Make your own cold press machine for fruits and oils.
Cold press machines produce healthy juices and oils that still retain many of their natural nutrients. Pressing methods that use heat to increase the yield destroy many of the natural nutrients in the process. A homemade press is easy to construct and will permit you to make your own juices and oils from your produce. While you can heat the press to increase the yield, you can also press the fruit or seeds without adding heat and receive a healthier product. The homemade press requires you to remove the outer shell of seeds or the inner seeds if pressing fruit. Step by step details of the press construction follow and when you add a hydraulic jack to the construction it will form a cold press machine.
Instructions
Construct the Press Frame
1. Cut two 24 1/2 inch long sides from 1 3/4 inch OD X 1 3/8 inch ID metal tubing.
2. Cut a single 6 1/2 inch long piece of tubing from the same stock. This forms the center tube of the press.
3. Cut the top cross member from a piece of 3/4 inch thick steel plate. Make the dimensions 2 3/4 inches by 5 1/2 inches.
4. Cut the two bottom pieces from 1 3/4 inch by 1 3/4 inch angle iron. Make them 8 inches long.
5. Measure 1/2 inch in from the outer edge of the bottom pieces and drill a 9/32 inch hole in each end using the drill press.
6. Weld the top piece between the two pieces of steel tubing at one end. Weld the two bottom pieces to the other end of the tubes with the angles facing outward. Weld the center tube evenly spaced between the two tubes into the base unit.
7. Grind all edges smooth leaving no burrs in the steel. Round the edges of the base with the grinder and roughen all the other surfaces.
8. Paint the frame of the press with spray paint. Allow it to dry and spray it with a clear lacquer coating.
9. Mount the frame to a board or table. Drill four holes in the base with a 5/16 inch bit and mount the frame with 1/4-28 bolts. Use lock washers and nuts to secure it to the board or table.
Constructing the Cylinder
10. Cut a 5 3/8 inch piece of 3 1/2 inch OD X 3 1/4 inch ID steel tubing.
11. Face off both ends in the lathe so they are square.
12. Cut a circular 3 1/2 inch piece of plate steel.
13. Weld the piece of steel plate to one end of the 5 3/8 inch steel tubing.
14. Drill a series of holes all around the tube. Use 3/32 inch holes set on 1/2 inch centers. Use a larger drill bit and a metal file to remove all the burrs inside and out.
Construct the Piston
15. Form a 3 3/8 inch circle out of 1/4 inch steel plate.
16. Cut a 1 1/8 inch piece of tubing from the 1 3/8 inch OD X 1 1/8 inch ID stock tubing.
17.Place in the lathe and face off both ends.
18. Weld the tube to the center of the circular piece of plate. Place the welds on the inside of the tube only.
19. Mount the piston in the lathe and cut the outer diameter down until it just fits inside the cylinder. The final OD of the piston is about 3 15/64 inches. Use a file to remove any sharp edges and burrs.
Construct the Collector Ring
20. Mark a line 1 1/2 inches above the bottom of a one gallon plastic bottle. Cut the top of the bottle off at the marked line.
21. Cut a 1/8 inch X 1 inch slot in the edge of the bottom of the bottle. This will allow the pressed oil or juice to run into a holding cup or bottle.
22. Make a 1 3/4 inch hole in the center of the bottom of the bottle. Place the bottom of the bottle over the center of the stand and slide it down to the bottom. To assemble the press, load the fruit or seeds into the cylinder and cover with the piston. Mount the hydraulic jack above the cylinder and expand the jack until it meets the top edge. As you activate the jack, pressure increases on the fruit or seeds and juice or oil pours out into the receiving ring below the piston.
Tags: inch inch, bottom bottle, bottom pieces, from inch, from inch inch, fruit seeds