Cider Chat5 Jan 2022

301: "Quality of Life" at the Water Wheel Cider Mill

Building a Water Wheel to Power a Cider Mill

Phil Watson grew up on an old farm with an old cider press that powered a water wheel. When a water wheel turns it produces a lot of force, so his mom back then had the old wheel taken down. That water wheel made a big impression on Phil so years later he built his own water wheel powered cider press on his 200 acre lot where he mills up lumber.

In this episode hear the full backstory of building the water wheel with one oak tree. The 3 story cider house is set up with the top floor designed to receive the apples and the old leaf mulcher now used to grind up the apples.

The second floor is where the press is set up and there is even a bike on that floor that can be used to also power the press.

The bottom floor is where the juice is received in an old milk tank.

Making Cider with the Water Wheel Powered Cider Mill

Water Wheel - 14 diameter

When the wheel is turning:

20 gallons pre pressing on a rack and cloth press that Phil also built. They can do 4-5 pressings an hour.

Phil's label for his bottles says Snake Cider Company with the logo, "Don't Eat the Apple. Drink the Snake"

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