Kira Stoletova
Grapes are a common plant whose fruits are consumed raw or processed into other products. Juices, preserves and jams are made from the berries. Wine is also produced from the fruits. For the convenience of squeezing juice from berries, use a grape press, which you can buy or make yourself.
Operating principle
Types of grape presses:
- mechanical (screw, auger);
- pneumatic;
- hydraulic;
- electric.
A popular type is a manual mechanical grape press with a screw mechanism and a container with holes. Its advantages are simplicity of design, low cost and ease of use.
Operating principle of manual screw press grape juicer:
- the berries are crushed and placed in a container with holes;
- through the rotation of the handles, a screw mechanism is driven, which lowers the piston down;
- the juice is squeezed out of the berries, it flows through the holes into a pre-set tray;
- The product is poured from the pallets into storage containers.
To make a grape press, stainless steel or wood is used. It is better to take hard wood, such as beech. The materials are used to make a drainage part, which is connected with metal rings.
Other varieties
There is a modernized mechanical press for squeezing grapes. It is distinguished by the absence of a container for releasing juices. Instead, several wooden beams are installed in a checkerboard pattern, which forms a drainage frame. Berries are placed between them.
To squeeze, use a manual jack, which develops a force of 2-4 tons. The advantage of this mechanism is the large amount of juice obtained. 70% of the product comes out of the total volume of berries.
The hydraulic grape press has a similar design. Instead of a jack for squeezing out juice, a barrel-shaped membrane is installed. It expands when water is supplied to the system, which causes a pressure of 1-2 atm. The juice comes out through holes on the surface of the casing walls.
The operating principle of a pneumatic juicer is similar. The difference is the use to create pressure compressed air, which is supplied using a compressor.
Preparation of raw materials for grinding
All types of presses for grapes and other fruits that are used to obtain juice require additional preparation of raw materials. To prepare the berries, they use choppers, which you buy or make yourself.
The principle of operation of the device is to rotate the drum inside the casing, which turns the fruit into a fine pulp. It is possible to make both a manual version and upgrade it by installing an electric drive.
Making a crusher at home
To make a grape press with your own hands, you will need:
- wooden blocks;
- metal plates and rods;
- bearings;
- bolts, washers and nuts;
- rolls;
- drawings;
- wood and metal working tools.
When making a homemade grape press with your own hands, it is better to use environmentally friendly materials, since their surface directly affects food. To create a container, stainless steel or a drum made of washing machine.
Presses are also made of wood and plastic. Flaw wooden mechanisms is that they are difficult to clean and do not last long.
Manufacturing process
Press assembly sequence:
- Installation of racks. To create them, take 2 pipes with a diameter of 2.2 cm and weld a U-shaped profile to them. Its height should ensure free movement of the screw nut.
- Welding clamps. This is an optional part of the mechanism, which makes it possible to mount the mechanism on a table or window sill.
- Creating a frame. They take wooden beams 2 cm by 10 cm and no more than 80 cm long. The width of the press depends on the size of the rollers.
- Installation of rollers. To create a grape press, rollers with a grooved surface are used. Their axes are directed to the axes of the screws. Every 8 cm, a shift of 1.5-2 cm is made on each shaft. The mechanism is attached to the main part using bearings. To rotate the shafts at different speeds, gears of different sizes are used.
- Installing the bucket. Take a pyramid-shaped container and place it on cross beams frames The distance between the bucket and the shafts should not exceed 12 mm.
- Installing a juice container. It is mounted at the base of the entire mechanism. It is better to make the container from stainless steel.
Additions to the design
To make pressing the juice convenient and the squeezing speed easy to control, it is possible to change the gaps between the shafts. This is important if the product will be the basis for creating wine.
At correct selection gap, the grape seeds remain intact. Damaged seeds give the drink a bitter taste due to the presence of tannins.
Homemade press for squeezing apple juice.
Manufacturing of drainage grating
To make a homemade press for grapes and other fruits as productive as possible, you need to make a drainage grid. It is made from natural wood. Beech or oak works well. It is prohibited to use OSB and similar low-priced materials, as they contain toxic substances.
The thickness of the grid segments should not be less than 2 cm. When using the grid, bags for raw materials are required. They are made independently at home from strong fabric.
