I have been using the 35 basket press for quite some time. I have found it always did the job but at a price. You always had spillage on the floor from poring the wine into the basket or just by ratcheting down. As I have gotten older I don't have the strength I use to and it became a chore to ratchet the bottom portion. Also afterwards the clean up took forever because you need to clean the basket, wood slates, the wood inserts and the spindle. So for a full year I looked into purchasing the Blichmann 55 gallon fermentor, and finally I pulled the trigger and purchase the 3 items, the 55 gal. fermentor, the pump and lastly the press piston. Well to tell you the truth I couldn't be happier. I just wished I would have done it sooner. The instructions that are online are everything you need to know. It took me awhile to believe how simple it was. From the beginning you put into the 55 vat container your crushed grapes and ferment right in the tank. After the fermentation is complete you just hook up the air pump and the punch down lid and open the vessel ball and pump your wine into your carboy. Simple!!!! Clean up is easy, you just take out the pumas and rinse out your vessel and you are done. If you want easy and convenience this is the product for you.
WARNING
: This product can expose you to chemicals including Lead and lead compounds, which is/are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to
www.p65warnings.ca.gov.