Making Cider at Musee de Venoge

It’s a pressing matter, if you are an apple! But if you are not, you can still enjoy this wonderful video on making fresh apple cider at Musee de Venoge. Your host, Mike McHugh, demonstrates cider making on a press he restored. Learn the terminology and some secrets.
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[@Jetty-g6e]

Wonderful video! I don't want these arts to ever get lost in the technology world.

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

Thank you! We don't want to loose these skills either.

[@Schlachtschule]

How wonderful to see such a marvelous machine so beautifully restored. Thank you very much for sharing.

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

It IS truly wonderful to see the skill he has put into that one...and the others he has brought back to a useful life.

[@judyphillips7973]

Lavita Shelton--In 1973 we bought a small farm with an apple orchard in Farmland, IN. After taking our apples to a commercial cider press near Portland for several years, I was elated to find a press in excellent condition for sale near Lamb, IN. From then on we pressed our own cider. My son now has it on his farm near Duluth, MN,

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

Lamb is just down the road! What good fortune you had to find a good press.

[@jimisleib7627]

Great video! Thank you. I have a nearly identical Hosking 2-tub cider press. My dad found it at a 'junk' sale and replaced enough wood to get into working order...sometime in the 70's. Since then it languished in an open shed for 30 or 40 years until he gave it to me. I fixed it up some more, kept the useable original wood parts and replaced the pieces that were too far gone. I have used it for 6 or 8 years now for group cider making events with church and friends. What fun to come across your video with such a nicely restored, similar cider press. We can a lot of cider in quart mason jars. If you're careful, it works real good and stores for quite a long time.

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

That’s wonderful! Saving a press and continuing to made tasty cider for friends!

[@jenniferstoker1603]

Great presentation! Thank you!

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

Yes! Mike McHugh did a wonderful restoration of the press and he explains the process in an easy to understand way.

[@jamescoulter2066]

Looked like fun! That’s my little girl starring in the video!! She did a good job!!!

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

She did a wonderful job..what a delight!

[@edappi8172]

@@Musee.de.Venoge I'm glad the yellow jackets left them both alone

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

@@edappi8172 The bees were very docile...not a problem.

[@edappi8172]

@@Musee.de.Venoge Sorry but at 5:08 that was a yellow jacket wasp not a bee - bees were in other clips, I have been stung by yellow jackets so am a bit wary.

[@marthabladen2626]

Such a beautiful press! I had the privilege of using a press that had not the beauty but the mechanics worked well. Doug Ray near Vevay loaned me his press and taught me the process. The blend of apples I had were Roxbury Russet, Golden Russet and Wolf River. Best cider ever!

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

Yes it is a beautiful press. Sounds like a great blend of apples you were able to use. Freshly made cider is the best, you'll never go back to what passes in the grocery.

[@wesh388]

Quality video, and I appreciate the good tips

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MrNostalgic85]

Great video! Love old fashioned tools.

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

Thank you for the nice compliment. Mike McHugh sure does also....and he loves to see them work again.

[@rudbeckia885]

Nicely done !

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

Thank you, it was a pleasure to make and the cider was excellent!

[@deb1120]

Greeting from Pennsylvania! My hubby and I are going to try and restore an old cider press for the local historical society...do you have any good suggestions for plans, parts or how-tos? the wood portion of the press is rotted away...we honestly don't know what it's supposed to look like at this point! It's an 'American Cider Mill' (it's stamped on the front irons). p.s.--I just now found your channel...I can't wait to binge-watch after I get back from errands! 😁😁

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

Answers to your questions are on the way. Hopefully the press can be restored and get back to work!

[@deb1120]

@@Musee.de.Venoge 😁THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP! After I posted on here, I looked around and found the email address. (I wasn't sure this page was monitored since the video is a year old). Mr. McHugh has already emailed me and offered his assistance! 😁😁

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

Great. Hope it all works out.

[@reeseholler92]

I am restoring the family cider press and due to it not being used for 40+ years iron is very rusty. After sandblasting do you recommend any sort of coating for the grinding components? Intuitively it would seem those parts would start rusting again qfter pressing this fall

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

We will forward your question to Mike McHugh…. He will advise you. Thanks for watching and good luck with your press!

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

Yes, rust never sleeps. A quick glance at your Facebook site tells me that you are no stranger to rust. One finish that I use on the wood and iron parts in the grinding chamber is mineral oil. Mineral oil is non-toxic and tasteless. The other finish that I use is a product called Butcher Block Conditioner. It’s a blend of beeswax and mineral oil (also non-toxic and tasteless). Consider leaving a thin layer of rust on the iron parts. This rust will help hold the oil in place. Avoid using vegetable oil (as some folks do). Vegetable oil will eventually turn rancid and leave an objectionable odor. For the wooden parts that come in contact with cider, I use a product called Salad Bowl (Finish/Varnish?). This is a nontoxic varnish. All other wooden parts are finished with an exterior/marine varnish. Cast-iron parts look great with a good old-fashioned enamel paint! For lubrication, a standard three and one oil does the trick. Except for the press screw. There, I use lithium grease on the Acme threads and down in the cup of the bottom plate where that piece should be able to rotate freely. These greased parts never comes in contact with the Cider. Let us know how good your cider is next fall!

[@rocingersol1875]

I imagine the bees were drawn to the sweetness of the apples but geez, it was like you were pressing them next to a beehive.

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

I have no idea where the closest hive might be, but the bees were quite active. They were not a problem, more of a nuisance!

[@expatconn7242]

Help.. I have come across a C.E. & Hill Co type press wondering if I can send you pictures of this unit. I can not find anything about this . Wondering if you know something . Is it worth buying . My wife and I have a small food forest . Long story .. ty

[@Musee.de.Venoge]

I will forward your question to Mike McHugh...he can probably advise. Email your photos to: [e-mail]