To sew the bags yourself, use:
- burlap;
- synthetics;
- linen fabric;
- cotton;
- calico;
- jute.
Conclusion
The use of grape presses is rational only when small volumes of production are needed. Their productivity is 10-30 l/hour, depending on the drive and the size of the container.
To receive large quantity juice is used by industrial presses. In order for the crusher to serve for a long time, it is regularly washed and cleaned of residual raw materials.
Breeders have developed many grape varieties that can ripen in any part of Russia. Grapes are prepared for the winter in the form of juice, which children love very much. And for adults there is nothing better than natural grape wine. To squeeze out the juice, winegrowers have to put in a lot of effort. A special press helps make work easier. And by making a grape press with your own hands, you will be able to get useful device, saving money.
General definition and types of presses
A grape press is a barrel with drainage grates, equipped with a tray for collecting juice. A power screw is located on top of the barrel, with the help of which pressure is exerted on the pressing element. The barrel is made of stainless steel, as well as wooden planks of beech or oak. It is important that all materials are environmentally friendly.
Presses can be used not only for processing grapes. They are equally effective when processing apples, as well as other fruits and berries. All devices are divided into several types.
Mechanical. Such devices are popular among gardeners. Their distinctive feature is not very high performance associated with the need to use manual labor.
The grapes are poured into a perforated basket. And the principle of operation of mechanical equipment is that the creation of the required pressure on the press is carried out due to a screw mechanism, which is rotated using a handle.
Electrical. This category includes two types of equipment:
- hydraulic press;
- pneumatic press.
The operation of the hydraulic press is ensured hydraulic pump. That is, it exerts pressure on the pressing element using water. Pneumatic equipment involves applying pressure with air. From mechanical presses electrical devices characterized by the absence of the need for manual labor. Due to this, work productivity and the volume of juice obtained are significantly increased.
What materials are needed to make a press?
Grape press can be purchased at finished form. Manufacturers offer consumers various types equipment, including hydraulic juicers. But it’s not at all difficult to make it yourself.
The grapes are loaded into a barrel or basket, touching its walls. Therefore, it is very important that it is made from quality material. Two options are most often used.
Tree. Only wood is suitable for these purposes. hard rocks, for example, beech or oak. By making a basket from wooden planks, you will be able to obtain a durable and environmentally friendly structure. But when using wood, difficulties arise with caring for the equipment. After each juice extraction, the basket will have to be thoroughly rinsed and dried.
Metal. The ideal option would be cast iron or stainless steel. These materials do not oxidize upon contact with fruit. Metal barrels are easy to maintain, easy to clean and are distinguished high degree hygiene.
The press itself is a circle, which is often made of wood. In addition, you will need to prepare bolts and nuts for fastening structural parts, a metal rod and bearings, as well as tools for working with wood and metal.
Procedure for making a press
To make it easier to make a grape press with your own hands, you can take a drum from an old washing machine. Holes are drilled in the drum for attaching wooden planks. Drainage strips can be sawn from bars or use parquet planks.
A “pancake” is made from the same strips, which will act as the bottom of the basket. A block is screwed onto the “pancake” across the slats, which will provide a gap between the basket and the metal barrel.
Next, a U-shaped frame is made from a metal profile. It is important that the profile thickness is at least 3 mm. The frame is concreted in the ground, ensuring its stable position. If you need to make a mobile device, legs made of metal pipes are welded to the frame.
A “pancake” made of stainless steel or cast iron is installed on the frame crossbar, which acts as a press. To fix the “pancake”, a hole is drilled in the frame. A lever or handle is installed on the press. Further turning the handle, the press will lower into the basket.
The barrel is installed at the base of the frame on a pallet, for example, in a basin. A hole is made in the basin into which the hose is inserted. The juice will be drained through the hose into a receiving container.
It is also necessary to make wooden shield, which will cover the grapes loaded into the basket. This completes the process of making a homemade press.
How to use the press
To use a homemade press, the basket is covered with filter cloth. As a filter, you can use gauze folded in several layers, special fabric, chintz or synthetic fiber. It is important that it does not contain dangerous dyes.
The grapes are removed from the bunches. If juice is supposed to be made from it, the berries are washed under running water. For wine, washing the berries is not required, since it is the grape skins that contain wine yeast, which causes natural fermentation.
