Apple pulpers

[border-rider]

Cider presses seem not too expensive for what they are, but my word, the widgets to bash the apples to smithereens before you drop them in the press are about £200 

Anyone made their own, or found a DIY way of doing it ?

[L CC]

I've got a cheese press. But it only makes a 3lb cheese so not big enough for apples.

I've only ever juiced them with a juicer, but for some reason I think that's frowned upon for cider.

[border-rider]

I made an apple press about 10 years ago, but when we moved it became firewood. 

[Gattopardo]

Plaster stirrer on end of the drill in a tub.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRnVFvzMerT_Kq0yaxLT25HKADyfzuTXwAfzqRh7twW2dW1JQoJLg

Or call my mum and ask how the flock stainless steel rusted and where my macerator is.

[plug]

I've heard of garden shredders being used successfully if you've got a lot to get through.
Or making something like a Vigo Pulpmaster ought to be fairly straightforward.

[plug]

Mine broke today
I had to resort to pounding apples with a lump of wood in a bucket.

[nuttycyclist]

vigo pulpmaster - yup I think that's what I've got in the garage.

[Jaded]

Mine broke today
I had to resort to pounding apples with a lump of wood in a bucket.

Ah, that's what I reported to the police.

[Wonky]

If you have a winemakers shop nearby then they might rent you a proper press. I know my local place does.

[Bicycle Repair Man]

Another vote for a pulpmaster. Spent last Sunday morning dealing with all the windfalls, works a treat when attatched to a big Makita mains drill 

Dave Yates

[andygates]

We made a scratting pole.

Take a length of two-by-four, cut in half and bolt together to make a sturdy four-by-four about a yard long. Put apples in a rubber trug few at a time and pound like an African lady in National Geographic.

Transfer to the press when the layer of pulp gets too thick to get a good headshot on solo apples.

We did two six-gallon sessions like this recently

[plug]

Or use a spare bike:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/jTliz34BQqQ&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/jTliz34BQqQ&rel=1</a>


And then use another spare bike to power the press:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/wwqQeIN5suY&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/wwqQeIN5suY&rel=1</a>

 

[Quisling]

MV

Do you have a local Transition Towns or Greening Campaign group (or similar Low Carbon type campaign)?

These groups often procure a community apple press or other equipment which you are encouraged to borrow.  You may get roped into supporting the group with your time (like me)

Quisling
Aka Colin. Chair, Greening Chinnor Campaign

[border-rider]

Thanks Q.  I think the answer to that specific question is no, not here at least, but the idea of a community apple press is a good one.  I've been putting out gentle feelers in that regard already

This is/used to be a big apple growing area (we have an old cider millstone in the garden, as do many others) and I suspect that there is such stuff around, both in use and festering in old barns