CheeseForum.org » Forum

GENERAL CHEESE MAKING BOARDS (Specific Cheese Making in Boards above) => EQUIPMENT - Forming Cheese => Topic started by: mikeradio on December 14, 2010, 10:38:28 PM

Title: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: mikeradio on December 14, 2010, 10:38:28 PM
I am just getting started in making cheese, gathering all the equipment and ingredients.

I decided to start with a simple press that I just add weights to the top.

This is made out of 3 bamboo cutting broads.

(http://www.interiorhobbies.com/mmIH/Images/smoker/press.jpg)

(http://www.interiorhobbies.com/mmIH/Images/smoker/press2.jpg)

(http://www.interiorhobbies.com/mmIH/Images/smoker/press3.jpg)

(http://www.interiorhobbies.com/mmIH/Images/smoker/press4.jpg)
Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: Gürkan Yeniçeri on December 14, 2010, 10:40:22 PM
Good work Mike. What are you going to use as weights?
Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: acstokes on December 15, 2010, 12:13:22 AM
Mike,
Simple & inexpensive. I like it!

Fred
Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: mikeradio on December 15, 2010, 12:35:11 AM
Thanks

I still looking for a used set of weights, I am sure I can find someone selling a set they dont use any more.

Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: mtncheesemaker on December 15, 2010, 03:00:22 AM
Very nice!
Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: zenith1 on December 15, 2010, 02:04:05 PM
Mike that looks great and I can assure you that it is very serviceable. I used one very much like that one when I started. Congratulations.
Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: Soozletew on December 15, 2010, 03:00:04 PM
FYI, Play It Again sports equipment stores sell free weights for 60 cents a pound.  I bought 50 pounds which has been plenty of weight so far.   

That having been said, I'm aiming for a Dutch style press, as I don't seem to have the best coordination at stacking weights, and I have to keep an eagle eye on my little press, in the same style as yours, to make sure that the weights don't get off center. 
Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: hammerhead on December 15, 2010, 03:05:23 PM
Quote from: Soozletew on December 15, 2010, 03:00:04 PM
FYI, Play It Again sports equipment stores sell free weights for 60 cents a pound.  I bought 50 pounds which has been plenty of weight so far.   

That having been said, I'm aiming for a Dutch style press, as I don't seem to have the best coordination at stacking weights, and I have to keep an eagle eye on my little press, in the same style as yours, to make sure that the weights don't get off center.

Duct tape.
Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: mikeradio on December 15, 2010, 04:33:44 PM
I was thinkking of adding a dowel to the middle of the top board, which I will add the weights too.
The dowel should keep them centered.

We have a Play it again sport here I will check them, I found some at Canadian Tire but they want about $1.00
per pound.
Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: acstokes on December 15, 2010, 08:11:27 PM
QuoteThe dowel should keep them centered.
Sound good. Get a dowel the size of the hole in the weights so they stay well centered.

Fred
Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: Soozletew on December 16, 2010, 06:51:52 AM
Dowel in the middle= brilliant!  I'll get my carpenter guy right on it.
Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: bobb on December 16, 2010, 09:32:34 PM
Play it again, rusty weights (I painted)  30 cents a pound
Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: KosherBaker on December 24, 2010, 05:54:14 AM
While this may not work with the dowel in the middle, but one of the members on this forum has used one of those garden stepping stones that they sell at Home Depot as a weight. Home Depot lists the concrete ones to be about 23 pounds. And they are very very inexpensive ($1.07). Here's what they look like:
Paver Stepping Stones (http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Garden-Center-Landscaping-Supplies-Pavers-Step-Stones/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xg1Zard2/h_d2/Navigation?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053)
Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: curdsandwhey on December 25, 2010, 11:34:56 PM
Very beautiful!  Where did you purchase the drip pan from?
Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: MrsKK on December 26, 2010, 04:01:38 PM
Where did you get your bamboo cutting boards?  I made a similar press a couple of years ago from red oak slabs, but would like something a little more tidy looking.

I advertised on Craigslist and got about 200 lbs of weights for $10.
Title: Re: Just made my first cheese press
Post by: mikeradio on December 27, 2010, 02:20:07 PM
I purchased the drip pan from Cheesemaking,com  alittle expensive but it is stainless
and the perfect size and shape.  I found London Drugs had a sale on the cutting boards
they were $9 each, I purchased an extra one to dry the cheese on,