North Star Slab Rollers are made in two series: The Standard series used by hobby potters and students everywhere and the massive Super series, at home in industrial, institutional and production settings around the world. The most obvious differences are these: Standard machines are made in `18", 24" and, on special order, 30" widths. They have rolls 2 1/2" in diameter, tables are 48" long with the roller in the center and the handle drives the bottom roll directly. Super machines are much heavier, tables are 72" long, rolls are 4" in diameter, there is a 4.33:1 steel gear reduction between handle and roll. They are made 24", 30" and 36" wide, and they come only with a Wagon Wheel handle. The North Star Slab Roller packages include a table, canvas and wagon wheel handle while the Slab Roller Only includes the handle and canvas. All North Star machines have two rolls, much like the wringer of an old-fashioned washing machine. Both rolls have a small diamond pattern ("knurling") machined directly into the metal to grip the canvas. The bottom roll is turned by the handle, but cannot move vertically. As it turns, it drives the top roll through a train of gears. The upper roll both turns and can be adjusted up and down. The two rolls turning together pull slabs through easily, and the vertical adjustment of the top roll gives an easy-to-set and infinitely adjustable thickness from paper-thin to over 2 inches. A reference scale allows setting and repeating openings to within 1/100 of an inch. The design gives great flexibility in making slabs. Very thin, translucent porcelain slabs and thick, heavily textured architectural slabs are equally easy. A wide variety of other texturing materials and objects can be passed through the machine along with the clay. Slabs can be rolled either direction or reversed on all North Star machines. CONSTRUCTION Bodies and rolls are made of cast and carefully machined high-strength special alloy aluminum. Gears are made of the strongest material available for this application, nylon or steel. Bushings are nylon and the remaining parts (except plastic gear covers and knobs) are machined steel. Table frames are 14-gauge steel. Tabletops are of moisture-resistant Medex with a melamine surface. Metal surfaces are zinc plated or coated with a durable powder coat finish. Virtually no maintenance is required, and the simplicity of the design ensures that any repair ever needed will be quick and easy. HIGH DESIGN & GREAT ADVANTAGES Every part carefully designed and made for its intended purpose. No off-the-shelf or inferior parts or material. Rust free and virtually maintenance free. No clumsy heavy shims or boards. No chains, cables or cast-iron gears. Thickness infinitely variable from 0 to 2-3/4 inches on Standard series, 0 to 2-1/4 inches on Super series. Slabs can be rolled in either direction and clay can be added or subtracted at any time. The length of the slab is limited only by the space and canvas available. Tapered slabs are quick, easy and precise. Warping, curling and cracking are drastically reduced. All machines accept press molds and a wide variety of texturing material such as burlap, plant materials, rope, cork and bark.
