Where can I buy a proper fruit press?

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Scream

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I've recently just bought a fruit press however I've run into issues with it. Yes I have been using it properly and I'll quickly explain the problems as I know someone will ask anyway. From looking around online the one I have looks similar to others I have seen online in terms of the connection poles. It comes with two poles and screw together, however the issues arises from one of the poles. Pole one has a thread all the way down it and pole two on the other hand has no thread. This means you can only turn it down half way, which at this point has built up next to no pressure to actually press any juice. I either get a mouthful of juice or none, this isn't because of the apples it's because of the press. The part that sits on top of the wood gets jammed on the thread to the point that it was difficult to unscrew it. In fact I couldn't actually do it, I asked someone stronger than me and even they struggled for a while. This means that I am left with over half or half of the apple that hasn't actually been pressed and if you're expected to have 3/4ths of the apple unpressed with no juice extraction you're having a laugh. That is the main problem I have encounter and there are other minor ones. Anyway, I hope to be able to send it back after I've cleaned it up providing the seller will refund and allow me to return it and if not I'm left with a press that I cannot actually really use. Which leaves me here to ask you good people where I can buy a decent press. I'd prefer one that actually allows me to squeeze the apple almost all the way down to base and extract as much of the juice as possible. Greatly appreciated, -Scream.
 
A photograph would help.

Also, you mention the fruit press but don't mention the scratter! Are you scratting the apples before trying to press the juice out of them?
The apples go into a bag so I don't know how you'd even scatter them. They go through the mill first and then into the press. I'll include a picture though I'm not sure how that'll solve my current situation.
 

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A scratter, (with third letter being 'r') is a device that shreds the apples into tiny pieces very quickly. Without one you will need to mash up your apples maybe by putting 2 or 3 in a large thick plastic bag and beating with a rolling pin.
 
Hi!
When you write "go through the mill" I assume you mean one of these.
image.jpeg
This is known as a scratter.
I assume you have spacer blocks; eventually you will screw down until the lever is hitting the top of the basket. You must then turn back the screw and add more spacer blocks in order to squeeze further.
image.jpeg
 
Hi!
When you write "go through the mill" I assume you mean one of these.
View attachment 14853
This is known as a scratter.
I assume you have spacer blocks; eventually you will screw down until the lever is hitting the top of the basket. You must then turn back the screw and add more spacer blocks in order to squeeze further.
View attachment 14854
Yes I used one to sort of mash it. I know I need more blocks, I was only given two which isn't enough, which doesn't matter anyway because in my main thread comment "Pole one has a thread all the way down it and pole two on the other hand has no thread. This means you can only turn it down half way, which at this point has built up next to no pressure to actually press any juice.". I will include a photo so you can actually see what I am talking about. I'll also include another to show how the bag wasn't being pressed enough. Excuse the browning of the apples, I actually got stuck trying to unscrew off the thread for quite some time and then I realised that the device wasn't actually all that great. Not that it mattered considering I tried again with the same results and the seller has agreed to accept a return after reviewing the pictures I sent. Yes, I know there is a small cup for all that potential juice, it was to avoid it dripping and going all over the counter. The juice you are seeing is the only juice I manage to get out which as you can see is barely anything, less than a mouthful? Picture one shows the pole in which I am talking about. Picture two shows how far it actually lets you press, REGARDLESS of how many blocks you use.
Want to clarify this part "which doesn't matter anyway because in my main thread comment" wasn't a jab at you, at times text doesn't translate well and I just wanted to make sure you know it wasn't intended to be hurtful.
I've been looking around and I have seen you can buy ones that are called crossbar, they look a lot better than the one I have and others I have seen. They look like they should go all the way down which is exactly what I needed in the first place and to be honest I'm not even sure how anyone squeezes any juice if they're all made like the one I have, which the ones like mine must be. I'm not one of the only ones to complain about this issue, I should have checked Amazon first and then I'd have seen a few people complaining about the exact same thing I have. Anyway. Aside from the one I have are there any good quality presses that actually press the apples properly? Aside from the metal crossbar one I have found. Cheers.
 

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......... Pole one has a thread all the way down it and pole two on the other hand has no thread. .........

Pole 1 (with the thread) is the one that is used to apply pressure.

Pole 2 (without the thread) sits underneath Pole 1.

It's not necessary to have a thread that goes all the way down the pole because:
  • The bottom end will never get used.
  • Cleaning it will be a nightmare.
With regard to not having enough blocks, hitting the place where Pole 1 meets Pole 2 means that there aren't enough apples in the press.

The answer is to retract the press, lift up the blocks and add more apples until all there is under the blocks is apple fibre that is without any juice. athumb..

PS

You have a proper fruit press but you may not have constructed it correctly and/or you may not be operating it properly.
 
Making a press only requires basic DIY skills, like this one I made back in 2013 after in-laws had a glut of apples. Managed 5 gallons of apple wine and 3 gallons of rough cider. Free drink for a few weeks abigt

Mate, my building skills are pretty ****, lol. To be honest if I had any I'd have decided to build my own one at this point. That way I'm guaranteed a quality product even if it is pretty low key awful to look at. Plus it would be far cheaper than any of the more expensive ones I've seen.
 
I was wondering, if you have a juicer that separates the juice from the solids, could it be used for ciders? I assume as the capacity of the juicer is limited to a kilo of apples before the reservoirs need to be cleared, it would be a bit of a pain in the **** to manage up to 20 kilos, but in theory: could it be done?
 
I was wondering, if you have a juicer that separates the juice from the solids, could it be used for ciders? I assume as the capacity of the juicer is limited to a kilo of apples before the reservoirs need to be cleared, it would be a bit of a pain in the **** to manage up to 20 kilos, but in theory: could it be done?
You could. Probably wouldn't take much longer than pressing a few kilo at a time. If you can separate from the solids well enough then you'll have nice sugary juice that ferments like crazy in a matter of hours.
 
Hi!
The top pressing plate should slide over the smooth pole at the bottom of the press.
If you don't have enough apples to fill the press (@Dutto suggested this as a solution) the extra spacers would allow the screw to be turned so that the pressing plate goes almost to the bottom.
Press.jpg
 
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........ the pressing plate goes almost to the bottom.

On the conical shaped press in the photograph? :?:

However, it may very well be that the pressing plate is slightly smaller than the bottom plate or the photograph perspective is just making it look conical.

I go for the perspective in the photograph being exaggerated. :thumb:
 
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