Next, grapes are loaded into the basket. It is covered with a wooden shield on top. Using a lever or handle, a metal “pancake” is lowered onto a wooden shield. Under metal pressure, the juice formed from the grapes gradually enters the pan and, entering the hose, is drained into a receiving container.
After use, the grape press is disassembled, thoroughly washed and dried. These manipulations must be carried out after each use of the equipment. Otherwise wooden elements structures will rot.
A large amount of grape harvest cannot be eaten immediately or stored in bunches for a long time, so there is a need for its processing. Depending on the variety, homemade juices are pressed from the berries, wine is made, or they are put in vinegar. All of these drinks require chopping the berries and squeezing the liquid out of them. For these purposes, they purchase in farming press. You can buy it ready-made or make it yourself. Its operating principle is quite simple, so the diagram self-assembly understandable even to novice gardeners. The second name of the tool is a crusher.
The principle of operation of the grape crushing apparatus
As already noted, a grape press is used to squeeze juice out of berries. Next, the liquid is pasteurized and poured into jars or vinegar is prepared on its basis.
Mechanism components
- frame;
- a tray into which liquid flows;
- the pressing element itself;
- barrel;
- fine mesh;
- spin-intensifying screw.
In addition to the fact that the crusher squeezes juice, it can also be used to ferment various drinks. Also, the part that presses and the food material are practically not in contact; therefore, heating is minimal, which ensures the safety of all useful substances in the drink.
For small volumes, the berries are processed manually, but with a press, the process goes much faster and the gardener has more free time.
Types of grape squeezer: which one to choose
Absolutely all presses are made from environmentally friendly pure materials , without application chemicals for connecting or processing parts. In this regard, there are two options for the material from which the press is designed: wood and metal. Devices are also classified by power and volume. Depending on the relevant characteristics required for crop processing, farmers choose one or another machine.
How to build trellises for grapes is described.
What material to make a device for home use from?
Wooden presses have a much shorter service life, unlike metal ones, but are considered safer, since there is not even minimal oxidation of the product.
Wooden: oak, apple, beech, linden, ash
In a wooden press, absolutely all parts are made in natural material , as a rule, are taken for production durum varieties: apple, oak, linden, beech or ash. Such presses require careful care and drying after each use. This is due to the fact that bacteria accumulate in the pores, which can adversely affect freshly prepared juice.
Before each use, farmers inspect the basket for damage to its integrity, the appearance of mold or other growths. And only after that he gets to work.
Homemade metal appliances: stainless steel, cast iron
For metal structures choose a non-corrosive metal: cast iron or stainless steel. These materials do not oxidize and, accordingly, do not react with aggressive juice due to the large amount of vitamin C and do not change the properties of the drink.
Such presses are durable and odor-neutral. They are produced in two formats: industrial use and household.
By volume and power (industrial, household)
Differences in power and volumes do not depend on the purpose of the press (domestic or industrial). Devices with a reinforced motor are successfully used both in private farms with large output and in factories.
Pressing units vary in volume, ranging from 1 liter of loading to 80 kg.
The more powerful the design, the more expensive the press will cost.
Making a wine juicer with your own hands
The press is quite simple in nature, especially when it comes to the screw format. At home, it can be made almost from scrap materials.
- 2 pipes with a diameter of 18 or 25 mm in cross-section, welded to metal profile in the shape of the letter P. Its height is conventional, but selected in such a way that the key nut on the screw can be placed freely.
- A compression mechanism is welded at the bottom, which will fix the required position. A clamp will help attach the finished press to a horizontal working surface.
- The frame is made from bars 5*10 mm or 4*10 mm and approximately 70 cm long.
- Device width depends on the length of the grooved rollers. It is best to count on a dimension of 20 cm, while the rollers and bars should protrude at the same distance, and the depth of the grooves should be at least 2.5 cm.
- The structure is directed helically with a shift of 2 cm to the rollers and secured every 10 cm to the frame using a bearing.
The rotation speed of the device is different, therefore the gears are attached to different calibers.
In addition to the main part, which crushes the berries, you need a ladle or bucket with a narrowed base. It is also installed on the frame, at a distance of 1 cm or more from the pressing mechanism.
