Apple Press - I've got loads of Apples, I wish I had an apple press. How can I make one of those?

It was that time of year when all the apples were ready

So I built this machine to press them and make lots of lovely juice.

CIDER TIME

• I found an old car jack, it's this that supplies the power to press the apples.
• The timber frame could have been made to many designs, I decided to keep it simple.
• The timber used in constructing this press was once part of a shed that I demolished.
• An enamel baking tray was used to collect the juice. I fitted a drainage hole and a pipe to channel the juice to my containers.
• The apples were then mashed into a pulp with a sledge hammer in a bucket. (see below.)
• The pulp was wrapped in net curtain fabric to make little packets.

• The packets were then stacked under the press one on top of each other.
• The pressing Began!
• Collected juice was then bottled with added brewers yeast and left to ferment.

• After fermentation was complete the Cider was bottled and stored in a cool dark place.

As soon as I built this machine offers of apples came in from every angle!