CheeseForum.org ยป Forum
GENERAL BOARDS => For Sale/Wanted - Jobs, Animals, Equipment, Consumables => Topic started by: Cartierusm on January 05, 2009, 11:05:56 PM
-
So I've been talking about getting some PVC pipe to make some custom molds. Here's what I found.
I have 8" molds for sale, I will probably cut them to 8" high for $10 not including shipping. They actually mesaure on the inside at 7 7/8". I will drill small holes in it for an extra fee, but I will cross that road when I come to it as I haven't yet figured out how to chop this pipe up it will sit square. Any suggestions welcome.
For the other pipe it's 10" and I will probably only have enough for myself.
If anyone wants to go in on a 12" pipe let me know. They cost $270 with tax and are 20' long. For 12" I would have to buy an entire 20' length and about 12" is waste. This part is at the end where it flares out to connect to another pipe. I would say no shorter than 15" per mold, so out of a 19' section I would get 15 molds at $18 each not including shipping. Let me know and I'll pick it up and cut and send it.
-
Cartier..
As for cutting the pipe either use a large electric chop saw or find someone with a power band saw. Either way you can get a perfectly square cut.
I'm trying to find some short pieces of 12" for us but not sure I'm going to have any luck.
Well drillers are about the only ones that use 12" and they simply set a little higher or lower to keep waste at a minimum.
Just wanted to give you a tip on cutting the pipe to length. We use a chop saw a lot on 4" pipe but it would take a pretty big one to do 8 inch.
Dave
-
i had another thought how about one of them round cake tins (the ones for bakeing not storeing, thay have a removeable bottom and come in a wide range of sizes
-
But they almost always have seams and maybe not tall enough. But it's probably a pretty cheap idea to test.
The tallest ones I could find were 3" high.
-
Hi Brent and I agree with Carter. I was looking at mine the other day wondering if they could be used, but the problems that I saw were, 1) the height issue not being enough, 2) you would then need to find/cut a follower as you couldn't use the base of the pan, 3) Not sure that the rivets would hold under pressure of pressing. They were not meant for that, and 4) the seam line, although that be too great a problem.
Sings idea of cutting the base out of an old saucepan and using the base as the follower, I thought was a great idea though. Going to see what I have that i could do that with.
-
I've come up with 10 ideas and just as many tools on the web for cutting large diameter PVC. But it's all work, just a major PITA. I would build something but I hate building something I'm going to use once, plus it will use a lot of plywood, I have it just don't want to waste it on this project.
Luckily my metal supplier is going to cut it up for me for $20. I will make sure the saw is clean and no coolant running, but these days the coolant might be non-toxic. So easily solved, I just enjoy doing it myself.
-
Hi Brent and I agree with Carter. I was looking at mine the other day wondering if they could be used, but the problems that I saw were, 1) the height issue not being enough, 2) you would then need to find/cut a follower as you couldn't use the base of the pan, 3) Not sure that the rivets would hold under pressure of pressing. They were not meant for that, and 4) the seam line, although that be too great a problem.
Sings idea of cutting the base out of an old saucepan and using the base as the follower, I thought was a great idea though. Going to see what I have that i could do that with.
love the pan idiea seems a lot of work though??
-
Here are pics of the molds. They are finished aside from cleaning. I wasnt able to get them cut by my metal supplier as the clamp on the machine was so strong it almost broke the pipe. I came up with an idea and cut them myself and they came out perfect. If anyone wants some, let me know.
The sizes are 8" diameter and 9" high. I can customize if you want but it'll cost more. I'm not going to drill holes in it as the professional hoops don't have any. The price is $15 each not including shipping, it cost more than the original post as I had to buy some materials to make the cutting device. If you want bigger sizes and I get enough orders I can make them, let me know.
-
I just recheck and they are 8" on the inside.
-
Dude. I want one.
Does it have a bottom and follower?
Brian
-
I am selling them on my website now. I don't know if they are on there yet. No they don't have tops and bottoms. What size do you want and I can quote you a price?
Just for anyone else reading this thread I am no longer selling these things at the prices quoted above. I wrote this post before I decided to make a business of it. I just didn't find it right to edit the post above.
-
For the 12" pipe, check with the local water department - they usually have scrap from projects they may toss your way.
-
I am in nz and bought a good quality food grade plastic 800gram mold from peter at cottage crafts, I also bought a brand new stainless steel chimney flu and am having this cut down and holes drilled in it for larger cheeses.
-
i would suggest that you check whether the plastic you are using is food grade. I thought about using same process until I checked and found virtually all piping sold in hardware stores is not food grade, and can potentially leech harmful chemicals into your cheese. I would most definitely NOT recommend using plastic piping from a hardware store without being 100% certain about it food grade worthiness.
Here is a link to some documentation about food grade plastics:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090606150900AAKF1eh (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090606150900AAKF1eh)
-
You can get PVC pipe from the local plumber, you don't have to buy the entire 10' pipe. I picked up enough 6" and 8" pipe to make six molds, cost me 15 bucks. They also have a way to cut the larger pipe and will cut it for you for a small fee.
-
Burgy, congrats, where I live I haven't found anything above 6" and that was with checking on plumbing store.
