"Bob F" wrote in message
...
George wrote:
Chaps

Looking forward to he next cider making season, a few months down the
line, I had a brainwave for a labour saving device.

Rather than putting chopped up apples through a food processor (and
having wrecked 2 in the process) I thought of using a waste disposal
unit.
Get a second hand unit (preferably free) and place it in an old sink
unit (preferably free). Get it wired up with a plug (will probably
have to pay for that). Mount it on a stand and away laughing.

Switch on, shove apples through unit, collect pulp in a bucket
underneath. From there straight into the press.

I've read several references about using disposals. Seems they work fine.
I'd choose one made of stainless, not galvanized metal, and clean/sanitize
it well, expecially if it is a used unit.


Bought an old disposal system today from a recycle store - $10. It's a
"goblin" brand and old as the hills. Heavy as buggery, heavy duty and made
to last. Should last the job ok. If it breaks it is only $10.

I have partially taken it apart. I do want to get the grinding plate off as
well as the copper (shows how old it is) waste pipe. Both totally rusted on
it seems or both twisted on so tightly when made. I have soaked with CRC and
will see how that goes. Once freed I plan to run over all the internal
surfaces with a wire brush on drill to buff away all the dirt. Then give
maybe a water blast and then a really good scrubbing and a wipe down with
bleach. Once taken apart once, I can do so again for cleaning if I need to.


I also had a brainwave with the press.

Up to now using a cheap crap jig (rebuilt a few times), plastic
buckets (broke 3-4 of these) and a bottle jack. I got hold of a round
steel tin I was going to use.

Better still however, build a proper wooden press bucket. Get hold of
some unstained hardwood and build a bucket, strapped together with
some sort of long building strap, gang nail plate etc.

Rebuild jig to hold bucket in place, continue to use bottle jack.

With the wooden press "bucket, you're pretty close to how a commercial
press works. How can you go wrong as long as your structure can take the
forces? Mine has the sides of the staves tapered so that any material that
squeezes through the inside spaces finds more space as it moves, so it
doesn't jam in the gaps, making cleaning difficult.


I found some appropriate hard wood for the bucket and some building strap. I
will pop rivet the wood to the straps. I think that will hold well enough.

rob