William Frazier wrote:
> Jason - How many pounds of grapes are you processing? If not too
> many there is a simple way to destem. I have a Eno crusher without
> the destemer attachment. It's light weight and easy to move around
> and clean. I destem through a 2-mesh stainless steel screen attached
> to a plywood frame that fits over a 32 gallon trash can. I've used
> this for years with good results. Monday afternoon I picked 233lbs
> Cabernet Franc in the back yard. I crushed twice in about 10 minutes.
> I spent a couple of hours destemming the batch using the 2-mesh
> screen. It's simple and very effective. All stems, including the
> little jack stems, can be removed with a little care. It would be
> nice to have a mechanized destemmer but since I already have the Eno,
> and only crush two to three varieties of grapes each year this system
> suits my operation. If you are interested I can send pictures of
> the screen and frame...also smaller screens I use to deseed the must
> before and during fermentation.
>
> Bill Frazier Olathe, Kansas USA
>
>
> > wrote in message
> ps.com...
>> Hello-
>>
>> I found a great deal on a crusher and wine press but now I'm
>> looking to either build/buy a destemmer. I know this was covered
>> in great detail once before-
>> http://groups.google.com/group/rec.c...d863d72c9a8404
>>
>>
>> but I'm hoping that someone can provide photos of their destemmer-
>> lots of digital pictures, and possibly permit me to post them on my
>> website as examples. I'm collecting designs of 'build it yourself'
>> equipment- it's fun, it's challenging, and it gets me out of the
>> office enough to relax and not care about the job.
>>
>> Anyways- I could use some really good photos of the destemmer
>> screens and fingers- just so that I could visualize how they work
>> myself (I've never seen one yet in operation).
>>
>> Thanks much!
>>
>> Jason

We usually process about 2000lbs of grapes for two families. We crush
with a 75 year old crusher powered by an electric motor and destem by
hand using a stainless steel pan with holes drilled in the bottom placed
over an open 55 gal barrels. Takes about 3 hours.

Steve