Wooden Barrel

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Wooden Barrel

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Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 06 7:21 am Post subject: Wooden Barrel

This year, if my trees actually produce the apples that they have on them at the moment I'm going to have my first go at making cider .
Its my intention to purchase one of the small presses that you see advertised but I need a smallish suitable barrel to put the cider in .

The farm cider producers get their barrels from the distillerys in Scotland but thats not viable for me .
I live in North Wales and travel through Cheshire to North Staffordshire fairly often , can anyone help me out ?

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 06 7:24 am Post subject:
Well if you need testers

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 06 7:57 am Post subject:
Ruby . You can be my guinea pig if you like ! I've read the book, done the factory tour . I havent got any cider trees, just a few deserts and some cookers . I've also extracted promises from a few people who just let their fruit rot on the grass so who knows what its going to taste like

madmonk

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 835

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 06 8:09 am Post subject:
There is a company in Hereford called ye olde barrel company, don't know about the prices but may be worth a look on their web.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 06 8:12 am Post subject:
Cheers ! A weekend in Hereford would be nice but I'm stuck untill the end of the cricket season !

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 06 9:09 am Post subject: Re: Wooden Barrel

bodger wrote:

Its my intention to purchase one of the small presses that you see advertised

Have you seen this?

https://www.downsizer.net/Projects/Processing_Food/Making_a_simple_cider%10wine_press/

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 06 4:54 pm Post subject:
Now somewhere I've seen instructions for making square barrels, apparently its infinitely simpler than round ones but just as good for maturing alcohol. I wil have a rummage later and see if I can find teh link, apparently they stack well too, which is potentially a bonus for makers of many one off gallons

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 06 5:53 pm Post subject:

Nah, cannot find that link for the life of me, but the principle was very simple, you used well squared timber, cut very precise 45degree angles into the long edges, and cut a groove into the planks to take the ends. You couldnt knock the ends out on these, you had to fill through the bung hole, and the whole thing was strapped together with thin metal strip (recycled packing case strip I think it was) and short nails that didnt go right through. Apparently after a short soaking it swelled really tight and was fit for your brew.

May be worth a quick experiment in scrap timber to see if the design holds up? I'm sure Blacksmith could improve on the basic principle.

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 06 11:07 pm Post subject:

bodger wrote:

... I've read the book, done the factory tour .
... who knows what its going to taste like

Get some practice in. Try it starting from bought-in apple juice. The 'search' function will find lots of references on this site... and then by the autumn, you'll be ready to start making your own apple juice...

jimpy

Joined: 28 May 2006
Posts: 5

Posted: Mon Jun 26, 06 12:56 am Post subject:
This is the site you want for a cider press etc https://www.tompress.com/index.php

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Mon Jun 26, 06 9:34 am Post subject:
I really want one of the presses Blacksmith makes (he does them in kit form too, very economical) but I just can't justify it at the moment. Maybe next year

madmonk

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 835

Posted: Mon Jun 26, 06 3:34 pm Post subject:

jimpy wrote:

This is the site you want for a cider press etc

https://www.tompress.com/index.php

are these sold all over France?

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Mon Jun 26, 06 4:12 pm Post subject:

madmonk wrote:

jimpy wrote:

This is the site you want for a cider press etc

https://www.tompress.com/index.php

are these sold all over France?

My translation is that they are a family ironmonger/hardware store, trading since 1921.
They say they want to specialise in things you thought weren't made any more or were hard to find.
The org chart indicates a headcount of less than a dozen.

But they do ship worldwide. (Says to phone for delivery charges.) They are expecting to do online mailorder for France.

I don't know how many of their's are unique products, but nevertheless it looks a very interesting site... Folk might even be interested in the Reber mincer spares and accessories.

Anyone else spot the steam juice extracter? Or were there even rarer treats?

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon Jun 26, 06 4:35 pm Post subject:

dougal wrote:

Or were there even rarer treats?

The thingummy for clamping your air dried ham for slicing looked good. I think young Blacksmith should take a good look at those for future reference.

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