cheese harp pushing curds

[natbb]

Hi guys,
I recently made horizontal cheese harp, made 1/8" stainless rod and fishing line.  It was just under the diameter of the pot.  I thought, finally I will get some decent cuts to my whey!  However...... it tends to push the curd around and when I try to be more aggressive, swinging it back and forth, it fractures the curd.  Has anyone had any luck with one of these?  I am starting to feel like all my diy efficiency methods are failing at the moment!  Am still trying to get a curd stirrer to work as well!
Thanks

[rsterne]

I had essentially the same problem with mine.... The best technique I found was to twist it quickly about 1/4 turn, using the mass of the curds (their inertia) to help with the cutting.... then when I got lined up with the centerline, to wiggle it as I slowly withdrew it.... However, it still shattered some of the curds.... I replaced it with a new curd cutter detailed in this thread....

http://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,19308.0.html

Having only a single cutting wire, and no outside frame (which tends to twist the curd mass), it works FAR better....

Bob

[Mornduk]

I made my own harp like the one described inthis thread. Basically because I heat the milk in a hotel pan, not a round pot, so the shape had to fit.
I have not found any issue like you describe, except when I cut it by hand first to 1" or 2", then let it heal for 10+ minutes (~5 mins is ok). When that happens the curd skin is too tough for the fish wire to cut and it just pushes it around. I use 0.3mm stainless steel 7 strand nylon coated wire.

[natbb]

Thanks for the help, looks like its back to the drawing board!