Handy PantryHJ Hurricane Stainless Steel Manual Wheatgrass Juicer

I almost listened to the guy here who gave this a negative review and I'm glad I didn't. This is exactly what I've been looking for. It's easy to use, easy to take apart, rinse and stash away. Wheatgrass is one of the true superfoods. I used to get a daily wheatgrass shot at Wild Oats (until Whole Foods came to town and put them out of business. I've never forgiven Whole Foods for taking away my wheatgrass). I heard so many bad things about electric wheatgrass juicers that I was afraid to try them and had been interested in a manual juicer for a long time. I think I got really lucky here because this is probably the best manual juicer out there.When I first got it, however, I thought I had made a bad purchase decision. When I opened the package, I saw that the screen was already installed inside the juicer, so I just left it in there figuring it was supposed to be there. After 10 minutes of cranking, only a couple of drops of juice came out of the juicer. The only way to get anything green to come out was to pour water in the juicer. So, I did that for a couple of days and was going to give up on the juicer. Finally, I realized I should try removing the screen and as soon as I did, the juicer operated normally and produced juice within a couple of minutes.A couple more points: Definitely run the pulp through again, there is still a lot of juice left in there. I find it really easy to just put a bowl under the juicer to catch the juice and just grab the pulp with my fingers when it comes out and put it on a plate. Then later I run the pulp through a second time.Also, don't waste your time trying to juice vegetables with this, it's really made for wheatgrass. Anyone who has used wheatgrass for any length of time and knows the health benefits will be absolutely fine with that. The important thing to most of us is that we get our daily shot of wheatgrass juice.I highly recommend this. You can be a complete beginner and learn how to operate this right out of the box. It's low tech and it's tiny (which is great because you can store it easily). It looks like it will last for years and years. I absolutely love it!

I love this wheatgrinderThis is in 2 parts, the quick n easy and a detailed and dirtyTLDR's: this juicer is stainless steel, won't rust. It's heavy, and its easy to clean and put together, take apart. It's manual so it needs some muscle and work. It works but needs some degree of technique. It will last forever, and does not play well with other kitchen items (its arch enemy is made of glass). A good mod is 5/8 in I.D. washer for the back of the auger. Price wise its the best for all stainless steel.Rev up for the reviewOk. I kinda didn't want to buy this thing. It's pricey, it weighs alot, it's manual. But compared to the quality electric wheat grass juicer (I should mention wheatgrass every other line just to avoid the carrot fiasco), this things is the best, price wise.I mean a wheatgrass only electric one(not carrots, the electric wheatgrassers go 4th of July on carrots,). The best electric is $800, might as well wait for $200 to pop and get the mac daddy or the daddy mac (or the fly girl or girl thats fly) of juicers, the Sooopaaaahhhh AAAAAAAnnnnnngellll . . . for a K.A friend has the tribest plastic (and the lexan ) ones for a few years and they are the best (for the price). But they aren't steel. See, there's a reason why plastic bullets and knives never caught on (well in most cases like outside jail or evil sneak past metal detections). Maybe in the future when fusion reactors is in every vehicle and home, and space travel is like having a private pilot's license, then plasma or plastics or composites will beat out steel.Also over time the tribest does its job but it begins to expand. I mean its minuscule, but the stainless steel will hold longer.The machining is great, but some parts aren't polished as well as others. The auger is well done, but some of the sides of legs aren't. But its stainless steel, so rust isn't a factor. Also this isn't precision German engineering like a DB-605, so the handle is a bit loose (like some other poster mentioned), and the auger has some space from the end cap.Overall its 4 stars, because the metal is good quality.It does have some plastic parts (like there's a holder / gasket for the auger in the back) but they are hard enough to be used as cutting boards.Since its metal and heavy, if one is not too careful, dropping it will crack tiles, scratch composite bake hot pads, dent lesser kitchen cutlery. Anything glass and porcelain should be kept far away.Han Solo juicing tip:Oh lefty loosey or righty tighty doesn't work or clockwise tight, counter loosen . . . the end cap is done so the auger action (which is counter clockwise) won't loosen the end cap. So the end cap tightens in reverse (counter clockwise). Remember this before you reach for the wrench.back to review:Normally hand tightening and hand loosening will work but sometimes you will need the wrench esp after a ton of wheatgrass.Juicing with this. Juicing requires a bit of learning and technique. The more produce you stuff into it, the harder it is to turn. If there is too much produce and one