A container for liquid is attached below and the process can begin. Thanks to the gaps between the rollers, the seeds slip into the filter compartment intact, so the drink turns out sweet, rich and without bitterness. Will it be possible to eat grapes with seeds?
The basket can also be made of metal. In this case, stainless steel gaskets are used to separate the juice into portions.
Materials for drum press machine according to Italian drawing
Before you start work, you should understand what materials will be useful for the future press according to an Italian or other drawing. They need to be placed all at once on the desktop to speed up the design process.
- wooden beams 4*10 mm or 5*10 mm;
- rolls;
- 2 mm stainless steel discs;
- pipes with a diameter of about 25 mm;
- U-shaped profile;
- fastening tool, welding machine;
- bearings.
In addition to the above, you will need devices and tools for working on wood and metal.
Rules of application for manual or electric squeezing of grapes
There are several rules due to which the press will give out greatest number quality juice and will last longer.
- The selected crusher is firmly fixed to a stationary, horizontal and level surface to prevent displacement.
- At the bottom there is a container for the cake (any tank, plastic bucket, pan).
- Berries are loaded into the ladle in portions, making sure that the rollers have time to fully process the material.
- The cake is partially formed in the basket, so a coarsely woven napkin is placed on the bottom.
- After finishing work, the press is washed and thoroughly dried. If cracks occur, they are immediately sealed with wood putty.
There is no need to remove the skin from the berries, as this is what gives the aroma and deep aroma to the drink when received.
Winemakers who are professionally involved in grape cultivation divide it into 2 levels:
- gravity-fed fruit juice;
- using a press.
In the first case, the liquid is most valuable, as it is rich in taste and useful substances. In the second option, you can squeeze out the juice in 2 stages, that is, recycle the pulp. For varieties such as, recycling is not recommended, since the taste characteristics are significantly affected.
The cake is pressed again no more than 3 times. On the basis of this, less elite varieties of alcohol are prepared, relative to the first pressing.
Video: how to make a simple screw press for squeezing grapes
This video talks about presses and squeezing grapes with your own hands.
Conclusions
A grape press is necessary, even for home, indoor use. It has undeniable advantages over juicers and juicers.
- The press can be used to process (squeeze, press, produce) the cake up to three times.
- Making it yourself takes little time, and the materials for it are always available in the household.
- There are 2 types of the most popular presses (screw, manual, pneumatic, washing, electric): made of wood and metal (stainless steel).
- For homemade wooden structures choose solid, noble varieties of garden and ordinary trees: apple, oak, linden, ash or beech. When producing from metal, the choice is made of materials that are not subject to corrosion: cast iron, stainless steel.
Read about how raisins are made in the process of drying grapes.
At first I planned to purchase a 76-liter Italian basket press, but then I wanted to make a press myself. I started searching online for photos of antique grape basket presses to take a closer look at the design. Also, I carefully read wine blogs. As a result, in Denis Rudenko’s blog there is an article Wine press - from cave to hi-tec winery and on Vladimir Tsepelik’s Facebook I found what I was looking for. Then it's easier. We make a drawing, then draw in isometry and lay out the elements. Now you need to find where to buy dry oak and a workshop in which to process it. I was lucky - in the first woodworking shop where I went and where they sell dry oak, I met the owners. They turned out to be “garage winemakers”, and even specializing in the production of brandy, i.e. they make dry wine, then distill it into grape alcohol and age it in oak barrels. Then we came to an agreement. I give them a huge THANK YOU! for your help.
1. it all starts with a drawing
2. fuganim - that is, we align two of the four sides
3. sawing
4. I do abs :-)
5. drawing
6. resmus allows us to do necessary details given thickness are the same
7. cut the dies for the basket
8. having lunch (away)
9. trim the parts to the size we need
10. trim
11. first result! now all these parts should take shape, they just need to be assembled according to the diagram
12. measure right angles
13. drill and tighten
14. Assembling the frame
Viticulture has gained great popularity. Summer residents and gardeners are vying with each other to develop more and more new varieties, and therefore they are faced with the question of what to do with the surplus harvest. As a rule, they are used for juice or wine. To produce drinks, you need a grape press, which you can not only buy, but also make with your own hands. There is nothing complicated here, you just need to have some drawings, materials and tools on hand.
