Hand-Cranked Oil Press

General Tips:

• Grease all rotating parts with vegetable oil only
• Remove sand and stones from the seed before pressing
• All seeds can be pressed without removing the husks
• Nuts may be coarsely ground or hammered before pressing
• Seeds and nuts should be well dried (best moisture content for most seeds and nuts is 8%)

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What materials is the press made from? Specifically, what materials in the press actually touch the seeds being pressed?
The screw is made of cutting steel. The press is steel 37. The outside is powder coated.

2) Is there any certification or testing to prove the that materials touching the seeds/oil are food safe?No, not at this time.

3) What type of lubricant is used in the turning mechanism and is there any chance it can leach into the oil that is extracted?
The oil that is pressed is also used as lubricant. There is hardly any wear and tear, because the pressed oil lubricates the inside constantly. This is also the reason why normal steel is used: it is always protected by oil. For this reason we advise customers not to use it for pressing juices.

4) Is there any possibility that by-products from the flame of the lamp can get into the oil or contaminate the oil?
No, if soot is formed it will not get in contact with the oil. It is important to follow the instructions in the manual.

5) Can I use the press without lighting the candle?
The press may be used without the candle, but we do not recommend it. It is almost impossible to turn and the extraction rate will drop by 60% to 80%.

6) How warm does the oil get when pressed?
We don't have data on how warm the pulp/oil/seeds are heated by the candle. The press body gets too hot to touch. The oil is warm enough that we can't call it "cold pressed" but we don't believe it is hot enough for significant nutrient loss. There are many variables: Candle height, drafts in the room, etc.