Instruction: Given a question and the related document, and generate the answer to the question based on the information provided in the document.

Input:
Question: I assume one has to cut up apples and larger fruit before pressing?
Document: I got about 20% more juice per press by only loading it to half. I did not press the fruit twice as per the directions, simply due to time constraints as I wanted to get through all of our apples.I was worried that I would need to make some pressing bags, but did not find that necessary for apples.
It seems sound and works fine. It's a little strange to have to put in all of the wood blocks to push down the follower but the threads on the center acme screw only go down to the top of the basket.Other reviewers have commented that it does not get fruit dry at the first press, having worked at wineries myself, not even the big professional presses get the must dry in one pressing. you must pull out the cake, stir, and re-press.
The press is under high pressure, you are physically tightening up the top and the blocks using the ratchet to create pressure to press the apples so you make it as tight as you possible can. For the little &#34;keys&#34; to not be able to withstand the force of a 140 pound woman pressing apples is really disappointing and i wonder if the manufacturer even tested this press on you know- actual fruit?
The press worked quite well, highly recommend it. Only recommendation, we discovered the hard way that the apples have to be cut in extremely small pieces (almost applesauce) in order yield reasonable quantities of cider.
This press works good for crushing grapes but have two issues. The first one is the ratchet assembly could use some tightening up or better ratchet design for when there is a lot of force it doesn't work as smoothly tends to bind up a little. The second is finding mesh bags for the press that fit right. You have to cut a hole in your mesh bags to get over shaft. This weakens the bag and doesn't last very long.
This has made pressing the fruit for my wine so much easier, I didn't realize how much time was spent of getting the juice from the different fruit. If you make wine, this press is a must.
This would not really be a big issue except it is right above all of your fruit and even with it in the pressing bag still gets through and contaminates your juice and the fruit pulp. I pulled the bag right up around the screw but the dust falls right around the screw and still got in. Who knows what metals are in that plating, mostly chromium, but could be many others.
I recommend this product to every one. Good product for fruit and grapes. Very well built and easy to operate.
Sure, i know that craftsmanship has changed over the years but i was hopeful that with such a basic design, it would be enough to press the modest amount of apples that a homesteader typically has. I read the reviews of this product beforehand, especially the bad reviews and thought that since i'm an optimist, have previous experience pressing apples with a similar press, and have a partner who can fix anything- i thought, how bad can this press really be?
Yes, the wood blocks tend to move a little, especially when starting a new press batch, but a little steadying as the ratchet decends keeps them in line until the pressure is sufficient to hold them in place. I found that when pressing our ground apples (I also used the Weston grinder), I got the best results by only loading the press to about 50% capacity. This is the equivalent of about a five gallon bucket of whole apples before grinding.
Answer: Yes grind up is a better way to put it. It works well. I cut mine up and ran it through a spreader.