Pressing - Multiple Cheeses Concurrently

[steffb503]

Any one got some photos or diagrams?
I am using a modified dutch press, of the wall press.  I tried but failed. I put two molds side by side, placed a block of wood,4x4, on each follower, then a cutting board on top of that. In my mind, scary place, it should have worked. I calculated PSI for the cutting board to achieve the weight I wanted.
I got a very poor knit like the follower did not even touch the cheese.

I am getting such good results with my hard cheeses especially Edam, Emmenthal and Tomme that I would like to do some large batches of each .

[cheesequeen]

I am shopping around for cheese press. Is it easy to make one or do you the diagram and plans for the rest of us cheese amateurs?
What size mold did you use and how many gallons milk did you use for your cheese pls. Appreciate all info you could share with the forum. Thanks

[steffb503]

This is what I use. I love it.
http://www.cheesemaking.com/store/p/50-Off-the-Wall-Press-Plans.html
I am currently using 8" round mold with 8 gallons of milk but it will press almost any size and volume.

[cheesequeen]

Thank you. Do you have pictures of your version of the cheese press?

[Boofer]

Any one got some photos or diagrams?

Here are two commercial versions and four pics of my experience.

This setup seemed to work okay for me. If I had to apply any more pressure than I did, the spreader plate (cutting board) would have to be stiffer. Pic #4 shows the result after pressing. One of the cheeses didn't get a very good knit to the rind because there wasn't enough curds to fill the mold. 

-Boofer-

[Jaspar]

Here is a crude one that i made in about two hours. I needed something that would give allot of pressure on a 10 inch hard cheese. You could easily use more than one mold and a cutting board to spread the pressure. The only problem would be getting the same amount of curd in each mold to keep the pressure even.

 Sorry Boofer just saw that I repeated pretty much what you said.

[cheesequeen]

Thank you very much, beautiful pictures, great press and gorgeous cheese. I will buy those kudova molds you have. Congratulations on your cheese press you did it!

[steffb503]

Yes that was exactly what I was looking for.
one quick question. I think I am correct but I need to use the area of the cutting board for the PSI correct?

[zenith1]

Steff- it's the sqin area of the mould(s) that determine your. If you are used to using one mould that is 45 sqin and then you expand to press two of the same moulds it would be 2x 45 sqin or 90 sqin. Seem logical? this applies if the moulds are side by side not stacked. So you can see that the amount of force(weight) that you are using is going to have to double for this example.

[steffb503]

Even if I am using 2 molds side by side with a board across the top and the plunger in the middle of the board?

[zenith1]

Yes Steff because you are increasing the surface area of the moulds that are being pressed.