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Press Paint Taint Depression

Hello All,

I just got a new Italian Wine press #30. After figuring out the ratcheting action I managed to press my batch of merlot (2 cases). However toward the end I noticed some strange black flecks floating in the wine. Upon closer inspection I concluded that this was from the paint chipping off the handle. I drew my finger along edge above where the handle connects and found a fine paint dust (this was not present on the other areas). I also found more paint particles on the blocks of wood below the ratchet. I set aside the wine collected from the last pressing where I noticed the paint, and then filtered the rest of the wine thru double cheese cloth. I didnt find much evidence of paint in the cheese cloth, but I am still very worried. Is my wine ruined? Is it safe? Is there something I should have done to protect against this? Did I get a poorly designed press? I am anxiously awaiting help as I have a batch of Cab ready to be press asap.

Thanks for the help,

Ken

Reply to
Ken
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The paint is _probably_ food-grade and therefore not a health risk. The small quantity will _probably_ have no effect on your wine. This "phenomena" is a common occurrence with painted destemmers, crushers, and presses, and my primary reason for preferring stainless steel or hardwood.

You can feed the paint chips to a rat and see how many days it takes for him to die. If less than 7 (and you remembered to feed him), the paint may be toxic. If Ben lives to a ripe old age, it probably isn't. :)

Or you can use a press-bag, and not worry about it. Even if the paint is NOT "food-grade", the minute amount won't kill you or affect your wine noticeably.

If you don't have a press-bag you can use nylon paint strainer bags (they cost $1 at Home Depot) for up to 5-gallon presses. If the press is larger than that, use several bags, or use nylon screening material (also available at your local hardware store). That will filter out the paint chips.

It's a good idea to wipe down the press with a cloth soaked in metabisulphite solution before using it. This not only sterilizes the press, but picks up most of the loose paint chips and powder. But the paint will continue to flake over the years, until it needs to be repainted. When that happens, consider having it stripped to bare metal, and chrome-plated. The cost of the procedure can be very little (if you have your own pickling and plating tanks, or have a friend in the business), or very expensive if you don't. Or anywhere in between, so shop around first.

If the paint is only chipping off the handle, consider sanding the handle down to bare metal and/or coating it with spar varnish, which may be more durable than paint.

Remember, they used to add pine tar to wine as a preservative, and no one appears to have died from it.

Reply to
Negodki

Thanks, hopefully the wine will be ok since I filtered with cheese cloth right away. I sent a letter to the manufacturer to find out about the paint.

To prevent this problem in the future I was thinking of making a 'skirt' - a tarp tied with a rope around the 'barrel' of the press covering all but the drain spout. Has any one else done something similar, or is this just plain silly?

Thanks,

Ken

Reply to
Ken

Methinks the idea of painting the offending parts with spar varnish is the easiest solution.

Reply to
Charles H

Ken,

Not silly at all.

I have a 40L hydraulic bladder press which came with such a skirt. It is basically a heavy plastic bag which fits loosely over the basket and drains down into the gutter below. The idea seems to be to catch any squirting juice. I haven't used the press yet, but I would think it's effective. Could you use a large, odor-free trash bag on your press, perhaps making a hole for any screw mechanism?

Luck, Mike MTM

Ken wrote:

Reply to
MikeMTM

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