutes to press it and empty the press again. Made 30 litres in a short while yesterday. By far the most time consuming part is to bottle the whole batch and clean the machine and the cloth used.
I really enjoyed this project and had fun building it.
Hope the images explaines all the detals. Let me know what you think!
-- "Do or Do not. There is no try." - Yoda
17 comments so far
Jim Jakosh
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26438 posts in 4264 days
#1 posted 10-11-2013 10:25 PM
Great useful project. I love it. It is nice that your son can get in on the action of making cider,too.
..............cheers, Jim
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!
bullhead1
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#2 posted 10-12-2013 12:53 AM
Neat machine. I’m not trying to be critical but if your letting little fingers in the area I would put a guard over the belt.
bullhead1
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#3 posted 10-12-2013 12:53 AM
Sorry double post.
MShort
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#4 posted 10-12-2013 02:33 AM
Neat project. Thanks for the links to the others.
-- Mike, Missouri --- “A positive life can not happen with a negative mind.” ---
lightweightladylefty
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#5 posted 10-12-2013 03:46 AM
Great project! When can I come borrow it? LOL
L/W
-- “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” Benjamin Franklin -- Jesus is the ONLY reason for ANY season.
kaerlighedsbamsen
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#6 posted 10-12-2013 08:07 AM
Thanks for your comments. Allways a pleasure sharing projects here.
@L/W: You can come and borrow ANY time!
-- "Do or Do not. There is no try." - Yoda
scrollsaw
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#7 posted 10-12-2013 12:28 PM
I like it great job.
-- Todd
atchison32
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#8 posted 10-12-2013 02:14 PM
Great looking project!
Better looking Son!
Please put a guard on that belt!
If nothing else it will teach him safety first.
Bluepine38
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#9 posted 10-12-2013 02:45 PM
Making apple cider is a wonderful time. Helped a friends family make it for a few years before he moved,
and it was a blast. They lived out in the country, so we hauled the wheelbarrows of pulp out to a
meadow, and the deer and a few bears cleaned it up in a week.
-- As ever, Gus-the 82 yr young apprentice carpenter
kaerlighedsbamsen
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1363 posts in 2872 days
#10 posted 10-12-2013 03:51 PM
We have deers as well but no bears- I think they were made extinct in the late middle ages around here. Would love to have them around though.
-- "Do or Do not. There is no try." - Yoda
hoss12992
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#11 posted 10-12-2013 04:16 PM
This is really cool. I really like the design and function of it. Great job
-- The Old Rednek Workshop https://www.facebook.com/theoldrednekworkshoptn
jdh122
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#12 posted 10-12-2013 08:37 PM
Nice press and grinder. I juiced about 15 liters this Fall (in a juicer) and pretty much decided it was the last time. Next year I either buy the sweet cider to ferment or build myself a press and grinder.
-- Jeremy, in the Acadian forests
kaerlighedsbamsen
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#13 posted 10-13-2013 07:25 AM
Jdh: Make yourself a machine. Its great fun!
-- "Do or Do not. There is no try." - Yoda
Gibernak
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#14 posted 10-17-2013 08:51 PM
so simple I love it. thanks for sharing
Jim Jakosh
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#15 posted 11-06-2013 09:52 PM
Great job on that press. It looks like something I could use. I know lots of people who just let their apples go to waste. I could make my own cider too!
Thanks for the idea. I put it as a favorite!! I need another project!!
....................Jim
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!
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