Anyone make cider, I have a question

[CowboyBunny]

We've made our own cider in past years with a homemade bucket press, does the job but with a lot of extra work and this year I'm looking to make quite a bit more than a few gallons. I'm researching cider presses and have a quick question for anyone out there who makes their own cider. I am comparing a 4gallon hopper capacity to a 7 gallon capacity. Help me visulize this, about how many apples does it take to make a gallon of pulp (peck, 1/2 bushel, etc.). Apple size wise I'll be using mostly Macintosh and Courtlands with a few other varieties thrown in for flavor variation.
Also, I'm debating cast iron vs. wood for the catch pan and spout (sorry if this is the wrong term) anyone have a preference and why?

Thanks! Tami

[Forerunner]

Two five gallon buckets of apples will make approximately 6 gallons of pulp.

I prefer stainless for everything possible. White oak is one of the best woods.
Cast iron will work and is durable.

[Common Tator]

I would limit the cast iron, as it would impart a metalic taste to the cider. We catch our cider in a plastic bucket and pour it into plastic or glass jugs.

We have this double barrel cider press from Happy Valley, but it cost about half as much when we bought it a few years ago. http://www.happyvalleyranch.com/american_harvester.php

[Ross]

Try a search for cider press on Shop Talk and ask the folks who helped me.

[WisJim]

If by "catch pan" you mean the pan under the basket, I would use stainless steel. That's what we made ours from, and friends with old wooden presses made a stainless liner for the old wood pan for their antique press. Then it is easy to keep clean, won't rust, etc.

[Pelenaka]

We have a smallish cider press that DH restored which has a cast iron base that he repainted with food grade paint. No taste. I prefer cast iron over a wood tray since I throw a gallon of boiling hot water on it before we start. Also wood trays can crack.

Here's a few links to my blog on both the restoration & use of our personal press
Restoration process
http://thirtyfivebyninety.blogspot.c...der-press.html
Making cider -
http://thirtyfivebyninety.blogspot.c...er-making.html

Here's a version of a wooden tray press that he restored -
http://thirtyfivebyninety.blogspot.c...-tag-sale.html

~~ pelenaka ~~