Some photos of some of the gadgets I've been playing with lately-----A new extra long curd Knife for my new cheese vat----the old one just won't reach 13 inch----experimenting with a silicone curd stirrer, with very round edges---not sure of the best shape, round, rectangle, square---any suggestions are welcome. Now need longer handle for that.
Finally, a curd cutter for round vats---self centering----have different size grids----worked well with my curd substitute--JELLO---a suggestion from Amarlino for a cheap substitute to experiment on.
Qdog
That curd cutter is great!! Any chance of putting a small motor on that for automated stirring? Perhaps you could adapt a bar-b-que rotisserie motor. Just about the right speed and plenty of power. Just need a long hex on the end of the shaft with a nut on top to keep it from falling in.
Al----already did that one---check this link under Caerphilly https://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,13821.msg104693.html#msg104693 (https://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,13821.msg104693.html#msg104693)
Qdog
Very cool!! Is that a wiper motor? A lot more complicated than what I had in mind but a godsend to those who hate to stir, and who doesn't? LOL Great job!! AC4U for your ingenuity!!
Al----Thanks, that's high praise coming from one in your line of work. Actually it's a power window motor. The device works great on those cheeses with like three hours stirring----but not so well on some Alpines, that seem to need a much slower and gentle stir.
Qdog
I was thinking along the lines of bolting a slide on rotisserie mount flat on a crossmember so you could slide the motor on with the drive socket, open ended, matching up with a hole in the crossmember. You could use a rotisserie skewer for the shaft with a slide on paddle that secures with a thumb screw. You could turn down the top two inches to accommodate a 1/4-20 UNC and use a thumb nut to hold the shaft and adjust the height of the shaft for the pot. You could press a Delrin or nylon round foot on the bottom of the shaft so it didn't scratch the pot. Make sense to you?
Very nice. That is definitely worth a cheese. What metal is the wire grid made out of?
Shane
Great work!! AC4U
Well Al---it's like this---I'm a cheap skate ;)---I try to use what I have lying around----and have made so many variations, only to find a flaw in my thinking and when I originally posted, it was looking for ideas from smarter people then me----so I greatly appreciate the input. This was the first that actually lived up to my expectations, though it could certainly be improved.
First started with an AC reduction motor----found out needed a variable speed----controllers for AC were to expensive----went to DC---lots cheaper, but a bit more complicated----the off/on timer relay is what made it all work great ( that was off a melting furnace I had made years ago) an interesting story for another time.
I made the shaft length adjustable with two bronze joints using SS set screws----that makes the shaft and impeller easily removable for cleaning and I used a silicone pad cast in the bottom of shaft to prevent scratching----so we are thinking along the same lines.
Since giving up most of my machine shop and welding equipment---it's been a real challenge to put ideas together that I'm still capable of accomplishing.
One other thing----the motor is rated at 8.5 foot lbs.----and that was fine on my 4 gallon pot----but it struggles on the 5 and 6 gallon makes, especially at low speed---after the curd starts releasing more whey, it is much easier.
There has been a lot of talk on the forum about making stirring devices and I am only offering up these tidbits, so others might avoid as much trial and error.
And that leads to the Jello----experimenting on your 6 gallon cheese make can have effects your not looking for ( been there) and I couldn't think of a substitute with close to the same traits as cheese curd---and then Ameriliano came up with the idea of Using Jello and it was brilliant and much less expensive then milk curds.
After thought. The variable speed is almost a necessity---as you need less speed as the curd releases whey----the adjustable on off timer allows you to leave and adjust for different makes requiring different stirring techniques.
Sorry---got a little long winded---OK---got a lot long winded :)
Qdog
Shane
The grid and the shaft are both 304 stainless-- about nine or ten dollars a Square foot and you can get all kinds of various sizes---I am thinking of going with just mostly horizontal wire in I/2 in. and one in.----since I use those the most and you still have to make vertical cuts anyway.
Qdog
Thanks Danbo----I know you appreciate gadgets, even if you are a Square (pan) type of guy. ;)
Qdog
Sounds like you've thought it out and addressed all of the mechanical issues. I think you already addressed it but be careful with the bronze. Not good around food.
Qdog: It's hip to be square! ;-)
[size=78%]Round or square, I don't care, but fill up with milk, and I'll be there... ;-)[/size]