I am starting to realize that not having a press is costing me money, almost a gallon of usable juice is left in the pomace for each box of grapes after extraction by my current method- squeezing the grapes by hand in a nylon laundry sack. Unfortunately, a decent press at the local wine shop runs about $350 or so for a screw type model that can handle a box of grapes at a time, so I am looking for less costly alternatives, even if it means doing some welding and other fabrication work.
Do I have all I need for CrushI should be harvesting a week from this coming Sat (9-30) for my 1-2 ton of Cab fruit. What I'll get is a full macrobin...
A couple of ideas:
Build my own press roughly modeled after the clbuttic screw press, possibly using an automotive hydraulic jack to provide the necessary force. Pros: Should be able to generate adequate force. Cons: Lot of fabrication work, possible leakage of hydraulic fluid which could spoil the wine.
Another:
Fruit Wine CropsLong time lurker, first time poster here. I have been making wine for a few months now, and I just purchased a house. I have...
Buy a used washing machine for $50 somewhere, clean out the inner and outer tubs and pump buttembly, or even bypbutt a nonfunctional pump with a hose going to a collection vessel on the floor. Just put the must or pomace in a mesh bag and set the spin cycle. Pros: Cheap and fairly easy. Cons: Bulky and its unknown how well they really work.
I could always keep an eye out on Ebay or Craigslist for a bargain as well, but this is high season for that kind of stuff.
