Frequently Asked Questions

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1. Can I press olives with the Piteba oil press?

Yes, fresh olives can now be pressed with the Piteba oil press, but only when the special cap D2 is used. For a description click here.

2. Can I press fruits with the Piteba oil press?

No. The emulsion of oil in water from fresh fruits is in general stable and the oil cannot be separated easily.

3. Can I press algae with the Piteba oil press?

In theory this is possible, when the algae contain more than 25% oil and approximately 10% moisture. It has not been tested by Piteba.

4. Is it important for my order which seed I press?

The press is universal. It does not matter which seeds are pressed. This information is requested in order to get an idea of the use of the Piteba oil press. In this way we prevent that the oil press is ordered to press seeds which cannot be pressed with the Piteba oil press.

5. Is there a warranty on the Piteba products?

There is a 1 year warranty on the Piteba products (wear and tear excluded).

Damage caused by the use of a motor other than the original Piteba motor-set is excluded from warranty.

6. Can I return the Piteba products?

It is not possible to return the press, unless after written (or e-mail) consultation and with approval by Piteba.

7. What happens if the address is incorrect?

When the address is filled in incorrectly during ordering, the package will return to Piteba. The package can be sent again after prepayment of the additional shipping costs. In case a second shipping is not wanted, the payment minus the shipping costs is refunded by Piteba.

8. What is the delivery time?

The delivery time is normally within 1 day after receipt of payment.

9. What is the transit time?

Transit time (time it takes to reach its destination) varies per country: between 2 days (NL) and 8 weeks (due to customs clearance).

10. Can I track my Piteba products after shipping?

Yes, on dispatch Piteba sends you an email with a tracking link.

However, depending on the country of delivery, it is not always possible to track shipments.

11. Are shipping costs included in the prices on www.piteba.com?

The prices as indicated in the shop on www.piteba.com are calculated specifically for any country you select and do include shipping costs and VAT if appropriate.

12. What if I want my order delivered to a PO Box?

For Street you can enter "PO Box" and the PO Box number should be entered into the field "Number" of the order form.

13. Can I purchase the Piteba products in a store?

The Piteba products are not available in a store.

14. Is it possible to send the Piteba products by express?

It is possible to send by express for an extra charge. Please fill in your request in the ordering form as a comment at the bottom of the form.

15. How to make a funnel?

Cut the upper part of a used PET bottle and fit this part in or (preferably) around the inlet of the press (depending on the kind of bottle).

16. Can I immediately use the Piteba oil press at first use?

Before first use, clean the oil press thoroughly using a detergent to remove the protective coating.

17. Can I connect the Piteba oil press to a motor?

The oil press is designed for manual usage. The materials are tuned accordingly. It is not advisable to attach a motor.

18. Is the oil press painted?

The press in not painted, but powder coated. This is an environmentally friendly, protective layer that does not contain any solvents and is food graded. The coating is not soluble in oil and can resist high temperatures (this is necessary because of the small oil burner).

19. How is it possible that there is soot on the press cage?

The wick is too long. Do not increase the length of the wick over 1 mm. In this way full combustion takes place and this will result in a clean, round flame.

20. During pressing the seed is ground into a pulp

The seed is too wet, therefore there is no solid plug of press cake in the cap. You should dry the seed until the moisture content is 8 - 10% .

The slit is blocked.

The press is preheated insufficiently.

21. Why is there no oil production from the seed?

  • The seed is too dry.
  • The seed is too wet
  • The oil content is lower than 25%.
  • The press is preheated insufficiently.

22. Is it normal that the expeller screw can move back and forth?

The expeller screw has a tolerance of approximately 1.5 cm (0.6 inch). When the press is filled and as soon as the first seeds are compressed in the cap, this tolerance disappears. This is because the press pulp keeps the expeller screw in the correct position.

23. How do I get the hardened press pulp out of the cap ?

Press the final seed without the terminal adjustment bolt, such that the pressure decreases. It is now easier to remove the press pulp.

Remove the cap from the press and push the press pulp with a large bolt of approximately 1.5 cm diameter (0.6 inch) out of the cup by putting it in a vise and pressing the bolt through the cap. (as can be seen in the figures below).

Soak the press cake in the cap in hot water, in order to soften the cake. Dry the cap thoroughly after cleaning with water and grease it with edible oil. The cap may rust if not dried properly but this will not have an effect on its use.

Do not remove the press cake, instead heat the press (including the cap) 30 minutes before usage. When the cap is warm, the freshly pressed seed will push out the old press cake. This should only be done when using the press again within hours.

24. Why does the washer wear off in the press cage?

The washer has not been greased.

Wear is the result of pressing seeds and nuts that are too dry. The press cake becomes rock solid and rotation of the crank is difficult. The pressure is extremely high but the cells containing the oil do not burst. This is because there is no tearing action to release the oil from the oil containing cells because the fibres are too brittle. The solution is to add 40 ml water per kilogram of seeds or nuts. Shake the seeds in the bag well to obtain an even distribution of the water. Keep the seeds for two days in a closed plastic bag. The fibres in the seeds become flexible and facilitate tearing of the oil containing cells during processing.

25. What is the best way to clean my Piteba oil press?

Unscrew the cap from the press and remove the expeller screw and the wear washer at the end of the shaft of the expeller screw. Clean the inside of the press with paper towels. A bottle brush can be a very useful tool as well! Leave some oil in the press and on the expeller screw to prevent corrosion.

26. I cannot find any lamp oil for the burner, are there any other options?

Use methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) instead of lamp oil.

Some seeds allow pressing without adding external heat to the press. The internal friction of the seeds within the press will raise the temperature during processing.

When the seed is warm enough a burner might not be necessary, therefore put the seed in a closed plastic bag in the sun, in order for it to heat up. Make sure the seeds do not dry out. Press the seeds while warm.

27. Can the pressed oil be used in the burner?

The vegetable oil cannot be used, as it is too thick to be transported through the wick. Furthermore the vegetable oil will cause more soot, and the flame will provide insufficient heat.

28. How do I filter the oil I pressed?

Filtering is often unnecessary. Keep the oil at toom temperature for a couple of days, until all the dregs have settled. Afterwards, the oil can be decanted.

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