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GENERAL CHEESE MAKING BOARDS (Specific Cheese Making in Boards above) => EQUIPMENT - Making Cheese => Topic started by: Chetty on February 15, 2013, 04:09:45 AM

Title: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Chetty on February 15, 2013, 04:09:45 AM
For the last couple of cheese that I have made I have used my new curd harp that I made.  It consists of stainless steel welding rods and fishing line.  I just bent the stainless steel ((like the picture)(Sorry for the bad drawing)) and then I tied fishing line on both sides.  At first I was concerned about cleaning it but then I found out that if you clean it right after you use it nothing sticks to it and if it does you can take the string off and put on new.  (I will post real pictures of it soon)
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Tiarella on February 15, 2013, 12:13:27 PM
That looks great.  I want to make one that has pieces or fishing line going across as well as up and down.  Seems like it would work in a square pot but I haven't figured out how I'd use that concept in a round pot without still having some large chunks.  Some people use a whisk but that seems like it would cute drugging so small so I've been wondering about designing something like a whisk that might let me cut half inch curd.

Do you worry about the action of the acids on the welding rod?  (like would it leach any heavy metals into the milk?)

Look forward to photos whenever......love seeing what other forum members are inventing!   :)
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Chetty on February 15, 2013, 02:38:35 PM
The tig welding rods That I use are stainless steel.  (At least that is what the welding shop told me) So it shouldn't affect it at all. 
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: BobE102330 on February 15, 2013, 03:40:26 PM
"Stainless" covers a lot of alloys.  Some better than others.  An inexpensive SS pot I use is showing corrosion and pitting, while a different one is not.  The one holding up better is a magnetic alloy, the other nonmagnetic.

I've forgotten most of the metallurgy I learned in college over 30 years ago, but if you post the alloy used perhaps we have someone who can suggest the best choice or if it really makes a difference since you will see in short order if there is any corrosion.  I'm thinking of something similar with single strand stainless leader wire.
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Sailor Con Queso on February 15, 2013, 03:41:21 PM
Cheese harps will not work if you try to do both vertical and horizontal on the same harp.
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Chetty on February 16, 2013, 04:12:03 AM
This is the same sort of rod that used,  I havent had any problems with poor product or corrosion.  I am not sure what alloy they are. 

Also when I use this I usually use it only for a pre-cut After that I use a big wisk and or a knife. 


Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Chetty on February 16, 2013, 04:34:29 AM
Does anyone have any ideas to make my design better?

     When I was first trying to make it I wanted to weld the bars together but I found out that I couldn't without making alot of holes that would make it really hard to clean.  Like many I want one that would do horizontal and vertical but I haven't been able to think of a good way to do it. 
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: H-K-J on February 16, 2013, 05:03:05 AM
Working on it :D
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: terry@dairy fab on February 16, 2013, 05:04:14 AM
Here is a picture of a dual wired knife that I build. Maybe you could do something like it, just on a smaller scale using fishing line.

terry@ Dairy Fab
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Chetty on February 16, 2013, 05:09:46 AM
That is an awsome curd knife.  I would love somthing like that. The only problem with one like that would be using it with my vat.  It has a cover in the center and the bottom is curved.   
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: george on February 16, 2013, 11:05:26 AM
Cheese harps will not work if you try to do both vertical and horizontal on the same harp.
Out of curiousity, Sailor - why not?
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Tiarella on February 20, 2013, 12:38:03 PM
Here is a picture of a dual wired knife that I build. Maybe you could do something like it, just on a smaller scale using fishing line.

terry@ Dairy Fab

Terry,  That is SO cool!!!!   very nice and if I ever have a big enough tub for one of those I will definitely search you out to get one of those!   :D
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Alpkäserei on March 06, 2013, 10:05:50 PM
(http://resources.vol.at/FastResource.aspx?ResourceID=vcom-kaesehaus-andelsbuch-200475256)

That is a cheese harp, the best design ever devised for hand use
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: mjr522 on March 06, 2013, 11:05:37 PM
Alp--do you have higher resolution image of this?
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: terry@dairy fab on March 07, 2013, 01:17:36 AM
Mike, I think his photo was similar to these.

terry@dairy fab
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Tiarella on March 07, 2013, 12:31:10 PM
But how do you do the horizontal cuts?  Seemed that with Terry's you could do a pass across the vat, turn the cutter around and bring it back through in the same line to finish cubing that strip.
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Alpkäserei on March 07, 2013, 04:06:10 PM
No horizontal cuts.

The idea of vertical and horizontal cuts would be a good one, if the curd remained in one place. But it does not, so this is unnecessary.

The curd is cut uniformly by stirring motion, which moves the curd around so that it is all cut. Trust me, it works  ;) This is how I learned to do it. You stir first in a circle, then in a figure 8 pattern with some wrist motion to bring the bottom curd up to the top. It's very hard to explain, but not very hard to do.

Chetty's idea is a great variation of this same principal for a small vat. Though personally I would use copper wire or stainless steel lead wire (like you would use for fly fishing) and not polymer fishing line. But that's just my opinion  ??? Or, you can go to a music store and buy some stainless steel guitar strings. Buy good ones, they are very high grade corrosion-resistant, acid resistant alloy that is annealed and can withstand a lot of tension.

