[AndynJ]

We were going to buy a traditional apple press but having looked closer the cheap modern ones don't live up to our expectations, so we were considering buying an electric juicer instead (we would be able to use it for other things as well then)
 
Question
Is an electric juicer suitable for producing apple juice / cider
If not why not ?
Many thanks in advance 

[AndynJ]

To ye all viewers don't just read this we needs your help, we want to order whichever tomorrow

[RUSTYME]

Er dunno !
Make a heavy duty frame , wood or metal as in old style fruit press , but instead of the huge screw , use a 10 ton bottle jack , job done .

[Greenerlife]

I have made cider using an electric juicer but I came pretty darn close to burning the engine out.  Mine simply wasn't big enough to cope with the volume.  The juice goes a bit brown and may take longer to clear than squashed fruit. (IMO)

[AndynJ]

Thanks for those 2 replies, we haven't got a lot of apples as they have been falling daily, Rusty your probably right but it'll take me ages I just want to play this year.
The coming out brown & taking a while to clear that surprised us

[RUSTYME]

If you bought the timber it would take about an hour or so .

[AndynJ]

If you bought the timber it would take about an hour or so .

Really ? I have probably got enough 3x2 if that's sufficient ?
I can make stuff If I have plans to follow and what would we put the apples on and how would we get juice from press to bucket ?
Any suggestions where to see plans as I've googled and just get frame no explanation of other bits
More help required
 

[Bumblebear]

We bought a press. Great cider and great juice.  We also have a juicer which hubby found minced it up.  Press vote here 

[RUSTYME]

Phew ! Nightmare to explain but i'll give it a go . Firstly , no point in making it too hefty as you don't have that many apples or hefty timber .
So , two uprights say 4 foot tall , with a foot on each say 2 foot long . Lay the feet on the floor so the 2 inch side is on the floor .
Fit the upright in the centre of each foot (to make an upside down capital T , with the 3" faces together . Use coach bolts to fix .
Now get 4 cross beams 2' 4" long . Fit 2 at the top and 2 about 2' 6" from the top, fit the cross beams one each side of the upright . These may need to be held with threaded rod , if you can't  get long enough bolts .
Make sure the frame is square before drilling and bolting .
With the lower 2 crossbeams , one can be an 1/8th of an inch or so lower than the other , to give a drain off slope .
Now you need 2 bits of ply about 2 foot square each . One to lay on the lower crossbeams , to take the apple layers , and the other to go on top of the layers . These may need beefing up with 3"x2" to take the pressure . In the middle of the top 2 crossbeams  , on the underside , fit a short bit of 3"x2" , from front to back . To take the top of the bottle jack , which will sit on the topmost of the ply boards when in use .
The lower of the 2 ply boards will need an edge of say 2"x1" to hold the apple cakes and to direct the juice toward the gap that you will need at the front , under which you place a bowl to catch the juice .
Use clean sacks to lay the apple on ,in 1" layers . Fold up each layer and lay another sack on , fill and so on , place top ply board on , leaving enough space to fit bottle jack .
Place bottle jack on board and under the central 3"x2" on the top crossbeams and gently pump the jack handle . Don't go mad , just gentle pressure is all that is needed at first . As the flow eases give another pump on the jack until no more juice flows .
Job done .

Don't try to use nails or screws to hold it together , they won't hold !
Big bolts or threaded rod
 about 1/2" thick .
 It will work ok .

[cloddopper]

Have you looked at the machine mart website  for a ready made one that fairly heavy duty? ( seem to think I've seen one there a few days ago )

[AndynJ]

Flippin heck Rustyme an hour to make, my goodness it'll take me an hour to get my head round those instructions 
I can probably get bolts locally but I'll have to go into the city for plywood.
Rustyme as you have tried to help me so much I am going to try and make one, I think your instructions along with a picture off the tinternet and i'll be on my way, It won't be today though I'll let you know how I get on.
The machine mart suggestion I saw those but you need a bag to hold the apples therefore in my mind the timber is thus constructed not to be water tight and is just for show, I might be wrong

[Bodger]

We started apple juice and cider making about 12 years ago. What we did for the first few years, was to put the apples through an electric garden shredder and then pressed the resulting pommice in one of these little babies.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quality-12L-Fruit-Press-Apple-Wine-Cider-/360730458342?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Food_SM&hash=item53fd35f8e6
 
Its amazing how much juice you can produce using a dinky little press like this and its great fun too.

[RUSTYME]

If you look on the machine mart site , they sell hydraulic presses . They are more or less the same thing as what i explained .
The ply boards can be ditched and  just use 3"x2" fixed together instead  . The gap between the top crossbeams and the lower ones may need altering , but the lower ones can be adjustable anyway . Just drill extra holes down the uprights at 2" or 3" centres .
The frame is so simple to make , my explanation is not so simple though !
The uprights may need a couple of diagonals added at the bottom to stop them wobbling . The whole thing is just 8 main parts and then the platforms , and half a dozen holes for the bolts or threaded rod .
I think it takes longer to read my explanation than make the thing lol , sorry .

[benkt]

We've got a home built apple press that does the job- knock up in an afternoon a couple of years ago. I've quickly snipped the description from our website:


We made a square ‘barrel’ to hold the apples which balances on an old kitchen door screwed to an upturned pallet. The piston is provided by the square face of a plasterer’s hawk powered by an old car jack. The supporting frame is a trimmed down window frame. Like most of our creations on the farm, it has a certain rustic beauty – mainly in the eyes in the constructors! However, it works – squishing a gallon and a half out of our first load of apples.

[AndynJ]

Thanks everyone