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I know haven't been on here much there hasn't been much interest and my other blog, work and such keeps me pretty busy. If you have a thought you can drop it off there starconqueror.blogspot.com or at my email rebel5946@yahoo.com

Later

Cider Time.

It was a pretty good time we probably pressed out between 40 and 50 gallons of cider from a fair sized pickup load and a loader bucket load of apples around the 1st of November. It took longer than I had hoped I wasn't really prepared ...... in so many ways. But the cider was so good, nothing like holding a cup under the spout of the press right as it's being pressed. I have probably 10 to 15 gallons in the freezer including a 5 gallon water carboy if I can figure out how to get it thawed out. I have ideas to improve things in the future however much I end up doing. There hasn't been a whole lot of interest in the site so may just be a totally local project. The weather was gorgeous the trees were gorgeous as the picture shows the maples a brilliant yellow.

11/2/13 There Be Apples Here.

Well I hadn't planned on doing any cider this year what with harvest taking so much out of me. I had figured most of the apples had dropped already. I just got back from mowing the orchard and there's still a lot of apples on the trees and some of them are tasting pretty damn good. Their small because the trees were so loaded so they should grind nicely. Also a lot of broken branches, going to have to do some serious pruning down the road sure could use some help with that.

Well if I can find something to store the golden juice in looks like I might be busy tomorrow.
This might be a good test run for next year if I can get a few people together for "The Big Squeeze 2014".

11/2/13 - A Little More On The "Buckeye".

I got this press it was probably sometime in the mid 80s.  There wasn't much left of the frame it was pretty rickety. I can't remember exactly I think we had been out to this farm to deliver the seed stock for his years seed fields. In the shed we were stacking the seed in he had one of the smaller units I guess that he either used himself or at least kept in safe storage. I admired it quite a bit and complimented him on it. Most of these style presses to the best of my knowledge came in two sizes the larger one like in the header picture and one about 1/2 or 2/3 the size. A lot of different companies made these, I grew up with one similar to it that was used on mom's parents farm but it did not have as nice markings . Well it was some time later Harvest Time that year when the farmer came out and told me he had another one in the barn that was in pretty bad shape and he had decided let it go if I wanted it. As stated before the wood frame was pretty well shot but the rest was in quite decent shape. When he told me the price I accepted without hesitation and did not take a chance on losing out. I had the plant give my dad a call and it was picked up that afternoon.

Once home and when I had time it was dismantled from the wood frame and the casting were taken for sandblasting. A new frame was started somewhat stouter than the original and not according to the original design. Pallet lumber was used for the rear posts and part of rail assemblies, new 2x6 lumber was used for the front posts (press posts) laminated, mortised and bolted together as well as the lower press support. Some units had a cast iron lower support like the top screw but this one doesn't Exterior pieces that were non contact were painted gloss black and most of the lettering that was accessible was painted in gold. I had started a press on my own and had already made the baskets for it so those rings and baskets I kept and gave the rings and junk wood baskets for this one to the friend who I sold the press I had been working on. It was basically a similar frame with wood press supports top and bottom a wrap around plate with an acme screw nut and 2" bolt for pressing, all he needed to do was redo the baskets and find a grinder he eventually got one of those "Happy Valley Ranch" grinders for it.

Once I had the basic press pretty well done it was mounted on a little trailer and it was taken to the local "Farm Shop" and they formed a stainless steel trough to fit inside the wood trough.

A motor was mounted on it with an old hinge and a turnbuckle and a belt driving the flywheel to make things go a little faster and funner. Some scrap maple from a torn down house was use for the hopper.

The grinder starts with the top which is a 3 flited hub and an adjustable presser plate to chew the apples up into "bite size" pieces. After that the pieces go through two cast iron fluted presser wheels that chew the pieces up further and press it some before the pulp is dropped into the basket.

I've used food grade grease on the screw but have since gone to either crisco or lard, while the bearings just open bore slide bearings I use either olive or vegetable oil. The baskets, rings and interior unit will usually see a light coating of oil for storage.

It's a little bit weathered now, it doesn't have the clear pine look anymore. sitting outside for a year when I was in the process of moving and didn't have any place to put it didn't help any but I guess we all grey a little with age. But overall I'd say it's weathered the last 30 years a little better than I have.

10/27/13 A few more thoughts.

I thought I might split things up into quarters equal right now but maybe adjust to fit the seasons.
For starters, Feb, March, April/ May, June, July/ Aug, Sept, Oct/ Nov, Dec, Jan.
But still toying with the time frame.
Would like to cover and receive info on such things as bugs, spraying, politics and non pasteurizing, tools, prep, best practices, preserving,  recipes, varieties, and of course a photo gallery.

more thoughts later
rebel5946@yahoo.com

Latest Improved Buckeye, P.P. Mast & Co.

10/26/13

Cider Pressing 101

Hi to all who happen by here. I have an old antique cider press for pressing apple cider which I try to have some fun with from time to time. In the last few years it's just been sitting in the shed but it did get out a little this year. In the past my job hasn't left me much time this time of year but one way or another things are going to have to change.

If anybody is like minded or knows somebody that is like minded in appreciating this and even some other old ways please let me know or send them my way.

I would hope to make this blog someplace to post photos, ideas, legal hassles and such, I have a list of thoughts and ideas somewhere i'll try to post later along with some beginning pictures if I can get things fired up.

Next year I hope to press a little more of my own apples and as far as this blog if there were any support would even think about making a "Quarterly Journal" print edition if possible. Something like  preseason, seasonal, post season/photo, and hibernation/afterglow issues with items shared by people specific to those seasons.

Once again if you would be interested or know somebody that might be interested send them my way.

Thanks
rebel5946@yahoo.com