I know, I know. I've been busy. Trust me.
I finally got around to starting on my sorghum press.
I have a little sorghum planted, but didn't go full bore this year. I have a couple acres of cedar trees to remove before I can plant the way and amount that I want. And I still have to get the evaporator process underway.
I'll post pics when it gets a bit taller. Right now, it just looks like new grass. It is a fast growing grass, so in a few weeks it should be between 4 and 5 feet tall. And by harvest time, it should be 12 feet tall.
Anyway, here is a couple of pics of what my press should look like.
Here is a website that has different presses and how the whole process is done.
Here is my press.
And here it is in pieces.
Top plate.
Bottom plate.
Gears.
Drums and shafts.
It's in pretty bad shape. It was sitting in the dirt in KY, quite possibly for 100 years or more. It dates back to the late 1800's.
All the parts will get sand blasted this week and then the drums and shafts will get the pits welded and trued on a lathe. Everything that can be powder coated, will.
It has brass bearing inserts and I haven't figured out yet what I'm going to replace them with. They may have to be fabricated.
Our plan is to do it the traditional way with the press being mule powered and the evaporator pan being copper and wood and the evaporation process done over an open oak fire.
So that's where I'm at on the press. I will update as I have time.
I finally got around to starting on my sorghum press.
I have a little sorghum planted, but didn't go full bore this year. I have a couple acres of cedar trees to remove before I can plant the way and amount that I want. And I still have to get the evaporator process underway.
I'll post pics when it gets a bit taller. Right now, it just looks like new grass. It is a fast growing grass, so in a few weeks it should be between 4 and 5 feet tall. And by harvest time, it should be 12 feet tall.
Anyway, here is a couple of pics of what my press should look like.
Here is a website that has different presses and how the whole process is done.
Here is my press.
And here it is in pieces.
Top plate.
Bottom plate.
Gears.
Drums and shafts.
It's in pretty bad shape. It was sitting in the dirt in KY, quite possibly for 100 years or more. It dates back to the late 1800's.
All the parts will get sand blasted this week and then the drums and shafts will get the pits welded and trued on a lathe. Everything that can be powder coated, will.
It has brass bearing inserts and I haven't figured out yet what I'm going to replace them with. They may have to be fabricated.
Our plan is to do it the traditional way with the press being mule powered and the evaporator pan being copper and wood and the evaporation process done over an open oak fire.
So that's where I'm at on the press. I will update as I have time.
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