Bladder press
 

I receive today my bladder press and i have few questions about their
utilisations ;

1) Can i press even if i only fill half the bladder or even less ?

2) Can i press frozen grapes in it ?

3) What is the risk with the bladder rupture from the stem ? I have a
crusher/destemmer but it usually let 20% left stems.

Thanks so much,
Séb

Bladder press
 

seb ) wrote:
>I receive today my bladder press and i have few questions about their
>utilisations ;
>
>1) Can i press even if i only fill half the bladder or even less ?
>
>2) Can i press frozen grapes in it ?

>3) What is the risk with the bladder rupture from the stem ? I have a
>crusher/destemmer but it usually let 20% left stems.
>
>Thanks so much,
>Séb

Hi Seb,

You need to fill the press completely full, so if you have half as
many grapes as you need for a full pressload, you should inflate the
balloon to fill up half the space before you start loading the
press. You do not want empty space at the top, as it will cause the
balloon to "mushroom out" and break. If you end up with too little
must to fill the press, you can use pomace from a previous
pressload.

And yes, you can press frozen grapes with the bladder press. We
used to (before we got an old Howard movable plate press) use our
basket presses to make our icewine. We'd go up to four bar without
any problem.

And no, there's no chance of rupturing from the stems. You want to
make sure you're not loading any clips or staples or clippers in
there, but regular old stems won't hurt it any.

Good luck!!

Dave
************************************************** **************************
Dave Breeden

Bladder press
 

seb ) wrote:
>I receive today my bladder press and i have few questions about their
>utilisations ;
>
>1) Can i press even if i only fill half the bladder or even less ?
>
>2) Can i press frozen grapes in it ?

>3) What is the risk with the bladder rupture from the stem ? I have a
>crusher/destemmer but it usually let 20% left stems.
>
>Thanks so much,
>Séb

Hi Seb,

You need to fill the press completely full, so if you have half as
many grapes as you need for a full pressload, you should inflate the
balloon to fill up half the space before you start loading the
press. You do not want empty space at the top, as it will cause the
balloon to "mushroom out" and break. If you end up with too little
must to fill the press, you can use pomace from a previous
pressload.

And yes, you can press frozen grapes with the bladder press. We
used to (before we got an old Howard movable plate press) use our
basket presses to make our icewine. We'd go up to four bar without
any problem.

And no, there's no chance of rupturing from the stems. You want to
make sure you're not loading any clips or staples or clippers in
there, but regular old stems won't hurt it any.

Good luck!!

Dave
************************************************** **************************
Dave Breeden

Bladder press
 

> You need to fill the press completely full, so if you have half as
> many grapes as you need for a full pressload, you should inflate the
> balloon to fill up half the space before you start loading the
> press. You do not want empty space at the top, as it will cause the
> balloon to "mushroom out" and break. If you end up with too little
> must to fill the press, you can use pomace from a previous
> pressload.


Ok, thanks David. Since i will have some difficulty to guess the
right amount of crushed grapes to fullfill the bladder i think that
what i should do is to partially inflate the membrane, then fill the
bladder till it's full and discharge some water if i have more grape
to add. Doing this, I will be sure that the bladder is full. After
few try i will be able to better guess the amount of crushed grapes
needed for a full press. What do you think ?

Thanks,
Séb

Bladder press
 

Where did you get your preess? I'd like to see a picture of it.

Frank
ATF Home Brew Club
New Bern, NC

"seb" > wrote in message
om...
> I receive today my bladder press and i have few questions about their
> utilisations ;
>
> 1) Can i press even if i only fill half the bladder or even less ?
>
> 2) Can i press frozen grapes in it ?
>
> 3) What is the risk with the bladder rupture from the stem ? I have a
> crusher/destemmer but it usually let 20% left stems.
>
> Thanks so much,
> Séb

Where did you get your preess? I'd like to see a picture of it.

Frank
ATF Home Brew Club
New Bern, NC

"seb" > wrote in message
om...
> I receive today my bladder press and i have few questions about their
> utilisations ;
>
> 1) Can i press even if i only fill half the bladder or even less ?
>
> 2) Can i press frozen grapes in it ?
>
> 3) What is the risk with the bladder rupture from the stem ? I have a
> crusher/destemmer but it usually let 20% left stems.
>
> Thanks so much,
> Séb

Bladder press
 

seb ) wrote:
>> You need to fill the press completely full, so if you have half as
>> many grapes as you need for a full pressload, you should inflate the
>> balloon to fill up half the space before you start loading the
>> press. You do not want empty space at the top, as it will cause the
>> balloon to "mushroom out" and break. If you end up with too little
>> must to fill the press, you can use pomace from a previous
>> pressload.


>Ok, thanks David. Since i will have some difficulty to guess the
>right amount of crushed grapes to fullfill the bladder i think that
>what i should do is to partially inflate the membrane, then fill the
>bladder till it's full and discharge some water if i have more grape
>to add. Doing this, I will be sure that the bladder is full. After
>few try i will be able to better guess the amount of crushed grapes
>needed for a full press. What do you think ?

>Thanks,
>Séb

Yep, that sounds like a good plan. And if you're doing multiple
pressloads on the same day, save the pomace from the early pressings
to take up space in the later pressings if you need it.

