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GENERAL CHEESE MAKING BOARDS (Specific Cheese Making in Boards above) => EQUIPMENT - Forming Cheese => Topic started by: Cartierusm on February 22, 2009, 12:44:38 AM
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I decided to start a new thread for the different mesh I have for draining camembert. I got two sizes. Here they are.
First 3 pics are of .110" x .170"
the last pics is .055" x .085"
I think I'll start with the first one and if too many curds come through I'll try the second.
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Carter, looks good, I think you posted but don't know where, where did you get this from and how much minimum did you have to buy?
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I got it from McMaster Carr it's $3 per foot and it's 48" wide. There is a 1' minimum.
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Wow US based McMaster Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com/#) has a lot goods and it's all mail order, easy, thanks.
I'll order some once you work the kinks out ;D.
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This is my best supplier. They're fairly good priced don't over charge on shipping and same day shipping and don't have a minimum and have everything you could want.
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er... went to their site... where do I find this? with 49,000 products it makes it a bit of a challenge!
I got my plastic canvas today. But i'll probably need some mats with bigger holes.
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I've never heard of McMaster-Carr before. I just opened it up.
OMG I am in heaven.
I might be on this site for a while.
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Uhh, let's see it's very easy if you know what you're looking for but I can't really explain how to get around as it would take 10 pages.
First off type in plastic mesh and it will guide you through.
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Actually they advertise 480,000 products a lot!
Love a detective story . . . when I search on plastic mesh my first choice is mesh style:
- Woven - Not good as will come undone and not very sanitary as milk material get trapped in where threads touch.
- Knitted - Not good, same as Woven.
- Molded Mesh - Good.
- Round Hole Perforated - Good.
Click on Round Hole Perforated, scroll down to bottom price list, smallest diameter hole is 0.094", cheapest is 32" x 48" sheet for USD34.33, hole probably not small enough as will leave heavy pattern on cheese.
Clicked back and clicked into Molded Mesh (http://www.mcmaster.com/#plastic-mesh/=pnjqd), scrolled down to bottom, sold off roll by lineal foot @ USD1/foot and up, lots of choice, probably what Carter ordered. Decision, what material type:
- Polyethylene - Non-toxic, non-conductive, and won't corrode or rot. Strong, lightweight, and flexible.
- Polypropylene - Prevents bacteria build-up. Chemically resistant, and nontoxic.
- PTFE - Use for high-temperature applications. Provides good chemical resistance and meets FDA regulations for food contact.
I think all 3 are good for low temp food grade applications, PTFE is expensive, Polyethylene is mostly black, Polypropylene is all white, choice?
Decision, Joint Thickness, bigger is better as stiffer so bend less and for me I'd lose less curds out side.
Decision, Strand thickness, bigger is better as stiffer, but if less than Joint Thickness on one side would aid in drainage, but if thicker on both sides then uneven cheese surface.
Decisions, Strand Size Width+Temp, not important; Sheet Width+Color, personal decisions.
Decision, Diamond Size, this is important, I'm thinking smaller, but not too small otherwise like Carter said in another thread, even water wouldn't pass due to surface tension - capillary forces, smaller choices are:
- 0.021"x0.027"
- 0.025"x0.005"
- 0.03"x0.035"
- 0.045"x0.025"
- 0.055"x0.085"
- 0.06"x0.06"
- 0.08"x0.025"
- 0.08"x0.102"
- 0.1"x0.1"
- 0.11"x0.17"
- 0.15"x0.05"
- 0.15"x0.15"
- 0.2"x0.2"
The bolded ones are the two I think Carter ordered in Polyproplene, correct? Waiting to hear how they work out . . .
I currently have two sizes I bought from DairyConnection.com (http://www.dairyconnection.com/equipment.htm#matc), both white, both Molded Mesh, both square holes:
- "Course" I just measured is ~0.1" x 0.1" squares, it's nice and stiff but leaves a very course pattern on my Camemberts.
- "Fine" I just measured is ~0.06" x 0.06" squares, it's very flexible and leaves a fine/no pattern on my Camemberts.
I often place my Camembert hoops on two mats course, then fine then hoop to get more rigidity when I turn.
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This is what I am considering.
Material Type: Plastic
Plastic Type: Polypropylene
Form: Molded Mesh
Shape: Sheets
General Opening Size: Coarse
Diamond Opening Size: .11" x .17"
Joint Thickness: .034"
Strand Size Thickness: .031"
Strand Size Width: .038"
Sheet Width: 43-1/2"
Sheet Length: Cut-to-Length
Maximum Continuous Length: 300 Linear Feet
Color: White
Maximum Temperature: 200° F
Specifications Met: FDA Compliant
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Wayne, are you going to get the full 300 linear feet! :o ;D
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yeah, uh no.
I would need only about 7 ft.
why.....Do i need to buy the whole roll?
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I've created so many monsters..
Wayne and everyone else read about post, no minimum order, you can order 1' if you like. Wayne I think that's the one I ordered. Just for future infor they do say on products that are food safe FDA. Also most of the time they have a selection process which to me is very very cool. It basically asks you what you want and you can select options to get where your going.
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I ordered my share last night.
and yes, you have created some monsters.
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Here are my mats
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Looks good you sure bought alot.
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Wayne and Carter, definately let us know how these work out for you in each of your respective presses. Thanks!
Ryan
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If I ever get the cave working. The firs two temp/humidistat were pieces of crap.