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GENERAL CHEESE MAKING BOARDS (Specific Cheese Making in Boards above) => EQUIPMENT - Forming Cheese => Topic started by: Cartierusm on December 05, 2008, 02:04:37 AM
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OK SO I went overboard, again, but then I'm new here, you'll find out that I always go over board. Believe it or not I had enough parts in my shop and in back of the shop to build 4 of these, if I needed them. I did in fact only build one. Originally the press I built about 5 years ago was a simple lever arm style where you hang weights off the end to create pressure. This time I was going to go simple then I realize this version is actually simple, not cheap if you don't have the parts on hand. It allows total control.
Anyway, the biggest pneumatic cylinder I had in stock was a 4". I designed it so I can switch out the cylinder anytime without modification or losing space on the inside. Therefore after I make a few batches I will see how much starting volume I have and how long a stoke I need on the cylinder. The way this one works is I will have a long follower that screws onto the cylinder arm so the press sits on the wooden platform and you can see the cheese being pressed in all it's glory.
Yes I cut out some vinyl letting and label the dam thing. It says, "Carter's Super Happy Fun Time Cheese Press". I know weird but hey I was in a good mood...2 cheers for Lithium...no I'm not really bipolar.
The cylinder rod's speed is adjustable as well as the pressure. After I set it up I'll put one of my scales under it and record the pounds I need for the PSI. I know I could do the calculations but I'm more of a hands on and see what the real world tells me as there are endless variables that can come into affect.
Oh I did make it so a 5 Gallon bucket will fit in so If I decide I want to make some large ass Parmesan Wheels. I wonder how much a starting volume an 80 pound wheel of Parmesan would be? Oh Oh I finally got my new Direct Set Cultures so I'll be making some this weekend. I'm off to test my vat and temp control.
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Oh, I did take the wooden platform out and I epoxied it to water seal it. But when it comes to pressing I'll have a separate HDPE board under the mold and a pan to funnel the whey draining.
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lol I love it!! Let hope it works as great as it looks. It looks like your getting ready to do some serious cheese pressing with that thing.
Love the pics keep them coming.
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Nothin' better than cheese porn...lol. I got lucky and found the perfect pneumatic cylinder on ebay for $30US a 16" stroke cylinder...sweet...now I have to play the waiting game. I guess it's time for mozz and other soft cheeses.
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Bipoplars absolutely fine when it comes to cheese.....:-)
Just out of interest whats your day job, to be able to tinker like this?
Best
Sal
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That's a tough question, Sal. I do many things. My profession is I'm a filmmaker. I'm just starting to work on my business plan to open a restaurant.
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I decided not to use the 4" stroke cylinder at all. I ordered a new one last week and should be using the press this week.
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Cartierusm, so still watching this thread, hoping to see some pics one day of your monster Happy Fun Time Press in action ;D.
PS: There are some images of commercial presses in this commercial cheese manufacturers video here (http://www.uplandscheese.com/video.html).
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Cool thanks cheese head for the videos. The cheese press is on hold right now. As I said in an earlier post I decided not to even try the 4" stroke cylinder and luckily enough I found a 16" stroke cylinder on ebay for $30. I ordered it about 1 1/2 weeks ago and still haven't got it. The guy has perfect feedback. I emailed him 3 times and even got his contact information from ebay and called him and nothing, not a word. So I may have to find one somewhere else.
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OK, fingers crossed it's in the mail and he's just busy elsewhere.
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Apparantly the Seller was, "busy with other projects" DWEEB. Who sells on ebay, or lives on earth and doesn't check their email daily. Anyway UPS says it's out for delivery....awesome. I will be posting pics today when it's up and running and cheese will be made tomorrow.
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Cartierusm, I'm really curious as heck to see this thing in operation! That is one really cool contraption! I've got a couple of kegs that I've converted for homebrewing but this might take it to a new level!
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You really can use anything that can handle the force. I just used it because it was SS and I had no other use for it and it looked coolish.
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Got the new cylinder in and got most of the parts just have to weld some stuff tomorrow and fabricate a stainless steel disc to attach to the ram to even out some of the force. Should work like a dream. Will post pics tomorrow when it's finished and working. I thought I'd get to finish it tonight and make cheese tomorrow, well technically today, but alas UPS always delivers at like 7 p.m.
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Good man, sign of a true Cheese Head, someone who's building his equipment past midnight 8).
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phweeep(<that sound you make with your mouth to indicate "yeah right") Past midnight, I got a heater last yeat so I don't have to leave the shop at all. Now only if I had a bathroom out there...any yes before anyone asks I'm single...my girlfriend lives in SF and only stays on the weekends.
My garge is solid but old. My house was built in 1931 or so, so the garage was probably built in the 50's and whoever did it sucked. They built the frame right on a foundation slab. A slab without any rails so whenever the asphlat was put in made it so the sole plate is directly on the ground and will eventually rot away. I'm amazed it hasn't already. So that's my excuse for building a new one in the next year or two. I think 2009 will be the year to redo everything once and for all. The new shop will be super-sweet. Bathroom, of course (every king needs a throne...lol) a totally tiled room just for making wine and cheese (I don't have to worry about spillage, just hose the entire thing down), 2 rooms to separate my woodworking tools from my machining tools, an upstair office, a guest room and a clean room for assembly and such....well that's the dream...might make my head explode. One of my acting teachers/consultants in hollywood was Janis Joplins Manager in the beginning and the one thing she wanted most was to be the greatest female rock singer. During her last album she was actually clean and sober then when it was released the newspapers said exactly what she wanted, that she was the greatest female rock singer. Two weeks later she was dead...so the moral of the story is never aim too low; always aim too high because if you hit your mark you might be left with that "what am I supposed to do now". Always have something to archive.
Wheeew I'm glad we were able to have this little talk....LOL
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I have decided to live vicariously through Cartierusm.
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lol you pair, thanks for the laugh.
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Thank you ... thank you. I would bow but I would probably fall over and then where would we be...dead. Ok, so I've noticed on THIS forum I start a lot of posts with "OK" I'll try to stop.
I decided lugging that huge cheese press into my house was stupid. So I spent all day building a new compact model, before you say anything Tea I haven't named it yet, maybe I'll have a contest to name it. Anyhoo I will still keep the other cheese press for when I do 50-80 pound wheels in a 5 gallon bucket. The new one has a coat of epoxy on the trim and I should be able to assemble it tomorrow and I'll post pics of that.
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Carter, did you ever get the opportunity to use this big kahuna?? It sure is impressive!
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No, I put it with the rest of my old restaurant equipment behind the shop. I was way too big, that's what lead me to design the current models, Cheese Press #2 which Dave now owns, and Cheese Press #3 which has undergone major changes, such as a tilting mechanism so you don't have to flip the cheese outside of the mold.
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That's a shame cause damn does that look cool! Maybe try a watermelon or something ala Gallagher! Better wait until you get that new video camera.