Do-it-yourself grape crusher, how to make it with a destemmer

A grape crusher is a device for obtaining pulp. The special design allows you to process large volumes of berries. When crushing, the seeds are not damaged, giving the juice a bitter taste. All types of crushers are divided into 2 main groups: mechanical and electrical. The choice of a specific type depends on the volume and type of berries being processed.

For a load of up to 700 kilograms per season, a manual model is sufficient. This is a simple form consisting of a frame, rollers and a container for the cake. Knowledge of the technical features of crushers and their main varieties will help you make the right choice. Advantages of the device, how to make a wooden model yourself.

Working principle of a grape crusher

Provides 3 technological operations at once:

• separation of juice from the cake through crushing the berries;
• thorough cleaning of twigs and seeds;
• if necessary, separating other parts of the plant.

Such a unit will be useful in a personal plot for making wine from grapes at home. Regardless of the type, the unit consists of the following components:

• receiving hopper (the product is loaded into it);
• movable rollers of various shapes or a rotor (carry out the process of squeezing juice and producing grounds);
• container for collecting pulp and seeds. Read this article on how to grow grapes from seed.

The berries are crushed by rollers, the juice and cake end up in a container for the finished raw materials.

The mechanical type requires the greatest effort. It is rational for two people to process the product: one loads the berries into the hopper, the other turns the handle of the crushing mechanism. The option with a motor allows you to simply pour the product into the container, and then pick up the pulp. Thorough cleaning improves the quality of the base.

A separate category includes destemming presses: roller or impact-centrifugal. They produce additional peeling from grape combs. These parts of the bunch are also needed because they add a hint of brightness and astringency to the finished wine. For the production of red wine varieties, such as Moldavian and Monarch, the use of pulp with ridges is allowed. Read about the Moldavian wine grape variety here. When making white wines, such impurities are not allowed; you will need a type with a separator for enhanced purification.

Read about Monarch wine grapes in this material.

What it is?

The grape crusher does not have a complex design and consists of the following parts:

• Reception bunker. The berries are loaded into it.
• Two parallel rollers with gears attached to them. This device produces the process of pressing the grapes. In the case of a press and a centrifugal model, there are differences, which we will consider further.
• Container for collecting pulp.

The simplicity of the mechanism allows you to make it yourself from scrap materials.

Types of grape presses

For large quantities of raw materials, the most popular models are made from the following materials:

• stainless steel;
• plastic;
• varnished wood.

The DV-3 mechanical crusher is designed to obtain juice and pulp from grapes.

All components of the device that come into contact with the product must not oxidize. The most popular are mechanical (manual) and electrical devices made of stainless steel. Their components are convenient to disassemble and wash. They are durable and do not allow the appearance of foreign odors.

To process more than 500 - 700 kilograms of berries, it is recommended to use only a crusher with a motor.

With and without destemmer for berry processing

For production using winemaking technology and processing of fruity white wines, the raw materials must be cleared of grape stems. They ripen earlier than the berries themselves. Because of this, they contain more tannins, which impart excessive bitterness. There are 2 types of such models:

• roller machines (high-quality spin due to a large number of horizontally located elements);
• impact-centrifugal (the process of separating the ridges is carried out due to rotor impacts).

The destemmer is a horizontal cylinder consisting of a shaft and helical blades . The raw materials first fall on this shaft, then they fall on the pressing elements. Devices without destemming are used when processing red varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and others. This component gives a special aroma to the finished product. Devices with an additional ridge separator come in two types:

• roller;
• impact centrifugal.

A grinder or mill device without a built-in separator is used for processing red and wine grape varieties . For the Muscat and Isabella grape varieties, only options without this function are used, since this reduces the quality of the raw materials.

Read about wine grape varieties here.

The operating principle of crushers with a destemmer is to use a shaft, through which the ridges are separated from the berries.

Roll crushers

The most widespread, used to obtain high-quality raw materials for wine wort. The basis of the unit is a system of horizontal cylinders or blades with adjustable clearance. Operating principle of the unit:

• consists of rollers, built-in destemmer;
• have only vertical loading type;
• horizontally located rollers rotate in different directions;
• there is an adjustable gap between the cylindrical choppers;
• it is activated by turning the handle (mechanical version) or using a motor.

The rollers in different models have different shapes : corrugated, bladed, smooth. Lobed species may have 4, 6 or 8 lobes. The ridges are separated by a special device and then pushed out. Cylinders with a smooth or grooved surface are more often used.

When in motion, the rollers rotate in different directions. Berries that fall between them are crushed. Their skin bursts and the juice and pulp are released.

