grape press

[winointraining]

OK Don't laugh. Heres my press. W we made it from 2x6s. I still need to get a jack for it,Harbor Freight has a camper jack I think I'm gonna make fit.Its 2 ton so I think it will be enough.If I done it right heres a pic of the press and my help.

 

[LoveTheWine]

Looks good to me!
I made a similar one last year and it worked great.
Where is your press basket?

 

[winointraining]

Thanks.I using a plastic bucket. the thing is a little klunky , but I can press anything.

 

[JohnT]

Did you use pressure treated lumber? If so, I would re-think using it for a food product.

 

[winointraining]

No, no pressure treated just plane old pine or what ever it is. painted with marine grade spar varnish which I don't think will come off too easy, had to use acetone to get it off our hands.

 

[JohnT]

OK, My Bad. To me, the wood looked like it had a greenish tint (much like PT lumber).

 

[winointraining]

That's OK , hey we gotta take care of each other. No its just plane wood. Theres a lot of green around there may have gotten some reflection.

 

[rob]

My only question is what is it going to drain into, will you set this on a table or something to raise it off the ground???

 

[LoveTheWine]

Thanks.I using a plastic bucket. the thing is a little klunky , but I can press anything.

I'm in the middle of making a nice basket fro mine out of oak.
Here is mine, quite similar! I used wax to seal the grooves where wood meets and everything is coated in EZ-DO.

 

[Runningwolf]

My only question is what is it going to drain into, will you set this on a table or something to raise it off the ground???

Rob I see what you're saying. There is no way to put a pan or low pail under it with the 2x4 sticking out all the way to the edge.

 

[winointraining]

I plan to sit it on a table. I had though about legs and raising it but its going in my shed in a loft so it can't be too tall. As is its 36" tall.

 

[Runningwolf]

...but how are you going to collect the juice? You need to get a collection pan under the lip of your press where the juice exits. I would say you would want to be under it by about 4"

 

[jswordy]

EZ fix would be to back-cut the 2-by that's sticking out in front so it angles back from the spout. Put it all on a table with the spout hanging over and it should work. A plastic catch at the spout would be a nice addition. EZ enough to do by cutting one out of a gallon round plastic jug

 

[winointraining]

Its overhung about 2 inches, with the slight incline it should be ok.

 

[homer]

How does it work? bk

 

[Rocky]

Nice job on the presses, Fellows. My suggestion to Winointraining would be to increase the height of the lip around the base where the basket sits. That looks like about 3/4" material and could overflow in the initial press. Lovethewine seems to have a 2 x 4 rim which would seem safer. Let us know how everything works.

 

[winointraining]

Yes it is 3/4 , I didn't really know how tall to make the sides. that's one of the things that will be fixed in rev2. once I start pressing I'm sure there will be other things I want to fix. I still have to mount the jack. as heavy as this thing is I feel like it could press a Buick.

 

[JohnT]

I'm in the middle of making a nice basket fro mine out of oak.
Here is mine, quite similar! I used wax to seal the grooves where wood meets and everything is coated in EZ-DO.

That EZ-DO is an amazing product! I have been singing about it for a couple of years now.