The big cheese harps like we use have a copper tip, and are used in a round bottom copper vat. You let this tip rest on the bottom of the vat, and run it around. The curve of the bottom moves the harp up and down, helping to lift the bottom contents up to the top.

Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Spoons on August 20, 2013, 03:11:04 PM
A good supplier for Stainless steel wire is theringlord.com

These guys supply all sort of metal wires for people that build chain mail armor. They have SS gauges from 10g to 26g.
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Gürkan Yeniçeri on August 21, 2013, 01:49:09 AM
Terry, I am hitting my head to walls for not thinking this sort of design. You are my inspiration today.

I have 2 X 20L boilers which are round. If I build a harp with half vertical and half horizontal lines and as wide and as deep as my boiler, I can then finish cutting in seconds by turning it 360 degrees inside the boiler. And the curd will be cut more accurately then knife cutting.

I was on an inventor's mind block but that cleared now. Thanks again.

Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: terry@dairy fab on August 21, 2013, 02:21:46 AM
Gurkan, The only problem with this style of knife is that with the vertical cuts, you end up with concentric rings that you may have to break up with a single long bladed knife. It does do a terrific job with the horizontal cuts though.

Terry@dairy fab

www.curdknives.com (http://www.curdknives.com)
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Gürkan Yeniçeri on August 21, 2013, 10:12:31 PM
I guess for my small operation, I can live with these concentric rings.
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: gsager18 on August 22, 2013, 06:37:54 PM
For those of us who don't have welding rods around, is there any reason why a bent metal coathanger wouldn't work instead?
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Chetty on August 23, 2013, 03:29:22 AM
I would shy away from anything that might mess with the cheese.  Metals like aluminum, galvanized pipe and metal coat hangers (at least the ones that I have) will not stand up to the acidity that comes with cheese making.  It might also taint the final product.  Rust, color, flavor.  So I would look for something that is stainless steel so you know for sure that it won't affect the cheese.  I went to my local metal work shop they had all sizes.  For ten of them cost me three or so dollars. 
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: tnbquilt on August 23, 2013, 04:28:13 PM
My daughter bought me one of these for Christmas, and it just tears the curd up something awful. Maybe that is what Sailor means by you can't cut both ways at the same time because it's too much stress on the curd.

I tried to get my daughter to send it back but she didn't know what charge card she put it on and didn't want to bother with it. So I show it to other people and tell them not to buy one.
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: tnbquilt on August 23, 2013, 04:30:27 PM
Working on it :D

I can't wait to see what H-K-J comes up with
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: H-K-J on August 24, 2013, 03:14:36 PM
I can't wait to see what H-K-J comes up with
I have a couple of ideas yet no time to develop them, working out of town and all I want to do when I get home is rest up to leave again on Sunday
Oh well, fall is coming, then maybe cheese makin time (i'm running low :()
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: steffb503 on August 24, 2013, 07:54:27 PM
Tnb, I have one of those. I typically make 10 gallon batches and it seems to work ok enough.
I sure would love to have a real good one though. I might have to talk to Terry.
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Spoons on September 06, 2013, 11:55:52 PM
I found this curd cutter online. The design is real convenient for small batch home cheese makers. You can also rotate the handle on the spot for a vertical-horizontal switch. You also thread the fishing wire yourself to the size you want. Don't know what the increments are though. They're in Brazil and have a minimum order of $150 though.


(http://shop.etielcheesemaker.com/image/cache/data/curdknife4-400x400.jpg)

http://shop.etielcheesemaker.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=128 (http://shop.etielcheesemaker.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=128)
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: tnbquilt on September 07, 2013, 12:28:54 PM
That's a great idea, just move the handle!
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: ArnaudForestier on March 04, 2014, 11:09:52 AM
([url]http://resources.vol.at/FastResource.aspx?ResourceID=vcom-kaesehaus-andelsbuch-200475256[/url])

That is a cheese harp, the best design ever devised for hand use


Alp,

Can you tell me where you got your harp?  And do they do smaller sizes?
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Tiarella on March 05, 2014, 03:28:05 AM
I have a couple of these   http://www.perfect-cheese.com/curd-cutters (http://www.perfect-cheese.com/curd-cutters)  I haven't used them yet because my goats are dry right now but I'm looking forward to this.  These are cool because you just swap the handle to change from vertical to horizontal cutting.
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: ArnaudForestier on March 05, 2014, 06:38:34 AM
I've got several of these as well, Tiarella and love them.  Perfect for my square vat, and its size. 

I'll also be making beauforts in a large (up to 20 gallons), direct-fired vat, and I'd like to get a hold of a traditional cutting harp.  There's an outfit out of Austria that does them (http://www.kaesereibedarf.at/php/cheese-harp_en_80_8_37_1_akat_art.html?PHPSESSID=273fbfafa23fa13353f61bb926d390b5), but quite pricey and I'm hopeful of finding one domestic to the States, which Alpkäserei mentioned is a possibility, so we'll see.
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: Tiarella on March 05, 2014, 12:06:23 PM
Have you checked if John would make you a custom-sized one?  Just a thought.   ???
Title: Re: Cheep Curd Harp Idea
Post by: ArnaudForestier on March 05, 2014, 08:02:12 PM
Great idea Tiarella, just queried him!