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I've wanted to make cheese for years and years, and finally I'm doing it! I've been held back by lack of time and lack of starting materials.  Fortunately, these roadblocks have eased: first, I've got more time on my hands because work in my field has disappeared, and second, some folks in my neighborhood have started a coop with a nearby farmer, so I have access to raw cow and goat's milk.  I made my first cheese: mozzarella, last week, and my second, chevre, this week.  Both were resounding successes ( at least I think so!)  I hope to get into more adventurous varieties, but I don't have a press yet, and haven't decided if I should build or buy.  Also, I'm concerned about aging.  I don't know what I'm going to do about providing a constant temperature / humidity environment.  I just got my weekly order: a gallon of goat's milk, so its time to decide what to make this week.

Andy

Welcome Andy. Glad to here you finally took the plunge! Cheesemaking can be very rewarding and sometimes frustrating but in any case just have fun!

If you are not intimidated by a few hand tools you can make a press much better and cheaper than one could be bought. You can also make one that can grow with you and not be looking for another one in a few months as your hobby grows.

Howdy Andy, I'm also in Houston (Katy), congrats on your initial successes, lots of info and ideas here, press you can make easily enough, here's my stepladder press in service in living room floor today .

Lot's of "cheese cave" ideas in that Board.

Have fun!

Welcome!  I'm also relatively new, and live in the Seabrook area (near Kemah).

Lots of good info here, and lots of very helpful people...  If you're close, don't hesitate to ask about dropping by!

-Michael

Thanks everyone for the welcome to the community.  I guess I'll go ahead and build my own press. I've been checking around for ideas, and think I have the ability to do that.  I'm not sure if I want to go the extra nine yards to construct molds from PVC pipe... I don't know how I'd make a follower.  In any case, thanks everyone for the encouragement.

Andy if you make molds from PVC pipe the followers can be cut from those white plastic cutting boards. Just trace the inside of the mold onto the cutting board and cut it out. Drill a few holes for drainages and your done.

Welcome to the forum. I made all my followers out of wood and soaked them in oil. Good Luck.