need help refurbing a old cider press

[beerman]

Maybe I should be thinking about how to clean it then. Should I just wipe it down or something more involved?

[WHiiP]

[quote beerman]Maybe I should be thinking about how to clean it then. Should I just wipe it down or something more involved?
I would do what Paul F already recommended . . ."First things first; make sure everything is CLEAN, and sand down the wood... maybe even use a weak bleach solution (with plenty of rinsing afterwards) to help clean things up."

[tuqqer]

I'm jealous. I'd love an apple press. We have dozens of apple trees around here that just go to waste every fall. No better liver tonic than fresh apple juice. The malic acid dissolves internal crud better than almost anything else out there.

I'd leave the wood unfinished, or a tung oil.

[mrbigstuff]

I have grand-dad's old wine press (used perhaps for some "home" winemaking processes during Prohibition - great history) and I'm essentially in the same boat as you, Beerman. I want to use it as a cider press (both kinds!) but it's been getting gnarly in my backyard for a long time in the weather. (Plus I am missing the "masher" part. )

[OWC Jamie]

I just clean all my wine making stuff with sodium or potasium metabisulfite.
I doubt if it had anything but a natural patina rom day 1.
If this is just going up on a shelf for show then paint little apples on it if you wanted.