Dave
************************************************** **************************
Dave Breeden

Bladder press
 

"Frank J. Russo" > wrote in message thlink.net>...
> Where did you get your preess? I'd like to see a picture of it.
>
> Frank
> ATF Home Brew Club
> New Bern, NC


Here's a link to see a picture of the press. It's a 80L size bladder
press. I did not buy the press there but it's the same press.

http://www.morebeer.com/index.html?p...php3&pid=WE150

By the way, an other question. I have a mesh bag that is suppose to
sit inside the press but for what ? I also have a plastic bag that
goes on the outside to avoid splashing juice over the place but I
don't understand the inner bag purpose ?

Séb

"Frank J. Russo" > wrote in message thlink.net>...
> Where did you get your preess? I'd like to see a picture of it.
>
> Frank
> ATF Home Brew Club
> New Bern, NC


Here's a link to see a picture of the press. It's a 80L size bladder
press. I did not buy the press there but it's the same press.

http://www.morebeer.com/index.html?p...php3&pid=WE150

By the way, an other question. I have a mesh bag that is suppose to
sit inside the press but for what ? I also have a plastic bag that
goes on the outside to avoid splashing juice over the place but I
don't understand the inner bag purpose ?

Séb

Bladder press
 

When I got my press, I was told that it makes removing the pomace
easier. It is supposed to fit between the bladder and the outer cage.
The press works so well that the cake is very dry and easy to remove
without the inner bag. I've never used it and don't plan to.

-David
Denver, CO USA

(seb) wrote in message . com>...
> "Frank J. Russo" > wrote in message thlink.net>...
> > Where did you get your preess? I'd like to see a picture of it.
> >
> > Frank
> > ATF Home Brew Club
> > New Bern, NC
>
>
> Here's a link to see a picture of the press. It's a 80L size bladder
> press. I did not buy the press there but it's the same press.
>
> http://www.morebeer.com/index.html?p...php3&pid=WE150
>
> By the way, an other question. I have a mesh bag that is suppose to
> sit inside the press but for what ? I also have a plastic bag that
> goes on the outside to avoid splashing juice over the place but I
> don't understand the inner bag purpose ?
>
> Séb

Bladder press
 

> > By the way, an other question. I have a mesh bag that is suppose to
> > sit inside the press but for what ? I also have a plastic bag that
> > goes on the outside to avoid splashing juice over the place but I
> > don't understand the inner bag purpose ?

If you made white wines you'd know! White must is very slippery. When you
squeeze it too quickly it tends to shoot _geysers_ of must between the press
slats. A screen keeps that from happening. To be really effective the
screen needs to be coarser than window screen and made out of much heavier
gauge stainless steel wire.

Tom S

> > By the way, an other question. I have a mesh bag that is suppose to
> > sit inside the press but for what ? I also have a plastic bag that
> > goes on the outside to avoid splashing juice over the place but I
> > don't understand the inner bag purpose ?

If you made white wines you'd know! White must is very slippery. When you
squeeze it too quickly it tends to shoot _geysers_ of must between the press
slats. A screen keeps that from happening. To be really effective the
screen needs to be coarser than window screen and made out of much heavier
gauge stainless steel wire.

Tom S

> > By the way, an other question. I have a mesh bag that is suppose to
> > sit inside the press but for what ? I also have a plastic bag that
> > goes on the outside to avoid splashing juice over the place but I
> > don't understand the inner bag purpose ?

If you made white wines you'd know! White must is very slippery. When you
squeeze it too quickly it tends to shoot _geysers_ of must between the press
slats. A screen keeps that from happening. To be really effective the
screen needs to be coarser than window screen and made out of much heavier
gauge stainless steel wire.

Tom S

Bladder press
 

Tom S ) wrote:
>> > By the way, an other question. I have a mesh bag that is suppose to
>> > sit inside the press but for what ? I also have a plastic bag that
>> > goes on the outside to avoid splashing juice over the place but I
>> > don't understand the inner bag purpose ?

>If you made white wines you'd know! White must is very slippery. When you
>squeeze it too quickly it tends to shoot _geysers_ of must between the press
>slats. A screen keeps that from happening. To be really effective the
>screen needs to be coarser than window screen and made out of much heavier
>gauge stainless steel wire.

>Tom S


Hi,

We've had good luck using "Cat-proof" window screen from our local
hardware store.

Dave
************************************************** **************************
Dave Breeden

Tom S ) wrote:
>> > By the way, an other question. I have a mesh bag that is suppose to
>> > sit inside the press but for what ? I also have a plastic bag that
>> > goes on the outside to avoid splashing juice over the place but I
>> > don't understand the inner bag purpose ?

>If you made white wines you'd know! White must is very slippery. When you
>squeeze it too quickly it tends to shoot _geysers_ of must between the press
>slats. A screen keeps that from happening. To be really effective the
>screen needs to be coarser than window screen and made out of much heavier
>gauge stainless steel wire.

>Tom S


Hi,

We've had good luck using "Cat-proof" window screen from our local
hardware store.

Dave
************************************************** **************************
Dave Breeden