How To Make a Tortilla Press
This video explains and shows-by-doing simple plans for how to make a tortilla press. If you have a little bit of experience working with wood – or if you’re careful, I think even if you don’t – now you can make your own tortilla press!
The gentleman in the video starts out with a 1.5″ thick piece of wood – hard wood. He states hard wood would be better than soft wood (this author would have to concur with that). Also says an even thicker piece of wood would be alright.
A number of different pieces are cut from this piece of wood:
The two base pieces – the top piece is approximately 8″ x 8″ / the bottom piece approximately 8″ x 8.5″. The bottom piece is slightly bigger so as to form a ledge for the support piece to sit upon (as seen in the video). Of course, you can make your press any size ….though personally, I wouldn’t go any smaller.
There is also a support piece which he said was approximately 4.5″ wide x 5″ tall.
Next he discussed the handle which he said he made approximately 12″ long.
The bolt he used to connect the handle with the support piece is 5″ long.
He said he used 10 playing cards to make a gap of approximately 1/8″ between the top and bottom base plates. He later stated that his press makes rather thick tortillas and it would be better with less of a gap. I would agree as the dough after being pressed and cooked kind of “thickens-up” so that the end product is always going to be a little thicker than how it looks right after being pressed.
So there you have it! Now you know how to make a tortilla press!
(Or you could just buy a pretty decent 7.5" Black Electrostatic Cast Iron Tortilla Press for under $15.00!)