Sunflower Seed Oil Press
The press was designed so that homesteaders can produce sunflower oil from their own seeds. The oil can be pressed as is or heated to 170 degrees F., which doubles oil yield.
Both methods require the seed to be ground to fine powder. If you are pressing the oil seed variety, a meat grinder or electric blender will do an excellent job of grinding the seed. The confectionary type of seed will require the seed to be hulled and winnowed before it is ground. A food mill with the stones set at the coarse setting can be used to accomplish this step.
The ground kernels are placed in the cylinder with the piston closing the bottom portion of the cylinder.
The cylinder is mounted in the press frame and a three-ton hydraulic jack is used to supply the pressure.
Because of the great pressures created by the hydraulic jack, it is important that the frame be properly constructed and firmly mounted to the work surface before the pressing operation begins. The following instructions can be given to a welder.Tools Required
1. Power Hacksaw
2. Metal Band Saw
3. Metal Lathe
4. Drill Press
5. Belt or Disk Grinder
6. Arc Welder
7. Hand Clamps1. Cut two pieces of 1-3/4" O.D. x 1-3/8" I.D. x 24-1/2 inch long tubing for the uprights.
Secure welds on all parts are needed because of the high pressures exerted to squeeze the oil from the seeds.
Procedure (Frame)
2. Cut one piece of 1-3/4" O.D. x 1-3/8" I.D. x 6-1/2 inch long tubing for the center tube.
3. Cut one 3/4" x 2-3/4 x 5-1/2 inch steel bar for the top cross member.
4. Cut two pieces of 1-3/4 x 1-3/4 x 8 inch angle iron for the base members.
5. Drill two 9/32-inch holes in each base member 1/2 inch from the outer edges.
6. Weld the base members, tubes and cross member together as per the drawing.
7. Grind all edges to remove any burrs.
8. Paint the frame.
9. If a mounting board is desired, cut a piece of pine 1-1/4 x 6-1/2 x 12 inches long.
10. Center the frame on the board and mark the location of the four mounting holes.
11. Drill four 7/8-inch holes 1/4-inch deep to accept the T-nuts.
12. Drill four 5/16-inch holes through the mounting board using the same centers created by the 7/8-inch holes.
13. Round the edges of the base and sand all surfaces.
14. Install four 1/4-20 T-nuts.
15. Finish the base with clear lacquer finish.
16. Assemble the base to the frame using four 1/4-20 x 1-1/4-inch round head bolts.1. Cut a piece of 3-1/2" O.D. x 3-1/4" I.D. tubing 5-3/8 inches long.
Procedure (Cylinder)
2. Face both ends on the lathe.
3. Cut out a 3-1/2-inch round disk from 1/4-inch plate steel.
4. Weld the disk to one end of the tube.
5. Drill a series of 3/32-inch holes around the side of the tube on 1/2-inch centers.
6. Remove all burrs on the inside and outside of the tube.Procedure (Piston)
1. Cut out a 3-3/8-inch disk of 1/4-inch plate steel.
2. Cut a 1-3/8" O.D. x 1-1/8" I.D. piece of tubing 1-1/8 inches long.
3. Face both ends of the tube.
4. Weld the tube in the center of the 3-3/8-inch disk. All welds should be made on the inside of the tube.
5. Mount the piston in the lathe and turn the disk to fit the inside diameter of the cylinder. This will be about 3-15/64 inches in diameter.
6. Remove any sharp edges.1. Cut the bottom out of a one-gallon plastic bottle. The cut line should be approximately 1-1/2 inches from the bottom of the bottle.
Procedure (Collector Ring)
2. Make a 1/8 x 1 inch slot at one edge of the bottom outside ring. This will allow the oil to pour into a receiving cup.
3. Cut a 1-3/4-inch hole in the center of the bottom, so that the unit will fit over the center tube in the frame.Materials
2 -- 1-3/4 O.D. x 1-3/8 I.D. x 24-1/2" long H.R.S. (frame tubes)
Frame
1 -- 1-3/4 O.D. x 1-3/8 I.D. x 6-1/2 inch long H.R.S. (center tube)
1 -- 3/4 x 2-3/4 x 5-1/2" flat bar H.R.S. (top cross member)
2 -- 1-3/4 x 1-3/4 x 8" angle iron H.R.S. (base members)
1 -- 1-1/4 x 6-1/2 x 12" #2 white pine (wood base)
4 -- 1/4-20 x 1-1/4 R.H. mounting bolts
4 -- 1/4-20 T-nuts
Black enamel for frame (finishing material)
Clear lacquer finish for wood base
3 -- 1/8" dia. welding rodsCylinder
1 -- 1/4 x 3-1/2" dia. C.R.S. disk (top)
1 -- 3-1/2 O.D. x 3-1/4 I.D. C.R.S. tube (cylinder)
1 -- 1/8 dia. welding rodPiston
1 -- 1/4 x 3-3/8 D.A. C.R.S. disk (piston top)
1 -- 1-1/4 O.D. x 1 I.D. x 1" long H.R.S. (piston tube)
1 -- 1/8 dia. welding rodCollector Ring
1 -- Bottom from a one-gallon plastic bottle (oil collector ring)
