Cider Digest #1789

Published in

· 7 months ago

Subject: Cider Digest #1789, 5 July 2013 
From: cider-request@talisman.com 

Cider Digest #1789                                         5 July 2013 

                 Cider and Perry Discussion Forum 

Contents: 
  scaling up (lift table) (Dick Dunn) 

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Digest Janitor: Dick Dunn 
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Subject: scaling up (lift table) 
From: Dick Dunn <rcd@talisman.com> 
Date: Sat, 29 Jun 2013 21:54:32 -0600 

Peter Hoover wrote, in response to a side comment on my note on small pumps 
where I said "Hey, I can't lift full containers any more!"... 
... 
> What I have done in my small (120 gallons per year) hard cider 
> manufactory is to purchase a hydraulic lift table, which raises 
> carboys and other containers, empty or full, from a low shelf about 
> 11" off the floor to a high one about 50" off the floor. Then I just 
> siphon. 

I do that; I just thought it was such a dorky idea I didn't mention it! 
But if two of us use that idea, I guess it's OK... 

The lift table I have isn't hydraulic--it's a scissor-lift arrangement 
with a 12V electric motor driving a long screw.  Not purpose-built! 
Rather, borrowed from a winemaker-friend.  The rated capacity is 175 lb, 
so that will lift a 60 l or 14-15 gal fermenter easily enough, but not 
the next step up to 120 l or 30 gal.  A proper hydraulic lift-table like 
Peter has would do more. 

You do need to be able to move (or keep) the containers at the level of the 
lift-table in its low position.  What I've done for that is plywood 
platforms on casters. 

Still I feel that this is only an interim solution.  I don't like the idea 
of lifting larger containers which are really designed and intended to stay 
put!  I'd lift a 120 l hdpe container with a lift table if I could, but no 
way would I go beyond that. 

Still, glad that Peter mentioned the lift table for (carboys and) the first 
step up from carboys. 
- --  
Dick Dunn          rcd@talisman.com          Hygiene, Colorado  USA 

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End of Cider Digest #1789 
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