45 odd litres of quality organic apple juice sitting in my laundry
fermenting away on its way to being some nice, aheam cough, tasty cider.

Fewer mishaps this year than last year.

2 problems.

First issue - cut the bottom out of my plastic bucket to allow the juice to
flow out freely. Last year the juice got stuck at the bottom of the barrell.
Seemed like a fine idea. Problem being, the bottom added rigidity. As the
press plate (2 old cut down chopping boards) went down the bucket was not
rigid enough to hold up & started buckling.

Solution - get another bucket and drill holes in it but keep bottom on for
rigidity. Sorted.

Second issue - diameter of second bucket a bit smaller than first bucket.
Problem, as press plate went down it split the side of the bucket.

Solution - slide second split bucket inside first bottomless bucket. Split
bucket added rigidity, bucket with no holea acted like a sleeve to keep
everything together. Sorted.

The jig held together this year & using a bottle jack was so much easier
than using a scissor jack.

Gravity of the brew points to an alcoholic level of around 6-7%.

Rob