I purchased an old iron lard/fruit press and have
been slowly de-rusting and cleaning it up. The
surfaces that will touch grapes has been treated
with cooking oil to prevent rust, and the remainder
has been repainted the original color. My problem
is, the "main barrel" for the press is missing! I
thought it would be easy to find this piece (by
fabrication) but the I.D. needs to be 6-7/8 inches.
Common PVC pipe comes in 6 (too small) and 8 inch
(too big) diameters. 7 inch muffler pipe would be
perfect, but I can't find a source! I thought about
buying a 12 inch long piece of 8 inch pipe and slicing
down the side to thin it, then apply glue to the slice
and compressing it with screw clamps until it sets.
But I don't think it would hold very well. If anyone
knows a source of 7 inch diameter pipe (well, truthfully
O.D. doesn't matter, but it needs to be 6-7/8 I.D.)
please let me know! I even considered wood like I
see used in a lot of grape presses, but considered
the possibility of bacterial contamination to be too
great with a wooden press. Any thoughts would be greatly
appreciated!

Thanks, -Web Williams in Myrtle Beach, SC

The one I use from my local shop has a cylinder made from perforated
stainless that was stamped to the proper diameter. very thin material full
of maybe 1/4 inch holes. you may be able to get something made at a
fabrication shop/welder. very simple and very strong and easy to clean

Sean


"Web Williams" > wrote in message
. com...
> I purchased an old iron lard/fruit press and have
> been slowly de-rusting and cleaning it up. The
> surfaces that will touch grapes has been treated
> with cooking oil to prevent rust, and the remainder
> has been repainted the original color. My problem
> is, the "main barrel" for the press is missing! I
> thought it would be easy to find this piece (by
> fabrication) but the I.D. needs to be 6-7/8 inches.
> Common PVC pipe comes in 6 (too small) and 8 inch
> (too big) diameters. 7 inch muffler pipe would be
> perfect, but I can't find a source! I thought about
> buying a 12 inch long piece of 8 inch pipe and slicing
> down the side to thin it, then apply glue to the slice
> and compressing it with screw clamps until it sets.
> But I don't think it would hold very well. If anyone
> knows a source of 7 inch diameter pipe (well, truthfully
> O.D. doesn't matter, but it needs to be 6-7/8 I.D.)
> please let me know! I even considered wood like I
> see used in a lot of grape presses, but considered
> the possibility of bacterial contamination to be too
> great with a wooden press. Any thoughts would be greatly
> appreciated!
>
> Thanks, -Web Williams in Myrtle Beach, SC
>