I've had two cider presses. I built both because I was appalled at the
price. The first one, back in 1973, was patterned after a picture in Mother
Earth News magazine. By the time I finished remaking it twice, I probably
worked for 50 cents per hour compared to what I would have spent, had I just
bought it. I sold my first press.
I was older and wiser in 1999 when I bought the hardware from Bob
Correll for $225 and I fabricated the rest. Back then, the least expensive
Correll press was over $400, a fair price considering the time I spent. But
then, I didn't pattern mine after his cheapest model. Mine is a two-station
press so I can grind and press at the same time. Just buying hardware
allowed me to opt out of the motor on the grinder - mine has a crank, a
handy feature when I take it to a farmers' market to sell fresh-squeezed
cider where electricity isn't available to operate a motorized grinder.
Both of my presses have a VERY HANDY feature that I've not seen on any
commercial press. My press has an axle with two wheels and
wheel-barrow-like handles for ease of moving it around.