How to make a juicer for apples from various materials with your own hands

One of the easiest methods for handling the crop is by making juice. Creating your own homemade apple juicer can be an excellent option, as many commercially available juicers are either costly or have limited efficiency and durability.

From a machine with horizontal loading

There are multiple methods to repurpose a washing machine into a centrifugal juicer. One approach involves utilizing a drum, its mounting mechanism, and a casing taken from a horizontally loading machine.

A unique homemade juicer can be created using a modified washing machine. The various components of this juicer include: 1 – the tank of the washing machine, which will serve as the main container for the juicing process; 2 – a centrifuge system that will extract the juice from the fruit; 3 – a mesh liner to separate the juice from any solid particles; 4 – a fruit hopper for easy loading of fruits into the juicer; 5 – a grater to break down the fruits and extract the maximum amount of juice; 6 – a bushing-axle to support the rotating parts of the juicer; 7 – a guide pipe to direct the flow of juice; 8 – a motor to power the juicing process; and 9 – a car tire to provide stability and support for the juicer. With these components and some modifications to the washing machine, a unique and efficient juicer can be created at home.

Initially, the powder and scale marks are carefully removed from the drum, followed by a process of sanding to achieve a glossy finish. To ensure a tight seal, all holes in the drum casing, except for the bottom one, are covered with a thin rubber gasket as well as stainless steel plates secured with nuts and bolts. A circular piece with a radius of 110-115 mm is then cut out of a 2-3 mm thick stainless steel plate to serve as the grater. Additionally, another circle of the same diameter and material, but with a thickness of 0.5-0.6 mm, is made to act as the lining for added rigidity. This lining is fastened to the center of the drum bottom with three brass posts. The grater is mounted on top of the lining using five M5 screws. Two circles are drilled with a lot of 2.5 mm radius holes, and a centimeter marking is made along the diameter to divide it into 14-20 sections. Based on this marking, cutting teeth are hammered into place using a punch. The loading tube for apples, which should match the diameter of the large hole, is attached to the drum using four aluminum corners and bolts. A corrugated hose pipe or polyethylene pipe with 5-6 mm thick walls can be used for this purpose. MB bolts are inserted from the inside of the casing at the start of the operation and secured with nuts on the outside. The distance between the pipe and the grater determines the level of apple grinding. Thumbscrews are used to securely fasten the corners from above. Blanks are created from stainless steel mesh with a mesh size of 1×1 mm, with dimensions matching the section of the drum (with an extra centimeter allowance for bending) and the number of stiffeners required. The mesh is bent in a way that the edges are even and safe, and a rivet gun is used for this process.

It is important to note that during the trial run, a properly constructed homemade apple juicer should not produce any unusual noise or banging sounds.

The apples should be loaded into the juicer, 2-3 pieces at a time. A pusher can be used to push them closer to the grater. The centrifugal force helps distribute the pulp onto the grid. If the machine starts vibrating, it is advisable to wait until the juice stops flowing before adding more apples. By systematically and consistently adding the product, a bucket of apples can be processed within 7-10 minutes before the vibration occurs. Once the engine is turned off, the cake should be removed from the grid using a plastic spatula. It is important to wash and dry all parts afterwards. When not in use, the machine should be stored disassembled.

A centrifugal juicer can also be created using a washing machine of the activator type. To do this, remove the activator and shaft from the bottom of the tank and replace it with a shaft of the desired diameter. Then, attach three knives to the shaft at a 60-degree angle using nuts. Close the drain hole. Next, line the inside of the centrifuge with a stainless steel mesh that has a mesh size of approximately 1.5mm, ensuring a 40-50mm overlap. Place a rubber lid with a stopper at the bottom of the centrifuge. Clean everything with baking soda. Disable the timer relay or secure the toggle switch in place. Place a few apples at a time onto the moving knives inside the tank. Allow the fruit to be pulverized for 20-30 minutes. Transfer no more than 3 liters of the resulting puree into the centrifuge at a time to prevent spills. After 2-3 minutes, remove the waste grid. This assembled device can produce 10-12 liters of juice with pulp per hour and is suitable for use with juicy fruits. To remove any sediment, allow the juice to settle and then strain through a sieve.

Apple press

If there is a power outage, it is advisable to construct a DIY juicer in the form of a press. To use apples, cut them in half and remove the core and any spoiled parts. Take a long, straight trough made of boards from pine or spruce and fill it with the prepared apples. Then, use a rectangular spatula with a sharp blade of the same width as the trough to push the apples. To collect the juice, cut a hole in a rectangular tank, pot, barrel, or wooden container lined with polyethylene. Inside, place gauze with the apple pulp and line it with boards. On top, put a lid-piston, and rest a press of one of two designs on it:

• a worm mechanism;
• a jack.

Tighten the screw gradually, ensuring that the juice is draining properly. Once the process is complete, unscrew the screw upwards and remove the leftover apple pulp from the gauze.

You can speed up the process of pulverizing apples for the manual juicer by using a mixer that is attached to a drill. In addition, a large plastic bottle can be used as a tank.

Useful tips

After viewing the instructional video on creating a juicer, it is important to keep in mind the essential steps for preparing the ingredients for juicing. It is necessary to thoroughly wash the apples and cut away any spoiled areas. When it comes to using a washing machine as a juicer substitute, there is no need to engage in cutting or cleaning; however, it is crucial to take out the seeds. The resulting dry pulp can be utilized as both animal feed during the wintertime and as a form of fertilizer.

Once you have gained proficiency in producing your own juicer, you will find it much easier to repair a factory model.