-
I scrounged from a contrstuction site and took some "cut-offs"
-
i would suggest that you check whether the plastic you are using is food grade. I thought about using same process until I checked and found virtually all piping sold in hardware stores is not food grade, and can potentially leech harmful chemicals into your cheese. I would most definitely NOT recommend using plastic piping from a hardware store without being 100% certain about it food grade worthiness.
Here is a link to some documentation about food grade plastics:
[url]http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090606150900AAKF1eh[/url] ([url]http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090606150900AAKF1eh[/url])
I absolutely agree. I don't want to spoil your idea but make sure you do KNOW it is food grade plastic. One of my best friends is a head of a plastics company here in NZ and a chemist. During the production of non-food save plastic products a separating agent is used which is a grease containing lead. Then the hot plastic is poured into the mould and it will contain some of this lead. And other chemicals which are potentially poisonous. It is no problem if only cold water runs through them or waste water. But if you keep acidic cheese at higher temperatures in them for hours some of this potentially leeches into your cheeses. I wouldn't use them - ever!
There is a reason why there is food grade plastic and non-food grade.
Cheese
Peter
-
I fully agree with Peter: further to that the C in PVC comes from Chloride....
There is an on-line shop called www.thecheesemouldshop.com (http://) that is specialized in.......... cheese moulds!.
They sell all kinds of cheese moulds, all plastic. Moulds without liners, Kadova's, microperforated moulds etc.
They are still expanding the portfolio and every day new types, shapes are added.
From cheap to expensive. Kadova's are fairly priced by the way.
If the mould you are looking for is not in the shop, send them an email and they will find the mould that you are looking for: in food grade, at your budget. They are based in the Netherlands and ship world wide.
Ciao
Stephan
-
thecheesemouldshop.com seems like a good place. When looking at the prices, notice that they don't include VAT, so 19% will be added to all prices.
They also don't say anything about shipping charges, plus their webstore said they don't deliver to Finland, even if they promise to ship "worldwide". We're not that far north.
Anyway, I mailed them. We'll see what comes. That would seem like an okay place to get myself some moulds.
-
I know that they are working on finalizing the shop's details so that might be the reason why not everything is "active" yet.
Ciao
Stephan
-
I just read the reply they send for me. They informed me that they do ship worldwide and that they didn't know why the webstore didn't allow orders to Finland. (Apparently also fixed it, since the website now gives price estimates to Finland.) They also said that order can be placed on email also, not using the website. They were very professional and polite with their reply.
Looking good. Perhaps I will get some moulds without having to order them from US :)
-
Interesting shop. But what I don't like is the
Freight costs. After receipt of your order an order confirmation will be send. On this order confirmation you will find the freight costs for your order.
I think it is bad practice to let someone order and when you confirm you tell them "Oh, by the way, it is another $50 shipping cost". I might contact them and see if they can give me a better quote.
Cheers
Peter
-
Here's another perspective for those considering PVC for mold-making:
http://www.pvcworkshop.com/PVCsafety.htm
(http://www.pvcworkshop.com/PVCsafety.htm)
-Boofer-
-
Peter, this also caught my eye, so I asked about it. This is what they replied: "Shipping costs.
After we have received your order through the shop we can determine the volume and thus the shipping cost to your location. If you prefer, you can bypass the shop and send an email directly to us. Please state the products you intend to purchase and we will respond as soon as we can with information on pricing, lead time and shipping costs.
After that confirmation of conditions there is no change whatsoever in these conditions, assuming you place your order within a two months time frame!)."
So I understand that first I place an order, then I get an order confirmation, and then if I accept it within two month time frame, I pay the price mentioned in the order confirmation.
I am pretty paranoid about shipping costs since I have once ended up paying almost double just because the shop didn't bother to inform me that the item I bought didn't fit "regular" package.
Personally I would prefer that the postage would be calculated in the price. Simple, no fuss. I get annoyed when some shops try to keep the list prices low and then the final bill is something different.
-
Peter, this also caught my eye, so I asked about it. This is what they replied: "Shipping costs.
After we have received your order through the shop we can determine the volume and thus the shipping cost to your location. If you prefer, you can bypass the shop and send an email directly to us. Please state the products you intend to purchase and we will respond as soon as we can with information on pricing, lead time and shipping costs.
After that confirmation of conditions there is no change whatsoever in these conditions, assuming you place your order within a two months time frame!)."
So I understand that first I place an order, then I get an order confirmation, and then if I accept it within two month time frame, I pay the price mentioned in the order confirmation.
I am pretty paranoid about shipping costs since I have once ended up paying almost double just because the shop didn't bother to inform me that the item I bought didn't fit "regular" package.
Personally I would prefer that the postage would be calculated in the price. Simple, no fuss. I get annoyed when some shops try to keep the list prices low and then the final bill is something different.
I absolutely agree. I run a business as well and 95% of my orders get shipped using our national postage system. My shipping cost are based on what I pay for shipment. I meanwhile have sorted out a system where I add a weight of an item (doesn't have to be the actual weight) and my web page then calculates a shipping cost. I sometimes get it wrong but most of the time it works. So on average I don't lose any money.
But in saying that I had some customers enquiring about overseas shipping cost and I need to find it out myself first. So that might add some complexity.
Cheers
Peter