I have an older grape crusher, motor driven.

I plan on rebuilding the support braces and hopper.
I will salvage the hopper wood, probably make new braces from a
hardwood.
Either Oak or Maple. What ever is cheaper.

The "gears" that crush the grapes are cast iron. Although mostly rust
free I would like to paint them.
I plan on getting some Gondola Enamel (food-grade)
I am not sure if this will hold up from use.

Any suggestions?

The hopper looks like it is varnished (it is flaking off)
I plan on stripping this, looks like oak, and maybe mineral oil finish
or nothing at all.

Any suggestions?

I plan on re-wiring the motor (probably done in the 1960's or 70's)
Put a switch on it, ground circuit, maybe GFI?

Any suggestions?

Hi Pete

The gondola paint should work well on the cast iron rollers. The varnish
on the hopper that might flake off into the must is in all probability
inert and will make it's way to the bottom and not into the wine.
Stripping the varnish from the hopper is a good idea from an aesthetic
view point. If it is oak you may want to think about coating it with
the gondola paint or an FDA approved epoxy paint. If it is red oak
rather than white oak it could impart some nasty (think cat urine)
overtones to your wine. It probably won't but it is better to err on
the side of caution.

Definitely rewire the motor for grounding and then make sure the circuit
you plug it into is also grounded. It is easy to get shocked during the
crush.

Frank



Pete wrote:
> I have an older grape crusher, motor driven.
>
> I plan on rebuilding the support braces and hopper.
> I will salvage the hopper wood, probably make new braces from a
> hardwood.
> Either Oak or Maple. What ever is cheaper.
>
> The "gears" that crush the grapes are cast iron. Although mostly rust
> free I would like to paint them.
> I plan on getting some Gondola Enamel (food-grade)
> I am not sure if this will hold up from use.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> The hopper looks like it is varnished (it is flaking off)
> I plan on stripping this, looks like oak, and maybe mineral oil finish
> or nothing at all.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> I plan on re-wiring the motor (probably done in the 1960's or 70's)
> Put a switch on it, ground circuit, maybe GFI?
>
> Any suggestions?

I took a look at the wood for the hopper last night.
I am probably going to just replace it. It seems rather weak and starting to rot.

I assumed my basket press is oak, and that oak would be ok to use.

I could always make the hopper out of maple. It is the same price as oak.

I plan on mounting the crusher on my 50gal SS drum.
I will have a GFI on the circuit.

It would be nice to rig a way to use the same motor on my grain mill...


Frank Mirigliano > wrote in message >...
> Hi Pete
>
> The gondola paint should work well on the cast iron rollers. The varnish
> on the hopper that might flake off into the must is in all probability
> inert and will make it's way to the bottom and not into the wine.
> Stripping the varnish from the hopper is a good idea from an aesthetic
> view point. If it is oak you may want to think about coating it with
> the gondola paint or an FDA approved epoxy paint. If it is red oak
> rather than white oak it could impart some nasty (think cat urine)
> overtones to your wine. It probably won't but it is better to err on
> the side of caution.
>
> Definitely rewire the motor for grounding and then make sure the circuit
> you plug it into is also grounded. It is easy to get shocked during the
> crush.
>
> Frank
>
>
>
> Pete wrote:
> > I have an older grape crusher, motor driven.
> >
> > I plan on rebuilding the support braces and hopper.
> > I will salvage the hopper wood, probably make new braces from a
> > hardwood.
> > Either Oak or Maple. What ever is cheaper.
> >
> > The "gears" that crush the grapes are cast iron. Although mostly rust
> > free I would like to paint them.
> > I plan on getting some Gondola Enamel (food-grade)
> > I am not sure if this will hold up from use.
> >
> > Any suggestions?
> >
> > The hopper looks like it is varnished (it is flaking off)
> > I plan on stripping this, looks like oak, and maybe mineral oil finish
> > or nothing at all.
> >
> > Any suggestions?
> >
> > I plan on re-wiring the motor (probably done in the 1960's or 70's)
> > Put a switch on it, ground circuit, maybe GFI?
> >
> > Any suggestions?