So I'm at the point where I need some new molds for various reasons. First reason is I want to go bigger, second reason is I want the mold to be just a hoop so I can use my cutom follower. The follwer with my name in it has holes and will work as the follower and the bottom. After I press with initial weight I can turn the whole mold over follower and all and repress. The bottom will now be the top. That way my embossed follwer will stay in the same spot on the cheese, never leaving it, and thereby creating a perfect emboss.
I have a source online USplastics which sell food grade, smoother than plumber grade, PVC pipe in diameters up to 24". I need 8" and 12". I think, I will call Monday to find out, I would have to buy minimum 10' length of each. If this is the only solution I will see in any one here wants to go in with me, we can split the 10' length into 10 or more pieces. Remember the bigger the mold the more curds you need to stuff in. For a 12" diameter one I wouldn't go shorter than 12-15" high.
I've called USplastics about their food grade buckets. I could use the bucket and just cut off the bottom but almost all are slightly tapered. I don't want a tapered wheel. I've looked at restaurant supply stores and everywhere else I can think of.
If anyone has any ideas on where to find something round and 12" high and 8" in diameter and 12" diameter straight walled. Let me know. Has to be food grade of course. I have some stainless steel tubing that's 8" but I don't want to waste that expensive stainless on this, plus I need a few as Stilton stays in the mold for 5 days. I can get stainless cheap per pound no matter what the shape as scrap but they don't reopen until next week. Right now I'm just weighing my options.