Impact centrifugal devices

The centrifugal impact model uses a special rotor as its basis. Grinding and squeezing are carried out using the blows of a rotary mechanism. This technology helps to obtain the maximum amount of coloring substances. Design Features:

• vertical or horizontal loading type;
• electric type only;
• maximum yield of phenolic and coloring components;
• rotor rotation at a speed of 500 rpm.

Sectional diagram of an impact crusher.

At the same time, the ridges are separated and thrown out. The result is maximum wort yield.

Mechanical cars

The manual type of devices refers to the roller type of action . Wooden presses are often used to produce homemade wine. Large farms use stainless steel equipment to produce wort. The dimensions and weight of different models depend on the materials and components used. For example, crushers with de-stemming weigh more. The simplest unit consists of the following components:

• square bin;
• two smooth rollers;
• lower frame made of wood;
• gear system;
• side handle.

The vertical loading method is used. Such a device weighs up to 18 kilograms and is placed on a table.

Electric fruit and wine crusher

Allows you to fully automate the production of wort. Electric crushers include an additional ridge separator. The basis is made up of rotating helical-shaped metal blades or a rotor. They ensure the separation of grapes from the ridges. They are pushed out with a forward movement, leaving only juice and extraction in the hopper for further wine production.

Most Grifo crushers are equipped with ridge separators. Considering the complete automation of the process, it is possible to significantly reduce the time and effort spent on processing.

Performance of different models:

• 1200 – 1500 kilograms per hour;
• up to 2000 kilograms per hour;
• 2000 – 2300 kilograms per hour.

Advantages and disadvantages

Homemade grape crushers have a number of advantages:

• Speed. This is especially true for electrical devices with comb separators.
• Quality. The pulp obtained in this way has the best characteristics. This makes straining easier in the future.
• Hygiene. Unlike crushers, manual and foot methods of processing grapes are not highly clean.
• Compactness. Such devices do not take up much space.
• Easy to care for. The components are easy to disassemble and wash.
• Price. In the household of a thrifty man there will always be components for such units, and accordingly, the cost of such devices is minimal. And at the same time, unnecessary, old things find a second life.

As you can see, grape crushers have a large list of advantages.

And if we remember that the Russian people have always been easy on invention and ingenuity, then turning an old washing machine into a device for extracting grape juice will not be difficult even for a novice engineer. And if you make this equipment with adjustable mechanisms, then it will be possible to obtain not only grape juice, but also apple, pear and others. Such opportunities will allow you to increase the range and quantity of homemade products.

Advantages of using the device

Advantages of producing pulp with an automatic crusher:

• fast processing of large volumes of grapes;
• rational use of resources;
• the opportunity to obtain high-quality pulp;
• automatic cleaning of cake, juice from twigs, excess ridges;
• simplicity and convenience of the unit, which can be improved if necessary;

The simplest wooden model can be assembled with your own hands. It will become a handy tool for owners of small vineyards.

Devices made of wood and stainless steel are popular. They are not subject to oxidation and corrosion. This ensures long-lasting use as the juice is highly acidic.

The only drawback is the inability to use certain types of units for processing nutmeg varieties.

What is a comb?

If we consider a bunch of grapes, it consists of the following components:

• Bunch stem. With its help, the brush is attached to the vine.
• Knot on the stem of the bunch. In its place there is a branch into separate tendrils with berries at the ends.
• The branching point of the first ridges to which the berries are attached.
• Blades.
• Top of the bunch.

The grapes are collected in bunches, then processed - separating the berries from the ridges.

This is a labor-intensive process. To avoid this, a comb separator is built into the crushers. He is just sorting the berries and this rubbish. A large number of ridges in the pulp will give the wine a rich herbal taste. And this is critical, especially for white wines. Let's look at several options for making a grape crusher with your own hands.

Instructions and drawings on how to do it yourself at home

To crush a small crop (up to 500 kilograms), it is enough to build a wooden crusher with your own hands according to the proposed drawing. Its production consists of the following stages:

1. Knock down the bottom frame from the boards. Its parameters depend on the number of rollers and the size of the lower bunker.
2. Prepare the rolls. They can be purchased at a ready-made parts store.
3. Make a bunker for berries from the boards. It should expand from above for ease of loading raw materials.
4. To rotate the rollers, 2 metal gears are needed.
5. Install the rollers using metal pins. Secure on the outside with gears.
6. Select a container for ready-made pulp and juice. The size of the upper part depends on the frame parameters.

After this, the final assembly begins. A support frame with rollers and an upper hopper are attached to the container with the mixture. A handle is attached to one of the roller axes. With its help, the crusher is set in motion. All parts are coated with colorless wood varnish. It must be non-toxic and safe.

