New Cheese maker, building Pnuematic press.

[Fatman]

I will do better than that.
Once all the parts arrive I will post photos a parts list with prices and where I bought them.
I should have most this weekend or early next week.

I'm sort of targeting an 8" mold size.
I got two from ullmers they look HUGE!
Of course I will need to custom make followers from thick HDPE material I got from very thick cutting boards.

So far I have the following
1 100psi 3gal compressor from harbor freight $70
2 12ton shop press with hydraulics removed also from harbor freight $130
3 6"x15" SMC 600U1500 air cylinder from Webco $190
4  three position 5way push/pull control valve eBay $70
Misc tubes/and extras $150

Very pricey but also very sturdy and precise, can be used for wine/juice etc..
Should easily be able to press larger than 12" cheeses.

I didn't do this to save money though, I love the process of building stuff.
If you want a good inexpensive well made press ready to roll check out the market forum on here.
I forget his name but he makes beautiful presses at a great price.
I think his name is Carter and he sells a smaller unit for around $400.

My press is so large it lives in the garage and weighs over 200lbs.
But it's so cool!

Sorry if I misspelled anything the spell check doesn't run on my ipad.

[steve5000]

Excellent!  Thanks Fatman!

Steve

[Fatman]

Got lucky today found a guy selling the white plastic cutting boards 1/2" & 3/4" thick..
Not cheap but large enough to use my root cutter and make some large followers for my big molds.
I also ended up with enough scraps to make some spacer blocks.

I have also purchased a 3000lbs compression load cell.
Hopefully I will be able to calibrate it, this will allow me to use my tool to ballpark the psi required and use the presses integrated scale to confirm the pressure.

I Love geek toys and am a bit OCD with gadgets.

[Fatman]

Well, I started receiving parts this week.
And here's the first fuzzy picture of the new press.

What you see is a 12ton shop press, that's been cut on a little tied to a industrial 6"X15" cylinder.
The pushrod on that thing is 1.375" and at it's max 250psi it hits 3140lbs. (I will only run approx 80 max)
The knob you see is a three position valve so I can raise, lower, or stop anywhere in between as your not moving that thing by hand.
For size comparison that follower in the pic is 8.25X1" the cutting board is 17"X20"X1"

I hope to be doing static presses this weekend, just to see if the thing will hold pressure.

[Boofer]

I guess I've lost track...remind me again what you'll be pressing?  Is this to mint your own coins?

-Boofer-

[Fatman]

I had a goal of two 8+ inch molds side by side @ 20psi for cheese.
Although I've seen a couple of references as high as 40psi
And a friend in France who actually is a cheese maker by trade says he uses high pressures to good effect.
Not to mention a visit to a local cheese factory had larger presses for single molds, I wondered what all the excess horse power was for.
Theirs where at least 8" cylinders and they were pressing what looked to be 12" molds.

And the secondary use is for juices and oils which depending on the stuff being squeezed can be high.
And the third is just because it's fun to take a simple device and see how extreme it can be.

And I really like to see square pegs go into round holes.

[Boofer]

I see...a graduate of BHU (Bigger Hammer University)? 

-Boofer-

[Tomer1]

Many times products are over designed so the manufacturer can ask for a higher price on the job...
Also many are willing to pay few extra $$ thinking that "maybe someday I'l need more PSI so I better keep that option open".

[Fatman]

Cheese making been on hold for awhile.
We had a family member seek opportunities in the lords employment.
Hopefully will be able to get back into this soon.