I bought one in a Save-a-Lot that works fine, but I've also simply used a glass pie plate - works great.

A lot of the metal ones they sell now are more for show than use, especially the aluminum ones. They don't actually press well. Everybody I know who has lusted for a press, wanted a wood one. I think we had a thread on the subject a year ago, that had similar posts. Cast iron should be better, but it's brittle and they're known break in shipping.

To the best of my knowledge, Estrella (Mexico) and Victoria (Columbia) are the best cast iron ones. You have to be careful to get the real ones. There are knockoffs that use similar names.

Wait, let me see...

I don't like the shiny paint on Estrella. They were the ubiquitous brand here, in my youth, and usually painted red or green (Mexican flag?) but now painted to look like aluminum? The Victoria seems to be better rated and comes in black, which I assume is iron, rather than paint, though the paint may be there to protect against rust.

Victoria: https://victoriacookware.com/our-history/

Have 6.5" and 8"

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HWEIKZO/?linkCode=xm2&tag=ghk-lift-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10055.a.27470983%5Bsrc%7Carb_fb_ga_d_bmm_na%5Bch%7C57f1b394284635e2862a460928477bed%5Blt%7C&th=1

Estrella 6.5" and 7.5":

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00G6O4GDQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?SubscriptionId=AKIAJO7E5OLQ67NVPFZA&ascsubtag=797526882-312-1707298796.1575161274&tag=best_reviews_ca_3-20

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00G6O4GDQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?SubscriptionId=AKIAJO7E5OLQ67NVPFZA&ascsubtag=797526882-312-1707298796.1575161274&tag=best_reviews_ca_3-20

BTW, the assumption is that you'll use waxed paper or parchment on both sides of the press. Also, a tip I read in the comments is that if the result is too thick, add a piece of paper at the bottom of the stack to be a shim.

I'm sure that using wax paper or parchment was not done for centuries past.

True, but this kind of press wasn't used either!

At the demonstration of traditional work I saw when I was in school in Mexico had a couple of women sitting by a fire, taking pinches of dough, rolling it into balls, flattening it tossing hand to hand, like any other maker of flatbread in any other culture.

I'm pretty sure metal presses are 20th C. That doesn't delegitimize them.

Putting one between sheets of parchment (or pastry cloth) on the counter or a cutter board and whapping it with a heavy frying pan is a system employed by many a housewife who subscribes to the no single function gadget philosophy. :)

Thanks. I saw Victoria on Amazon and was tempted to order one. I’ll check it out more carefully.

I bought a used wood one made out of mesquite for a good price off Ebay a few years ago. It takes up some room in the pantry but I love it. Pine is said to warp and not worth the money.

If wood isn't what you're looking for then I'd follow Pllog's suggestion and get a cast iron one. I'd also buy a larger one since the tortillas shrink a fair amount once cooked.

For pressing I use a plastic grocery bag cut to size. I've tried other things but I like the grocery bag the best. I picked that tip up from a website but I couldn't tell you which one.

I usually roll mine out between sheets of parchment using a rolling pin. It works. (shrug)

That said, I agree with plllog that if you get one, make sure it's a good heavy one. I had one of those light weight aluminum things and I never could manage to press a decent tortilla with it, I still had to roll them out. There just wasn't enough weight to press the dough, especially on the edges.

Annie

Nope, they are not at all the same or even similar. Might be made from weak pot-metal spray painted black called cast iron, (not cast iron)...might get a lemon or one lasting years. I have two..one from a Mexican market years ago and one from a few years ago, (amazon). Junk, but it actually works fine. I use a quart zip-lock, cut the 'zip' top off... Rest your dough. learning curve to get it perfect.

A dream session with perfect dough. Dozens of tortillas in short order.

Rush it unfamiliar...total frustration. Like anything new...

Just saying'....I'm a sharp critic with an industrial designer artistic eye for quality as I do every day at work...don't like what we have to deal with from bad product often difficult to return.

here's a nice how to video

Thanks for your additional responses. I'm getting geared up to order one from Amazon shortly.

The Victoria press from Colombia looks good if you are set on cast iron, and the price at $25 is very good. I paid $21 for a Ra Chand aluminum press, which is made in Mexico, and it has worked fine for me. Still, I more often make quesadillas with masa dough that I form in my hands, the way I've seen them made in Mexico City. My favorite filling for quesadillas is huitlacoche, which is somewhat difficult to find, but it has a very good flavor. I usually use Oaxacan cheese with it.

I ordered the 8 inch Victoria. It’ll be interesting to hear how it works for my DIL. Thanks for all your help.