My cheese press uses a homemade hardwood follower, finished with mineral oil, in a bought stainless-steel mold. I generally clean the follower with water, occasionally with vinegar (have resorted to soap a couple of times and then wondered if it would mess with the cheese). I keep having to replace it because of mold and warping.  The company that sold the steel mold sells only wood not steel followers.  Do any of you use metal or plastic followers, and if so where do you get them? If you use wood, how is it finished, and how do you clean it? Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
Joanna

Depending on were you live their are several companies that sell food grade molds that are great
http://www.cheesemaking.com/cheesemoldsandpresses.html

I’ve been using home made molds for years.  You can make a follower quite easily with a plastic cutting board and a jigsaw.  Use the white plastic kind.  I’m not sure what they are called commercially, but they are made of UHMW plastic (Ultra High Molecular Weight).  That is what we use in the food industry.  I am currently using a follower made of 3/4” plywood and several thicknesses of polyurethane.  Some will probably find fault with that as a sealer; but I have no problems with it.

This discussion brings up another question:  I’ve frequently thought of making a square mold - it would make a square “wheel,” and I’ve heard jokes about square wheels elsewhere; but it would be quite convenient for slicing purposes.  Have any of you ever tried novel shapes of molds?

The problem with square is uneven drying at the points.