Brings back memories about when I crushed 200 kilo (400lbs) plums by hand (2 years in a row). Had to do it after work each day.
Man I was exhausted. So must you be.
I used to crush my grapes manually as well - did it twice - then i purchased an old crusher off craigslist for $50 - best $50 i spent. I can now crush 400#'s in about 30min.
Kendo, when I was a kid, my Grandfather, Father and two Uncles used to make between 250 to 300 gallon each year which was between 75 and 100 42-pound boxes. The kids (my brothers and cousins) and some of the women had the job of stripping the grapes from the stems prior to crushing. We bought Zinfandel or Alicante and Muscat (which were much easier to strip) and mixed them in a 3 red to 1 white ratio. I remember going to school with purple hands for several weeks! I lived in a real "white bread" area of Pittsburgh and took a lot of kidding. Great memories, though.
BTW, back when I first started helping with this enterprise (late 1940's), a 42 pound box of grapes cost $.75!
thats sounds like alot of fun rocky..great memories im sure, i crushed them with a regular crusher (no motor)..will be buying one soon..))..everything seems to be going ok so far...