TOPIC:

I have some friends with several apple trees and they are itching to make some cider. Anyone have a press that they would be willing to lend out? Goes without saying that it will be returned in as good/better shape than we get it. Happy to leave a deposit or whatever it takes for other side to feel comfortable with the exchange. Trade beer, the resulting cider, cash-quite flexible regarding the terms.
Appreciate any response.

Where are you based? I have a small 6l one, that in all fairness takes a long time to get the required results with and you'll also need a scratter, I used a mincer I had to scrat apples the time I used it.
It's actually rusted solid at the moment but I'm sure I could turn the screw again and get it up to scratch with a little TLC, but I'd advise you try to get a larger one, it took me a whole weekend to get 50l of juice from it the last time. It'd take a week to do any sort of decent amount of apples with it.

If they own the trees they shoudl invest in a press to be honest, they are not so expensive from teh UK as from here.

I also have a small 6L one, which you are free to borrow, but I have to agree with Eoin, that it is a bit of a pain to use on that scale. I haven't used it the last two years, as I would prefer to do larger amounts to make it worth the effort. Someone else has it at the moment, but could get it back easy enough.

The net is also full up of really easy "how to's" re: making your own press. I almost have one made, and I'd say overall cost will be €10-€15

I have a large press and scratter mill, too big, heavy, expensive to lend out. It can press 60kg at a time which will yield about 40ltr of juice. I would be more than willing to mill and press apples for anyone interested for the cost of my time and so long as you help with the set up, clean up etc (it's labour intensive).

Because of whats involved I don't usualy press unless I have at least 200kg of apples, preferably alot more,so unless you have that much, maybe a few people could get together.