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Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with the "off the wall" press.  I just picked up the plans at my local cheese shop and I think it will be alot easier than stacking all those weights on top and waiting for it to crash.  Ginger

I built my own and so far, am happy with it.  Its basically a lever, made of 2x4s mounted to my basement wall.


Here is a picture:

and here.

Quote from: FRANCOIS on July 27, 2009, 04:22:14 AM


here's my old one.

Old post; thinking of doing a bevy of beauforts and other alpine styles and in need, finally, of a dutch press.  Impressed by Boofer's, Wayne's, Alex's (sorry, if I've missed others - have learned from them all) press designs. 

I'm sure this is a ridiculous question, but then, I'm ridiculously challenged when it comes to engineering.  On any dutch press, does one have to have a swivel at the bottom end of the piston, so you don't end up pressing at an angle? 

Secondly, thinking of Alex's design - the twin-arm design.  Oak's bloody expensive, any reason the whole thing - I'm thinking, 2x4's, 2x2's, 1x2's - couldn't be made out of pine, or the like?  Or, perhaps one could get away with making the piston and arms out of hardwood, the rest, pine?

No swivel needed if you plan it right. By that, I mean keeping the plunger vertical through most of the pressing.
As far as material, the main part that I would be concerned about being very sturdy would be the arm.

Quote from: FarmerJD on February 20, 2011, 08:52:51 PM
No swivel needed if you plan it right. By that, I mean keeping the plunger vertical through most of the pressing.
As far as material, the main part that I would be concerned about being very sturdy would be the arm.

Farmer, let me add thanks to you, as my reading of Boofer's thread has been immeasurably enriched by your postings.  I think I want to build a flexible system that will allow me to go anywhere from a very light psi to cheddar ranges; and it seems the best way for me to do that, without having to build a mammoth-length arm, is the pulley system.  I'm torn between trying 1x4 oak arms, or going to steel.  I also am doing my best to guess lengths - and know if I'm wrong, I may very well end up with the situation where the vertical press goes askew, as you're talking about.  So if you, Boofer, Alex, or any of the other engineering whizzes can spare a brother the time, would you have any actual dimensions to work from, assuming a pulley system?

Thanks, Farmer - this represents a kicking-up of both my cheesemaking ambitions, and my learning.

I used 2 1x4 cedar boards for the arm and let them run on the outside of the plunger. Then I put several holes in the plunger so that I could adjust it and keep it vertical. I used a removable pin (bolt) to connect the arm to the plunger. I have put around 400 lbs on the end of this 42" arm and no crashes yet. I don't think you would have any trouble with wood. Are you considering a stand-alone model or the wall idea?
Remember with pulleys, you have to have a considerable amount of travel  in the cable/rope to achieve a short travel on the plunger. Not really a problem, but something to consider when planning.


Here is a link to my intro where I posted a pic of my press. Sorry if redundant. That should give an idea of dimensions. With pulleys, you still need to be close to this arm length I would think. Hope that helps. Kind of rambling. Let me know what else I need to tell you.

Wow, thanks for the link, Farmer!  I'm torn,  now, and I'm sure that as usual I'm overcomplicating this.  I was excited to find 2 double pulleys and silicone-coated stranded wire, cheap.  What I was thinking of, was sort of a hybrid, wood arms and uprights, etc., but with the pulley setup, which seems nice.  Hadn't thought of the travel idea - so, likely, will have to be countertop, yes, as Boofer has it? 

Menard's doesn't have any hardwood other than oak in 2x8.  I was thinking of doing a double arm, and a 2x2 plunger - this is what you have, yes?  And just construction 2x8's for the uprights.    On the other hand, am I right in seeing you have a 2x2 as your back upright, 1x4's in your other places - and are these all softwoods?  (don't laugh if I'm way off...I really do admit my ineptitude for anything like this.  I was surfing, when I should have been doing shop in H.S.).

Many thanks, Farmer.

You are right about all the measurements except most of the pieces are 1x3's instead of 1x4's and the wood type is spanish cedar which is not as soft a wood as pine. I am sure pine would be fine for what you are doing. Make sure you brace well if using pulleys. Notice the angled boards I added (different color and wood type). They really make a difference especially if you are attaching pulleys at the bottom. Make it work without the pulleys first and then add them later. good luck.

Thanks, Farmer, I do love your design (and the rest of your ingenuity, from your introduction thread).  I'm tucking it all away; realizing (as is my bent, and guided by a member with far more common sense than myself) that I am trying way too hard, I think.  Especially as I will be wanting to do nothing more than 3 psi on an 8" mold, with a 4x MA, I only need 37.5 lbs raw weight - easily doable with a 2x4 hooked onto something, somewhere. 

True story.  Used to be part of IFP - Independent Feature Project - West.  Actor, writer (L.A.).  Went one night to an evening with some guerrilla filmmakers; among them, Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi) and George Huang (Swimming with Sharks).  Rodriguez told of his now-fabled guerrilla techniques, which included firing everybody and "lighting" consisting of some angle iron attached transverse to his 16mm, two bulbs on either side.  Got the film in the can for something under $8000, if I remember correctly. 

I could use a little brushing up on how much I can get from how little.  Much appreciated, though, as these are thoughts I'm filing away should I need to get into more serious pressing. 

Neat story. Creativity is a premium product in any pursuit.

Arnaud, For what you are doing I would buy one of the Dutch lever presses on E-Bay. For around $75 you can have a really well made press that will last you a long time.

Sailor, I saw your earlier posts on the one around $95; I need to dig a bit better, I think - I was finding only one for $150.  Did you see a specific auction, that I'm missing?

Thanks.

Smolt1's presses https://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,3760.msg29310.html#msg29310

Thanks, Pav.  Here - it seems?

Quote from: ArnaudForestier on February 21, 2011, 03:28:47 PM
Sailor, I saw your earlier posts on the one around $95; I need to dig a bit better, I think - I was finding only one for $150.  Did you see a specific auction, that I'm missing?

Thanks.

Does anyone know anything about the press listed in this link?  I am also going to purchase a dutch press and I found Smolt1's press last November on ebay, then saw it here as well.  I just took a look at the one in the link above, and I like the idea that it has a removable base.  I don't like to just purchase something, however, not having any feedback from folks that have used it - or at least hearing some thoughts. 

Thanks