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I still haven't made a curd cutter yet, but meanwhile found an internet post where someone was using a cake cooling rack for the horizontal cuts.  So I dug out one of mine and decided to give it a try.  I had to use a larger pot than usual to accommodate the width of the rack.  Spaces between wires are about 3/4 inch, and the goal was for 3/8 inch curds, so I thought after the initial cut I would raise it slightly and give it a second twirl.

I was using Straus whole milk which produces a firm curd much like farm-fresh milk.  I first made vertical 3/8 inch cuts perpendicular, then inserted the rack and gave it a go.  I was surprised at how much resistance the curd gave, and when slowly trying the first twirl I ended up pushing some of the curds instead of cutting them.  I'm not sure if I had any cutting effect on the second twirl with the rack raised slightly higher.  But, the end result was much better than my awkward diagonal slashes with a long curd knife.  At least I had real cubes!  Some just larger than ideal.

Next time I will be more aggressive with twirling the rack and see if that helps with the cutting.  I think if I was using P&H milk the resistance would not be so much and possibly the cutting better.  Anyway, this is not exactly the result I was aiming for, so this will be a temporary tool until I get a real cutter with thinner "cutters" in hand.  (And with using the larger pot, my thermometer was too short to reach the milk, so in trying to solve one problem I inadvertently created another).

Points and a cheese for creative re-purposing!

For round pots, I've used a simple horizontal design that I found on the forum - I'll see if I can dig that up.

Andy,  Thanks I already have the design plans from several, including yours...just gotta make one!!!  S.

My design may be overly complicated ... The idea I based it on, by contrast, is about as simple as it gets! If you've found my design, there should be a link or reference to the original idea.

Yes, got it, thanks!