- frame;
- tray for collecting juice;
- barrel;
- pressing element;
- filter mesh;
- power screw
The operating principle is based on simple procedure: The grapes are loaded into a basket, and then the juice is squeezed out of them using a screw mechanism.
The press must be made of environmentally friendly materials, since during use it will come into contact with food products.
An excellent material for making grape presses is stainless steel. Due to the slight contact of the elements, the parts do not heat up, which is important. This equipment allows you to carefully squeeze the juice out of berries and increase the yield of the finished product.
Rules for use at home
After assembly, the finished press must be installed on a smooth and flat surface and try to capture it as best as possible. A manual apparatus is usually installed on top of a container for collecting pulp. Plastic or stainless steel tanks and barrels are perfect. After this, the prepared berries are placed in the ladle, which will be poured directly onto the windrows. First, place a napkin on the bottom of the basket to collect the cake.
As the press rotates, the grapes will be crushed and turned into puree, from which the juice is obtained. Before loading into the ladle, the berries must be removed from the brushes.
After completion of work, the equipment is disassembled and thoroughly washed and then dried. This will avoid rotting and prevent dangerous bacteria from multiplying.
![](https://i1.wp.com/profermu.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/vinogradny-press-1.jpg)
Types of grape press
There are several key features according to which grape presses are divided into types. First of all, they can be:
- mechanical;
- electrical;
- universal.
The first are characterized affordable price, but at the same time good performance and compact dimensions. For small volumes this is almost ideal option for the home winemaker. However, the work requires a lot of physical effort.
The second type of work is based on pneumatic and hydraulic press. The design of the device itself does not in any way impair the taste of the original product. Pumps included of this equipment, powered by electricity. The productivity of such equipment is very high, and much less physical effort is required.
A distinctive feature of the universal press is that it is designed for processing not only grapes, but also other fruits.
On universal press You can press any vegetables and fruits Mechanical press Electric press for production use
Such devices are extremely popular. Factory products of this type are produced in various capacities and are designed for a variety of production volumes (from home winemaking to industrial).
Based on the materials from which crush presses are made, they can be classified into:
- wooden;
- metal.
Products made from wood are considered the most environmentally friendly. However, they require careful care and disinfection. Metal presses are mainly made of cast iron or stainless steel. They are more hygienic and durable compared to their wooden counterparts.
How to make a homemade grape press with your own hands
There is nothing complicated in making a homemade hydraulic press at home for grapes. From scrap materials you can make a simple apparatus that will make the life of a winemaker much easier.
- It is necessary to prepare a container for loading berries of the required size. A drum from an old and non-working one may be suitable for this. washing machine. Holes are made in the walls of this container using a drill, placing them in a checkerboard pattern.
- Find a container that is at least a little larger than the previous one. In this case, it should be without a bottom, and additional holes should be made at the bottom.
- Place the prepared vessels into each other, and install a block of wood between them, thus creating the necessary gap.
- From wood you need to make a frame in the shape of the letter P. Place a thick pancake made of cast iron or stainless steel on its crossbar. To fix it, you need to make an additional hole in the frame.
- Place both containers in a large bowl. It can be made from any polymers intended for use with food products. First make a hole in the basin for the hose through which the juice will flow.
- Concrete the U-shaped frame in the ground. It is this that will serve as the basis for the working mechanism. Mount the previously assembled structure of a basin and two containers on it.
- Prepare a container to collect the juice and place the other end of the hose into it.
- Load grapes into the drum and cover it with a shield, made of stainless steel or wood. Place a pancake on top of the shield. Control the pressure using a lever.
- The released juice will gradually flow through the detached hose.
The pulp should not be pressed more than three times.
![](https://i0.wp.com/profermu.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/press-dlya-soka.jpg)
After the first pressing, high-quality juice is obtained, which can be used not only for making wine, but also consumed fresh. The second and subsequent spins give less quality product, from which alcoholic drinks are made. You can also mix juices from different extractions, which will significantly improve the characteristics of the final product.
As you can see, a simple grape press can be made with your own hands. There is nothing complicated in this procedure, but the product will serve a good helper in home winemaking. The costs of materials will be small and will be fully justified.