Making a cider press can let you make cider at home at any time of the year.
Apple cider is different from apple juice because it is unfiltered and unprocessed. It is available year round, but its popularity increases in the fall and the winter. Apple cider can be made at almost any time of the year because apples are available all year. Making your own press is a cost-effective method of producing cider at home.
Instructions
Build Cider Press
1. Hammer together four 2-by-4 pieces of hardwood to make a large rectangular frame. The frame should be able to comfortably fit the 5-gallon bucket when the frame is standing upwards. There should be one to two inches of space on the top and sides of the bucket. The frame should be hardwood because softwoods can give the cider an unpleasant flavor.
2. Stabilize the frame by screwing in L-brackets on the inside of all four corners. You can further reinforce the frame using carpenters' glue at the joints. Let the glue dry completely.
3. Drill 1/2-inch holes on the sides of the 5-gallon wooden bucket. Space each hole two inches apart on either side. Start by drilling along the bottom of the bucket, and move your rows of holes up 2 two inches until you have reached the top of the bucket. Sand the holes down using sandpaper to remove sharp edges.
4. Cut a 1-inch hole into the rim of the metal tray using a hacksaw. Make sure the 1-inch hole reaches the bottom of the tray. Use industrial grade sandpaper to smooth the edges of the hole. This is to drain the cider, so it is easier to clean if the edges have been smoothed over.
5. Draw a circle on the piece of hardwood using your pencil. Use the bottom of your bucket as the guide. Use the hacksaw to cut a circular piece of wood that is the same size as the bottom of your bucket. Place the wooden bucket on top of the metal tray and inside the frame. Position your plastic collection bucket underneath the hole in the metal tray. Use the bottle jack to press down on the top of the circular piece of wood after filling your bucket with apples. The circular piece of wood goes on top of the wooden bucket filled with apples. The frame stabilizes the bucket and the bottle jack. The pressure from the bottle jack and the circular piece of wood release the juice from the apples. The juice will come out of the holes in the side of the wooden bucket, which will be collected in the tray and drain into the plastic bucket.
Tags: circular piece, circular piece wood, piece wood, wooden bucket, bottle jack