My new home made Dutch cheese press.

[RenaissanceM]

I'm a first time poster and new to cheesemaking. I'd like to share some photos of a Dutch style cheese press that I built. It has a theoretical mechanical advantage of 25, however I found it to be around 24 in practice (due to friction). Even though I didn't test it at the max hung weight of 100lbs which I (hope) designed it to handle, which would provide a weight of 2500lbs at the plunger. This is around 50psi for a 8 inch diameter tome mould. In the photos I'm pressing with 60lbs hung from the pulleys. This is around 15psi for the 12''x8'' rectangular mould (I'm making some Haloumi).

Any opinions, suggestions or criticisms are welcomed .

[KosherBaker]

Wow. Now that is an impressive piece of machinery. I think you and FarmerJD may have to go head to head on the press size. Very impressive and professional looking.

How did you attach the wooden square board/tile on the very bottom of your plunger? Did you use a screw or just glued it on? I'm thinking of using a screw but am worried about the metal head of the screw having exposure to the whey. But then if I glue it the glue may not hold to those kinds of weights.

[RenaissanceM]

Thanks KosherBaker. I actually used both glue and screws to keep it secure. I used red cedar (as opposed to pine) as it was going to be exposed to a great deal of pressure. I'm using a old pan which I drilled a hole on the side, and then passed through a thin tube for drainage. I'm trying to avoid exposing the wood to any kind of moisture.

[DeejayDebi]

Good Lord! If that is an 8 foot celling that thing is taller than me and then some. Very nice though.

[Michael_A]

Whoa, that is some heavy duty construction.  And nicely done.

[Boofer]

Ah, a true thing of beauty.   

Wait . . . must . . . catch . . . my . . . breath!!

I rather feel like I've stepped back into the Middle Ages and we're loading the trebuchet for an assault on the castle walls. Excellent realization of a dream.

-Boofer-

[FarmerJd]

Very nicely done. Your frame will hold up to a lot of pressing. I couldn't tell how the plunger is attached to the arm. Is there any adjustment there? Hard to tell from the photos. Definitely my kind of press. 

I rather feel like I've stepped back into the Middle Ages and we're loading the trebuchet for an assault on the castle walls.

Boofer, I have built a trebuchet before as sort of a contest with a few friends. We all tried to see who could launch a watermelon the farthest. Great fun.

[RenaissanceM]

My wife thaught it was some kind of Medieval execution device when she saw it for the first time . Thanks for the feedback guys. The Haloumis that came out however were a bit on the stiff side. Eighter 15 psi was too much for 4 hours (I followed the book "    200 Easy Homemade Cheese Recipes"), or I have a feeling my curd size was too small during cooking.

DeejayDebi: The press is definately taller than I am (about 6 feet).

[RenaissanceM]

FarmerJD: The adjustment is done by using a piece (if need be) which I originally cut off from the plunger. I cut the plunger short enough to accommodate placing the moulds and then I add one or two pieces of wood to extend it's reach. If you look at the 3rd photo you'll notice that.

[Boofer]

Boofer, I have built a trebuchet before as sort of a contest with a few friends. We all tried to see who could launch a watermelon the farthest. Great fun.

So what was your greatest distance? They've taken that "sport" to the extreme and engineered what are essentially cannons to toss the pumpkins. We're talking a lot of money invested to shoot squash across a field. Crazy. Everybody has to have a hobby. 

-Boofer-

[FarmerJd]

I don't remember how far exactly but definitely 100+ feet. The tractor weights on my cheese press were the counterbalance. 10' arm.


RenaissanceM, I see what your referring to in the pics. Good idea.

[Spoons]

That's hardcore RennaisanceM!!! Well done. One cheese for you 

BTW, you almost have as many cheeses as posts already 

[RenaissanceM]

Thanks spoons. I'm not familiar with giving "cheese"...is that like giving a stamp of approval?

[Boofer]

Thanks spoons. I'm not familiar with giving "cheese"...is that like giving a stamp of approval?

Check this: https://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,284.msg1220.html#msg1220

-Boofer-

[RenaissanceM]

I see. Thanks Boofer.