Speidel Mill v. others

[Raymond Blockley]

Hi all,

 

Discussions over apple crushers/mills/graters has been a frequent talking point on here.

 

I am wondering if anyone has any experience of either the Speidel mill (yellow, plastic, tall) or the 'Italian Mill'? (I have read Heather's account on her blog)

 

Both can be viewed on this page:

http://www.winegrowers.info/wine_equip/apples/mills.htm

Prices here exclude VAT & Delivery btw.

 

My shiny new Voran P1 is due to arrive in two weeks (gets to UK next Friday) and I feel the time has come to upgrade from the Shark to cope with the demands of the Voran.

BTW: The Voran scraper and "professional" 3-phase models are out of my league... and wallet!

 

Thanks.
--
Ray B

[Andrew Lea]

On 10/09/2011 12:51, Raymond Blockley wrote:
> Hi all,
> Discussions over apple crushers/mills/graters has been a frequent
> talking point on here.
> I am wondering if anyone has any experience of either the Speidel mill
> (yellow, plastic, tall) or the 'Italian Mill'? (I have read Heather's
> account on her blog)

Just for clarification, that Italian Mill shown on the link is *not* the
same as the one which Roy and Rose and I have used (not sure about
Heather). If the picture is to be believed, it has a quite different
kind of knife arrangement (which looks like a Speidel rip-off). The
Italian Trumpet which we used (and Vigo used to sell) is a combination
hammer / knife mill with perforated screen.

My neighbours have a Speidel Mill and it is very impressive and stable
in use and super-easy to take apart and clean (polyprop funnel and motor
housing). For the small difference in price, I would personally go for
the echt-Speidel.

See pics at
https://picasaweb.google.com/HarpHill/CiderPics03?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMvDxZSH05aXTw&feat=directlink

Andrew

--
Wittenham Hill Cider Page
http://www.cider.org.uk

[Cheshire Matt]

The verdict on the "Italian Mill" is that it's OK, but some form of
steady conveyor is needed to feed it. Tipping a standard sized bucket
of fruit in in one go can jam the throat.

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "Cider Workshop" group.
> To post to this group, send email to cider-w...@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> cider-worksho...@googlegroups.com.
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/cider-workshop?hl=en.

[David Llewellyn]

Thanks for these comments, just in time for me also, as I'm contemplating
what machine to buy. Andrew you have made the decision easier for me and I
think I'll go with the Speidel!

David Llewellyn

Andrew

[JezH]

Ray,

I am going a bit of a different way (when the Voran arrives!) and carrying on with the Fruitshark...

One of the factors that I want to improve with the new press is simply the speed of pressing. However, I do have a concern that there is a pay off with this. I have no proof to back this up, but want to artificially slow the seperation of juice from pomace through milling well before pressing.

So, I am investing in a couple of bar bins. This way I can mill a lot of fruit, and then use the press rather than mill - press - mill - press...

http://www.solentplastics.co.uk/tanks-mobile-trucks-round-bins/#MobileBarBottleTrolleys

That's the sort of thing I am looking at.

Not sure if I am mad or wise.

Jez

[BucklandSwifty]

Hi Jez

I have taken my Fruit Shark and cut the bottom of the legs off where
they turn to form the feet, extended the tubular frame by around
400mm. I have had a stand made that has the extended legs of the
Shark slotted into it, so I can break it down for transport. The
whole thing stands at 600mm tall now and slides over a standard sized
black bin, the sort we used to put our rubbish out in. I have eight
of these bins which stack neatly when not in use. Each bin has a
clampable lid, so I scrat with my Shark directly into these bins,
clamp on the lids and Bob's your proverbial!

I will post photos of the modified Shark on my website when I have a
moment. What I can say is it has saved me a huge amount of time in
the scratting department not having to empty the egg cup sized bin it
came with!

Cheers

Swifty

On Sep 10, 3:21 pm, JezH <jez.ho...@btinternet.com> wrote:
> Ray,
>
> I am going a bit of a different way (when the Voran arrives!) and carrying on with the Fruitshark...
>
> One of the factors that I want to improve with the new press is simply the speed of pressing. However, I do have a concern that there is a pay off with this. I have no proof to back this up, but want to artificially slow the seperation of juice from pomace through milling well before pressing.
>
> So, I am investing in a couple of bar bins. This way I can mill a lot of fruit, and then use the press rather than mill - press - mill - press...
>

> http://www.solentplastics.co.uk/tanks-mobile-trucks-round-bins/#Mobil...

> >https://picasaweb.google.com/HarpHill/CiderPics03?authuser=0&authkey=...

> >MvDxZSH05aXTw&feat=directlink
>
> >Andrew
>
> >--
> >Wittenham Hill Cider Page
> >http://www.cider.org.uk
>
> >--
> >You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> >"Cider Workshop" group.
> >To post to this group, send email to cider-w...@googlegroups.com.
> >To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> >cider-worksho...@googlegroups.com.
> >For more options, visit this group at
> >http://groups.google.com/group/cider-workshop?hl=en.
>
> >--
> >You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cider Workshop" group.
> >To post to this group, send email to cider-w...@googlegroups.com.
> >To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cider-worksho...@googlegroups.com.

> >For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/cider-workshop?hl=en.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Raymond Blockley]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone.

