But Boofer your press was my inspiration
Harold, that's museum-worthy craftsmanship. Far more beautiful than my "press the life out of it" effort.
The press arrived yesterday, assembled easily, and appears to be asking me for a Cantal to exercise it's muscles.
When I consider the weight, ease of use, and size of this new press and my homemade press...there is no useful comparison. My giant-killer worked well for many cheeses, but it had to be man-handled to heft it from the garage to inside the house. It's weight is somewhere around 50 pounds, whereas the SturdyPress tips the scales at or around 17 pounds. My wife could hand me this press, but certainly not my incredible hulk of a cheese press.
I have found that there are exceptions that require substantial pressing power, but most cheeses I make require very little pressure to knit the curd, eliminate whey, and create a smooth, closed rind.
Thanks, Ann.
-Boofer-