North Star #702 Bare Bones Standard Tile Press Package

North Star's Tile Press is the first available hand-operated tile press that uses compressed air pressure to gently and quickly release the finished part from the mold. Our Tile Press is capable of making tiles up to 5½", as well as many other shapes with raised or impressed decorations that have no undercuts. Until now, tile presses have all been hydraulically-operated and were much too large, too heavy, and too expensive for all but the industrial market. The North Star Tile Press offers all the quality and versatility of industrial presses, but in a smaller, much less expensive configuration that is inherently safe in any setting.

The North Star Tile Press is comprised of 3 aluminum floor plates, each reinforced with ½" machined-steel stiffeners. The top and bottom plates are connected to each other on both sides and the back by three 1" diameter machined-steel uprights. The center plate slides up and down smoothly and securely on these steel uprights between the top and bottom plates. All three plates are finished with North Star's attractive and durable blue powdercoat instead of paint.

   The center plate is driven up and down by turning North Star's trademark WagonWheel handle which moves a massive solid steel 6-pitch rack-and-pinion gear train. Our gear train configuration allows the operator to easily apply up to 5,000 pounds of pressure on the clay being pressed without great physical exertion.

   A 3-way valve controls the air flow from an air compressor alternately to the lower and upper die halves to release the newly formed part. It is located conveniently on the top floor plate of the Tile Press, and safely away from any moving parts.

An air compressor is required to operate the air release functionality of the Tile Press, and is not included with any of the Tile Press packages. We do not include any air compressors with our Tile Press packages due to the heavy nature of this type of equipment. Our minimal recommendations for an air compressor is a unit that will generate at least 60 psi with a minimal 2 gallon storage tank. Our optimal recommendation for an air compressor is a unit that will generate at least 120 psi with a minimal 10 gallon storage tank. As a rule of thumb, the larger the storage tank is on the air compressor unit, the less frequently the compressor will need to run to maintain the pressure needed to operate the Tile Press during the repeated consecutive pressings found in production-oriented work.

North Star #702 Bare Bones Tile Press Package

List $1,600.00 Our Price $1,374.95