 

I've looked at a number of videos of both in use and the Speidel seems to produce a finer pomace(?); in the video of the 'Italian Mill' it jams as Matt says and the lady operator spends quite a bit of time with her arm down the 'trumpet' - not for me. The 'Italian Mill' is not the one with the screen - that version is quite expensive, around £1K I believe. The 'Italian Mill' on the link has basically a similar internal arrangement as the Shark and not as 'refined' as the Speidel.

 

Via Brouwland the Speidel comes in at around £705 - £710 (rough idea based on current exchange rates) delivered to your door, a handy saving on Vigo and other's prices - I've just upset Phill by telling him this (£745 from Vigo - but none in stock now).

 

I thought about adapting / modifying the Shark as Swifty has; Jez - we already do what you are contemplating, by filling umpteen 30L lidded bins (we have about 15) in the afternoon / evening and then pressing the lot the next day, with both Vigo rack-&-cloth presses working in tandem. However, the trade-off with the fruit we have most access to is that it is low in tannin and so any tannins present are quickly lost.

 

BTW: We could do what another local cider-maker does and have a huge old kettle (like road-side gangs used to have?) continually boiling with many cheap tea bags in and emtpying the contents into the juice - but not sure if Notice 162 allows this...? Unless it's Darjeeling...? ;-) 

 

Cheers, Ray.

Ray B

[David Llewellyn]

Hi there folks thinking of mills, there’s a really good crowd in the south of Germany near where I lived once. Theyre called Rekru, they have a good online shop, and they do all manner of stuff. They sell the Speidel ex works for €672 incl VAT, which is the best price I’ve seen anywhere.  Don’t know what they charge for shipping to the UK.  If anyone is talking to Herr Krukenberg say David from Ireland put you on to them!!

 

David Llewellyn

 

---

[Rose]

Jez,

I have found it works well to have some plastic bins that will fit
under the outlet of the mill. They are really useful when it is
necessary to keep a batch of pomace separate from the rest, as when
producing a single variety cider, or keeving.

For many years I have used 6 large storage bins from IKEA that appear
to be made of the same plastic as IBC tanks. They just fit below my
Italian steel mill and are basically a box with one sloping side. The
slope is wonderfully ergonomic for sliding a jolly red Vigo scoop into
the pomace, when it comes to loading the press.The bins are also
perfect for overnight maceration of the pomace when keeving. As they
each have a lid, there is no fear of contamination from flying
insects. Best of all they only cost a tenner! They are called
"Sorteras" and they in stock at the new IKEA in Southampton.

See: www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90076364#/60076365/

Rose

On Sep 10, 3:21 pm, JezH <jez.ho...@btinternet.com> wrote:

> Ray,
>
> I am going a bit of a different way (when the Voran arrives!) and carrying on with the Fruitshark...
>
> One of the factors that I want to improve with the new press is simply the speed of pressing. However, I do have a concern that there is a pay off with this. I have no proof to back this up, but want to artificially slow the seperation of juice from pomace through milling well before pressing.
>
> So, I am investing in a couple of bar bins. This way I can mill a lot of fruit, and then use the press rather than mill - press - mill - press...
>

> http://www.solentplastics.co.uk/tanks-mobile-trucks-round-bins/#Mobil...

> >https://picasaweb.google.com/HarpHill/CiderPics03?authuser=0&authkey=...

[greg l.]

The Italian mill is exactly the same as my garden shredder.(only
stainless steel). You could use it for making mulch when not milling
apples.

Greg

[Nick at Ciderniks]

Hi Jez

You may find a plasterer's bath cheaper - 1 bath full is 1 pressing on a P1/ P2 - you can also mill straight into this weith a Fruit Shark ( a small baulk of wood under the back of the Shark helps).

Working a full tilt with a P2 which is probably a bit quicker than a P1, a Fruit Shark just keeps up

Kind regards

Nick

Nick Edwards
Ciderniks – Cider from Kintbury

E-mail: ni...@ciderniks.com
Telephone: +44 (0)7885 296789
Website: www.ciderniks.com

This message, and any attachment, is confidential and intended solely for the person to whom it is addressed. It may contain
privileged information.  If you are not the intended recipient, you must not copy, distribute, discuss or take any action in 
reliance on it. If you have received this information in error, please notify me as soon as possible. Thank you.

[Raymond Blockley]

Good site, David - full of goodies at good prices! http://www.rekru.de/

Not sure yet if they will deliver to the UK (I've found a number of German sites won't, but can't see why these wouldn't?). Need to brush up on my German.... :-(

 

Cheers, Ray. 

[Raymond Blockley]

Re: Rekru

 

Interesting pack / rack & cloth presses:

http://www.rekru.de/product_info.php?products_id=Tisch-Kleinpackpresse-TP-10-bis-TP-70-783

 

Can't find any info if they delivery outside of Germany / Austria / Switzerland. If anyone finds they do deliver elsewhwere, ie: UK + cost (if less than 100 euros) or find someone there who understands enough English to make an order, can they let me know?

 

Cheers, Ray.

--
Ray B

[David Llewellyn]

Ray, they have sent stuff to me before.  Cost will obviously depend on weight etc.  Whenever I’m dealing with them I use the German, but I’d be surprised if you couldn’t get hold of an English-speaker in their office.  If all fails, I could maybe help you out by talking to them for you.

 

David