Used wine press and crusher.

[saddlebronze]

I got a lead on a used press and crusher. Since I am preparing to grow grapes next year, i did not want to pass up the chance to get a press and crusher since price is right. Question is, any watch outs on old presses and crushers? How important is de-stemming? I am only going to plant 25-30 vines, so volume won't be an issue. Thanks.!

 

[ibglowin]

Manually de-steming is not a fun thing to do. A crusher only might make it easier to get rid of the stems but you will have to pull them out by hand and remove any stuck on grapes as well. As long as it works you should be able to clean it up and sanitize it properly for use.

Oh and trust me volume will be an issue. I de-stemmed 200lbs by hand last year and it took me 9 hours. Never again!

 

[UBB]

Manually de-steming is not a fun thing to do. A crusher only might make it easier to get rid of the stems but you will have to pull them out by hand and remove any stuck on grapes as well. As long as it works you should be able to clean it up and sanitize it properly for use.

Oh and trust me volume will be an issue. I de-stemmed 200lbs by hand last year and it took me 9 hours. Never again!

so you'd recommend a crusher/destemmer?

 

[grapeman]

Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ibglowin]

Yep, there is a reason you can find used "crushers" for cheap! Only 1/2 the work is done!

so you'd recommend a crusher/destemmer?

 

[Rocky]

Saddlebronze, I don't want to burst your bubble, but if you are planting grapes next year, you will probably not be making wine from them until 2015. I believe it takes three good years to develop vines enough to produce wine grapes. Others on the forum may have different information. This is not to say you could not buy grapes and use your new equipment.

 

[UBB]

Saddlebronze, I don't want to burst your bubble, but if you are planting grapes next year, you will probably not be making wine from them until 2015. I believe it takes three good years to develop vines enough to produce wine grapes. Others on the forum may have different information. This is not to say you could not buy grapes and use your new equipment.

Rocky is correct. My vines were planted in 2009 and I am only expecting a partial grape crop next fall. With that said, if you can score a sweet deal on equip you know you'll need then...............

 

[buddy]

The old trick to destem your grapes after they have been crushed is to put the crushed grapes inside a plastic milk carton. The milk carton has holes in the bottom so it acts as a giant sieve.
Once the grapes are in the carton give them a vigorous shaking with your hands and the grapes will fall through leaving most of the stems in the milk carton.
The few smaller stems that make it through the milk carton shouldn't be too much of a problem since some people like to leave 20% of the stems for the added tannin that they will give to the wine.

 

[jdrum]

don't forget you can press a lot of other fruits with that press, don't get stuck just on grapes. start looking around for people with fruit trees, there a a lot of people who have apple trees that would love to split the crop for a few gals of juice. get the word out to frends that you have the press and you could have more stuff to ferment than you want.

jim

 

[Runningwolf]

The old trick to destem your grapes after they have been crushed is to put the crushed grapes inside a plastic milk carton. The milk carton has holes in the bottom so it acts as a giant sieve.
Once the grapes are in the carton give them a vigorous shaking with your hands and the grapes will fall through leaving most of the stems in the milk carton.
The few smaller stems that make it through the milk carton shouldn't be too much of a problem since some people like to leave 20% of the stems for the added tannin that they will give to the wine.

Buddy how many grapes are you pressing. It sounds like just a few pounds. I cannot imaging processing 500 to 2000 pounds through a gallon jug,

 

[buddy]

Buddy how many grapes are you pressing. It sounds like just a few pounds. I cannot imaging processing 500 to 2000 pounds through a gallon jug,

Sorry after rereading my post I should have called it a plastic milk crate instead of a carton. Like these.
http://www.google.ca/search?q=plast...ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=853

 

[Runningwolf]

LOL Ok now that makes a big difference. Thanks for posting the tip!

 

[joea132]

Drive to M and M in Hartford and go drool over the amazing equipment they have. You can buy a painted crusher/destemmer for somewhere around 800 I think. The presses run around $350 to start I believe. Nobody ever said it was a cheap hobby!

 

[ibglowin]

The Wine Makers Toy Store has the painted manual crusher destemmer on sale for $399.

 

[timber]

Hey Joe,

That "Grifo Crusher/Destemmer" sure does look like a great (and handy) machine to have.

Simple, long lasting and efficient ...

... nice.

 

[rob]

I would check out Midwest wine supplies, they have the destemmer for 339.00 I have found in the past that they are usually a little cheper than everone else

 

[saddlebronze]

Great trick with the milk crate! I have one left over from the college days from my LP's and was wondering what to do with it. (for you kids, LP's were those big plastic music thingys that had real cover art). BTW, the master plan is to do frozen juice this year (underway), convert to merchant grapes next year and then transition to my own when the vines are ready so I will need a press and crusher next year. hope to check them out today, for a couple of hundred bucks I probably cant go wrong. If they are junk, I will lowball the guy and use them for decoration.

 

[Rocky]

...hope to check them out today, for a couple of hundred bucks I probably cant go wrong. If they are junk, I will lowball the guy and use them for decoration.

You also better "hope" that he is not on this forum!

 

[saddlebronze]

I think not. BTW, does anyone know how the de-stemmer part works? Is it just a large screen like a milk crate? I have never seen one, but I am a severe tinkerer and if it can be made up and added to the crusher, I would do that....

 

[Rocky]

SB, here is a write up from a catalog:

Italian Crusher Destemmer - Manual, Painted
WE270
This hand-cranked Crusher/Destemmer is perfect for the home winemaker processing small batches or is working in conjunction with friends who don't mind a little manual work! As the unit is cranked, the grapes are pulled by the agitator into the aluminum rollers where first the grapes are crushed. Next, they fall into the stainless basket where a rotating shaft with spikes separates stems from grapes. The crushed and de-stemmed grapes then fall through the basket while simultaneously the stems are pushed out the end and into a refuse can. All our units feature removable-to-clean stainless baskets (grates) where the grapes fall through after having been crushed.

Features:
1) Enamel coated body, bin, and agitator
2) 304-Type Stainless Steel Basket (can be removed for easy cleaning)
3) Painted manual fly-wheel
4) Nylon Rollers
5) Output is speed is as fast as you can crank!
6) Grate slides out for easy cleaning
7) Deburred metal edges to reduce the chance of getting cut when handling
8) Super high-quality units made to MoreWine specifications by a small manufacturer in Italy
9) Backed by our own three year parts warranty (unheard of for these type machines.)
10) Replacement parts are available
48"Lx27"Hx20"W