"Lovely build! One thing from someone who works with commercial presses daily: the two variables that will change your yield most are seed moisture (aim 7-9%, sun-dry if above) and warming the seeds slightly before pressing (even 40-50C helps oil flow). Cold pressing straight from storage is the #1 reason home presses disappoint. Also expect the first pass cake to still hold 15-20% oil with a DIY rig — running the cake through a second time is normal, not a failure."
