Included with your press are some small parts. There is one
ratchet handle, one wing-head bolt, two ratchet head pins
and four basket pins. |
Attach the ratchet handle by inserting one end of the handle
(the end with the divit) into the receptacle. As you insert
the handle, look down through the bolt hole and line the divit
up so the bolt will seat itself into the divit as it's screwed
in. |
Before you use the press for the first time you will need
to lubricate the ratchet mechanism. You can use vegetable
oil to prevent petrolium based oil from getting in your juice.
Oil the length of the threaded shaft, remove the two ratchet
head pins and oil all the moving parts of the head. Work the
ratchet handle back and forth several times to work the oil
around the various surfaces of the head assembly. |
Insert the pins in the ratchet head. For ratcheting up the
shaft the pins will be inserted with the long side leading
counter clockwise, as in the photo above. Reverse the pins
and insert them with the long side leading clockwise to ratchet
down the shaft. Place one hand under the ratchet head and
lift up to provide pressure and operate the handle back and
forth to get the feel for the way the press works. |
You may choose to mount the press to a table or bench for
extra stability. The legs are pre-drilled for you. |
Once you have filled your press basket with fruit (grapes,
chopped apples, pears, etc.) you should place the two semi-cirular
blocks into the basket right on top of the fruit. Leave the
metal loops facing upwards so you have something to hold on
to when removing the blocks. |
Stack the remaining wooden blocks in alternating directions
as shown. If you are pressing a small amount of fruit you
may need to add more of your own blocks to reach further down
into the basket. |
Rotate the entire ratchet head around the shaft until it comes
to rest on the top of the blocks. Now you are ready to use
the ratchet feature. The press should remain stationary (not
rotate) on top of the blocks. In the photo above you should
notice three distinct layers of the ratchet mechanism. The
bottom layer will remain still against the blocks. The top
layer will move back and forth as the handle is operated.
The middle layer will turn a bit each time the handle is moved.
The middle layer will rotate around the shaft and create the
downward motion needed to press the fruit. |
As you operate the handle in the back and forth motion you
will notice the top layer of the press moving in connection.
The head pins will alternately ride up and down the series
of holes in the middle layer of the ratchet. |
As you operate the handle back and forth, make sure you don't
push down or pull up on the handle. Just work the handle back
and forth parallel to the ground. Upward or downward pressure
on the handle will make the ratchet much harder to operate. |
Once you have finished pressing you can move the ratchet head
up the shaft a bit and remove the four basket pins as shown
here. This will allow you to open the basket up all the way
for cleaning. |
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