starts to force it, it might move the juicer around (loose clamp) or jerking of the handle back n forth will cause a loose handle.However, the more grass inside it, the juicer juices more efficiently (more stuff for the auger to crush).There's a middle point / fine line where its a bit of effort to turn, but I don't have to force it like loosening a tire nut.Cut large produce to fit the auger:The mouth is wide (compared to the l'equip mini juicer), but once assembled, the produce has to get in the screws of the auger, so while the mouth will fit, it'll sit and the auger will only tear a piece off. If you are using wheatgrass or spinach, that's not a problem. But carrots can have this issue, or fruits.Wheatgrass takes some . . . in its unmodified design, the endcap needs to build up some mass of material before the crushing power of the auger is brought to bear. Some previous posters used extra wheatgrass, wadding up grass, or even a apple wedges.I got around it by THE MOD (near the bottom).string fiber produce *cough* *cough* celery *cough* does wrap up the auger but I simply powered through and it doesn't effect it. But that was just a test. I only use this for wheatgrass and celery gets the l'equip mini juicer.You want to clamp it as much as possible. This is crucial. Weaksauce clamps will have it moving around and falling off, then skipping around to break, crack, or dent something. Like the glass top stove next to the counter. Like a new skateboard always falls on its nose once lost in the air, once this thing is mobile, it will cause damage. Clamp it hard, and give it a quarter turn.It only opens up to work on a 1" 1/2" thick surface or so. It is perfect for those extendable cutting boards, but you want to get something to pad it. I like using 1/4 inch metal plates or hard wood, or hard plasticsEven though the clamp and stand have rubber feet, soft woods (like pine) will dent w/out something to add.The next thing is having a solid surface. Like a table. But if you are using the pull out cutting board that came with the counter, you can pad the slots the board came out of (like oven mitts or thick pot holders) so the cutting board doesn't move around. **note you can have a loose cutting board, but then one hand will be used to hold the board or the juicer when cranking.Don't let the handle swing, try to stop it or point it down. Reverse be careful handle doesn't come off.Turning this requires some technique. If one lets go while the handle is pointed at anything other than six o' clock (pointing straight down), the chances are it'll swing, and in the process of swinging, disengage and fall off (to break something). The way they made the handle is it has a half cylinder to fit it on and twist to lock it, but if twisted (to go reverse) it will line up the half cylinders to allow it be pulled off.Or if going in reverse one has to pay attention and slide lock it again.So in the excitement of getting my wheatgrass shot, the handle was at 3' o clock and swung and fell off. Ninja foot saved my appendages but the tile hated me.The clearance for the bottom is shallow but I found out using mustard cups / bowls (like in those cooking shows where they have the small glass bowls filled with spice, chopped onion etc), and a small plate at the end to grab the veggie excrement.Once the juicer has some padding on the inside the pulp will dry out, but the first inch or so of pulp will be somewhat wet (but not centrifugal juicer wet).Screen. I can stand some pulp in my juice, so screen on or off is fine. I found out the screen helps fill in the inside so the auger can crush but the difference is like 20-30 blades of wheatgrass. But no screens yields extra several drops of juice.It does not matter as I wheatgrass alot.THE MOD: others have mentioned using a washer. AND I AGREE. The company should include one. It does make a difference.Like having Elvish steel when going against orcs . . . don't get me wrong, Dwarven or Man steel will kill just as well, just like an unmodded juicer will juice wheatgrass but the MOD is much more efficient.The MOD is basically this, get a nylon or high quality plastic one (don't use stainless steel or zinc because it presses against the plastic gasket / holder of the auger and mine got a slight dent). You don't want the neoprene or rubber washer either, because it gives too much play, and the rubber gave a funny taste to the juice (and it was strong smelling); fiberglass one got fine line cracked (but feels like its strong enough).The dimensions of the one I used was I.D. .665 or 5/8 in (inner diameter), O.D. 1.5 in (outer diameter), .094 thick .The washers can come from hardware parts stores, I had to order mine online.The washer goes against the back end of the auger. Then slide the auger into the back holder / gasket. Screw the endcap back on . . . done.auger: back ----||}}}}}}}> front washer: []Mod: back ---[]||}}}}}}}> frontIt really lets the auger tip get alot closer to the endcap.THat's that, if I lost this one, I'd use the 2 I have for back up :D and get another one.4 stars cuz it needs THE MOD.Oh I forgot, this is wheatgrass juicer. This juicer prefers wheatgrass but if the carrot has exceptional looks and personality, he may go after a carrot.