CheeseForum.org ยป Forum
GENERAL CHEESE MAKING BOARDS (Specific Cheese Making in Boards above) => EQUIPMENT - Forming Cheese => Topic started by: Annie on November 12, 2012, 05:57:37 PM
-
I aboslutely hate the presses I have since I have no idea what the pressure is and they are extremely difficult to take apart, so I have been considering a Dutch press.
So I found this one: (http://cabarrusfarms.com/Cheese_press.php)
Which seems to meet my criteria of being affordable and Dutch.
This is what it says:
The calibration numbers are at each notch. The end notch provides 4 times the weight in pressure on the follower. We have tested the arm with 50 LBS of weight at position 4 therefore creating 200 PSI at the follower! You will never need this much! As most recipes for hard cheese are for 2lb batches using a 4.5 inch mold, we have included a chart which enables you to easily use the correct amount of weight for any mold from 4-7 inches in diameter. The larger the diameter, the more weight is required to apply the same amount of pressure per square inch on the curds. (We use 2.5,5 and 10 pound barbell weights purchased at Wal- Mart, then tie a stainless steel wire loop to them to hang them. Fabric or rope could also be used)
Is that sufficient weight?
A 6 inch diameter mold recycled from food grade plastic and maple follower:
The mold has the necessary drainage holes. The mold will hold the curds for a 2-4 pound cheese and creates a nice looking hoop of cheese which will dry and age evenly.
If I made two cheeses at one time (not unknown when I get backed up!), could I put them on top of each other in the mold and have the whole thing work out?
Thanks for any advice!
-
Annie, I guess something went wrong with the image, there's nothing to see....
I made a press myself (hey, I'm a Dutchman!) and there are formulas to calculate the pressure:
Distance from henge to the "stamp" is 7cm, from stamp to the end of the lever is 35cm, 35/7=5.
The way I use pulleys multiplies the pressure twice, so 2 x 5 = 10. So 1 lbs will be 10 lbs on the mould (which is NOT the psi!)
-
Annie
50 lbs of weight on the lever arm creates 200 lbs of pressing weight, not 200 PSI of pressure. 200 lbs of pressing weight on a 6 inch diameter mold is 7.07 PSI, close to what you need for Cheddar.
-
I made a press myself (hey, I'm a Dutchman!)
Wow, a Dutchman actually making a Dutch press! 8)
Hey, Herman, have a cheese. You da man!
-Boofer-
-
Here is my press I just built, it has 6 bolts (One to hold the arm and one for the 'foot' that presses the mold, and 4 to hold the upright on)
The 6 bolts come out and it comes apart easy for storage. There are a few upgrades I will make with my ext, like a bit bigger at its only able to fit a 7" mold between the up rights, But so far I am happy, and so is my wife cuz it isnt in her way al the time LOL
-
Thanks for the cheese, Boofer. It's some time since I used it. Besides the Reblochon 6 weeks ago and the Cambozola 2 weeks ago I didn't make any cheese. Busy busy busy...
@ Tobiasrer: Smart design, cheese for you. I make a shelf above my cave where I can store it...
-
In an attempt to create a press that is affordable I designed this press. It is simply a force doubler, 10lb at the notch is 20 lb at the mold. By adding a couple pulleys the mechanical advantage could be greatly increased. I made it of #2 fir from my local (Butte,MT, USA) lumber yard at a cost of $12. The base is to short to self support, so I clamp it to the counter top. It is large enough that I can fit my small cooler under it and insulate the cheese during the press. I have had great success with this in the current configuration, but I plan on adding a few pulleys to increase the mechanical advantage. Here is a picture and the plan in inches (sorry metric friends).
-
If the press you are talking about is the one sold here http://cabarrusfarms.com/ (http://cabarrusfarms.com/) I just bought one. I really don't see me ever needing more than 200 pounds to press the cheeses I make and I liked its simplicity in calculating the weight. It has arrived and looks very nice and does come with a chart to convert PSI to actual weight.
-
The press looks so pretty!!!!
RIght now I am just using food bucket with lead (from the bullet...)
-
The press looks so pretty!!!!
RIght now I am just using food bucket with lead (from the bullet...)
Uhh... lead? Around food?
Yeah, dutchpress might be a very good idea- ditch the lead.
-
Nono,I put one food pail on top of the other, and put the lead on the top pail....
-
Nono,I put one food pail on top of the other, and put the lead on the top pail....
That's good. Still though, I would be really hesitant about having lead anywhere near any kind of food products. I used to have a similar setup but with bricks. Worked alright for me.
-
If you're using that lead to cast bullets that can also be a problem if it's in the vicinity of your cheese, or any food. Molten lead can, and will, become airborne.
-
If the press you are talking about is the one sold here [url]http://cabarrusfarms.com/[/url] ([url]http://cabarrusfarms.com/[/url]) I just bought one. I really don't see me ever needing more than 200 pounds to press the cheeses I make and I liked its simplicity in calculating the weight. It has arrived and looks very nice and does come with a chart to convert PSI to actual weight.
So Al,
How do you like this press so far?
I am in the market for a new one because mine makes lopsided cheese and I too like this one.
Don
-
I like it just fine. :D Please read here (http://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,10542.msg81687.html#new) .
-
Thanks Al,
I like the fact it is made of Maple.
-
I've got one of those to and it seems to work great. My last cheddar didn't knit well but I think that is more due to not keeping my curds hot enough into the first press. I guess that means I'll have to make some more - rats, all I need is more cheese. All the other cheeses I've pressed in it didn't need a freight train to sit on them have come out quite well. No leaning towers of cheesa.
BTW - the press maker at http://cabarrusfarms.com (http://cabarrusfarms.com) has changed out the tray to poly and the follower will follow. I have had problems with whey drying on the wooden tray and cleaning it well enough to my standards wasn't working out so well so I think the switch to poly is best. It is a very sturdy press for the $ IMHO.
-
I was fortunate enough to have a tupperware rectangular container about 3 inches high the same size as the board so I placed my mold into that, sitting on the board, and it held the whey.
-
Okay, I did this to make your choice a bit easier. http://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,10906.0.html (http://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,10906.0.html)