How to make a grape crusher yourself

Operating principle and application

Let's first figure out what a mechanical grape crusher is and what a grape descaling machine is.

A grape crusher with a destemmer is a specialized device used to separate grapes from their stems. The device features a simple operating mechanism: it consists of a loading hopper, a pulp collection chamber, and a crusher consisting of two crushing rollers positioned opposite each other.

Why is it necessary to destem the berries, you ask? At harvest time, the stems are still green; if they are not removed, acid and tannins will enter the grape juice, negatively affecting the wine's flavor.

A mechanical or manual crusher is widely used both in home winemaking and in wine production on an industrial scale. However, for processing large batches of grapes, it is better to use an electric crusher, the power of which allows processing a large amount of the harvested crop in a short period of time.

How does this miracle machine work? Grapes are poured into a loading container and literally crushed by crushing rollers. Please note a small but crucial detail: there must be a small gap between the rollers to ensure the grape seeds remain intact. If the rollers are so close that the seeds are crushed, the wine is considered spoiled. The tannins found in grape seeds impart bitterness, viscosity, and strength to the wine.

Types of crushers

Modern stores offer a wide range of crushers for processing harvested vineyard grapes. Crushing machines available today can be classified according to several characteristics:

• control type (mechanical/manual and electrical);
• manufacturing material (wood, plastic and metal);
• loading type (horizontal and vertical);
• with or without comb separation.

There are two types of crushers and scallops for grape processing: roller and impact-centrifugal.

However, if for some reason the existing selection doesn't suit you or you don't like it, you can try making your own. A homemade grape crusher is a simple design from a technological standpoint. Building such a device doesn't take much time and doesn't require significant capital investment. Moreover, the performance of a homemade crushing unit is just as good as that of a factory-made one.

Necessary materials and tools

The success of any project depends on the level of preparation of the "master." Before starting to build a homemade crushing unit, you need to find plans for such a device online or draw them yourself.

The next step is to prepare the necessary tools and materials. It's best to bring a complete tool kit so you don't have to waste time searching for a hammer or screwdriver later.

So, what materials will we need to make a crusher? Based on the notes of winemakers who have already made similar devices themselves, we need to prepare:

• oak boards for the loading hopper (plastic or stainless steel can also be used);
• rollers – 2 pcs.;
• gears of the same size – 2 pcs.;
• beams with a cross-section of 50x50 mm for a wooden frame;
• lever;
• pulp container.

Step-by-step instructions

All the necessary materials are purchased and prepared, and the tools are at hand—it's time to get started. Don't forget to grab the drawing you made earlier, which will make it 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. Take a roller and draw six longitudinal lines on it. Drill holes 10 mm in diameter and 50 mm deep along the length of each line. The distance between the holes should be approximately 50 mm. Repeat the same procedure with the second roller.
3. We make a wooden frame from the beams and attach the rollers to the center. Be sure to leave a gap of 2–3 mm between the rollers.
4. From the outside of the frame we install gears on the shafts.
5. We assemble the entire structure. We attach a frame with rollers to the pulp collection tank, and place the loading hopper on top of it.
6. We attach a handle to one of the roller axes, which will operate our device.

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

Video: "Homemade Grape Crusher"

This video will show you how to make a grape crusher.