In the future, the finished press can be upgraded by adding an electric drive. Additionally, you will need a belt and transmission shaft, and a suitable engine. From a manual form, this form turns into an electric one, which increases efficiency.

Press

This manual grape crusher is simple and low cost. The device will require a stainless steel container with a tap, oak planks, a stainless steel strip (you can use a perforated one), a car jack, and a welded frame. To begin with, the inner container is assembled from oak planks. Holes are drilled at the ends of the bars at the top and bottom, fishing line and stainless wire are threaded through. This creates the frame of the future internal container. Its height must match the height of the stainless steel tank. Next, using a strip, the resulting structure is fastened together. A gap of 2-3 mm should be left between the bars. The next step is to make a wooden support for the press. It is also made from wooden blocks.

Its diameter should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the inner wooden container. A metal container is fixed to the frame, the internal wooden part is installed in it, grapes are poured in, and a support is placed under the press. As a force, you can use a screw system or a car jack. The second option is more affordable and is available to every car owner. The jack is installed on a wooden cover so that in the future the upper part of the frame becomes the second point of support. It is also necessary to prepare several bars and planks. They may be needed when working with a jack. The tap opens and the juice starts squeezing out. Don’t forget to place a container under the stream for juice.

conclusions

A grape crusher is a unit designed for the production of juice and pomace. These are the ingredients for making homemade wine and other products.

Before purchasing a crusher, it is important to consider the following nuances:

1. All options are divided into 2 main groups: mechanical and electrical. They have almost the same principle of operation.
2. The basis is a container for cake, a frame with grinding elements, and an upper part in the form of a bell. A gap is made between the rollers, often adjustable. With its help, the seeds are not crushed, which increases the quality of the cake.
3. The choice of model depends on the type and volume of raw materials. To process a small amount of berries (up to 500 kilograms), the simplest form is sufficient. For production on an industrial scale, an electric version will be needed. You will also have to purchase a grape press or make one yourself.
4. There are options with and without the comb separation function.
5. Allows you to obtain clean pulp without impurities, saving raw materials, time and effort.
6. The simplest variety can be improved if necessary.

The simplest variety can be made with your own hands. A wooden form is the simplest manual option. If desired, it can be improved by adding additional elements.

Installation of crusher with destemmer

This grape crusher has a ridge separation mechanism, which is mounted below the rollers. It is a semi-cylinder made of stainless mesh with 15x15 mm cells.

The shaft is made from birch cuttings. The blades are made from a plate 0.8-1.5 mm thick (stainless steel). They are attached to the shaft with copper or brass screws. Installed so that when rotating, movement occurs in the horizontal plane.

A half-cylinder is bent from a stainless mesh. The distance between the blades and the wall is left no more than 5 mm.

The crushed berries fall through the cells, and the ridges are moved for unloading.

Step-by-step instruction

All the necessary materials have been purchased and prepared, a set of tools is at hand - you can get to work. Don't forget to take the drawing you made earlier, which will be easier to navigate. So let's get started:

1. We make a loading hopper from oak boards, which is shaped like an inverted truncated pyramid.
2. We take a roller and draw 6 longitudinal lines on it. Along the length of each line we drill holes with a diameter of 10 mm and a depth of 50 mm. The distances between the holes should be about 50 mm. We repeat a similar procedure with the second roller.
3. We make a wooden frame from the beams, in the center of which we attach the rollers. Don't forget to leave a gap of 2-3 mm between the rollers.
4. On the outside of the frame we install the gears on the gear shafts.
5. We assemble the entire structure. On the reservoir for collecting pulp we fix a frame with rollers, on which we install a loading hopper on top.
6. We attach a handle to one of the axes of the rollers, which will operate our device.

The most primitive crusher for processing grape harvest is ready for use.

Mechanical roller devices

First, a bunker is created. It has the shape of a truncated pyramid. The material for its manufacture can be wood (preferably oak), plastic, stainless steel. The height of the sides can be from 100 to 500 mm. The parameter of the truncated cone must be equal to the length of the rollers.

Next, a wooden frame is made from timber. A cross section of 50 x 50 mm is suitable. The length of the frame is 700 mm, but the width should be equal to the length of the rollers. The optimal option is 200 mm. The surface of the rollers must be corrugated. The distance between them is set to 2-3 mm. It is advisable to make an adjustable gap, since the berries can be of different sizes. The roller system is mounted in the middle of the frame on rods. A gear system is installed on the outside, which will ensure the movement of the rollers in opposite directions.

The frame is installed on a container for collecting pulp, and a hopper for receiving grapes is attached to it. The distance between the rollers and the hopper is no more than 10 mm. A handle is attached to one of the roller rods. I made the simplest grape crusher with my own hands.