North Star Porta-Roller

The North Star PortaRoller is made in America!

The Perfect Slab Roller for Teachers on the Go

    Built to last a lifetime, the North Star Porta-Roller Slab Roller was based upon the proven design of the much larger North Star Standard Series Slabrollers and was made specifically for ceramic art teachers who move from classroom to classroom or studio potters who need a fully functional slab roller but lack permanent space for a full size slab roller.

    Like the other North Star slab rollers, the PortaRoller has two rolls, much like the wringer on 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 the bottom roller turns, it drives the top roll through a train of gears.  The upper roll both turns and can be adjusted up and down for slab thickness. 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, and a single pass is all that is needed for complete compression of the clay to produce the slab.

CONSTRUCTION:

    The PortaRoller body 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.  The Table Toppers are made 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.

GREAT DESIGN & ADVANTAGES:

    Every part carefully designed and made for its intended purpose with no off-the-shelf parts or materials.

    Rust free and virtually maintenance free.

    No clumsy or heavy shims or boards required to determine clay thickness.

    No chains, cables or cast-iron gears.

    Thickness infinitely variable from 0 to 2-3/4 inches.

    Slabs can be rolled in either direction and clay can be added or subtracted at any time.

    Roll slabs up to 18" wide. The length of the slab is limited only by the space and canvas available.

    Tapered slabs are quick, easy and precise.

    Complete compression with dual rollers means warping, curling and cracking are drastically reduced.

    All machines accept a wide variety of texturing material such as burlap, plant materials, rope, cork and bark.

    Ergonomically designed to be easy to carry and set up. The roller and table units weigh less than 25 lbs each.

    Like all North Star products, the Porta-Roller was designed for reliability, safety and ease of use. In the simplest terms the PortaRoller is a fully functional slabroller, just built on a smaller scale than the traditional North Star Slab Rollers. Overall, the North Star Porta Roller is approximately 4' long and is shown on a work table for easy working height. The table surface must be 3' long to support to the PortaRoller.

Polaris CT-500

North Star's Jumbo Porta Roller

     The Polaris name along with a model number was used by North Star (Polaris = North Star.... get it) to designate their Slab Rollers in the early days of the company.  These days we refer to the Slab Rollers by the Super or Standard series nomenclature because the Super (or Standard) names are clearer to consumers.

      North Star uses the Polaris model name (and CT-500 model number) to designate their 24" slab roller package.  Dogwood Ceramic Supply simply refers the product as the JUMBO Porta Roller.

     The Jumbo Portal Roller is identical to the original Porta Roller with the addition of 6" to the draw (width) of the roller unit.

Sirius CT-503

North Star's Super Jumbo Porta Roller

     The Sirius CT-503 is North Star's Super Jumbo Porta Roller.  Identical in function and general appearance as the other two North Star Porta Rollers, the North Star Super Jumbo Porta Roller is 6" wider larger than then Jumbo (CT-500) Porta Roller and 12" larger than the standard Porta Roller.

North Star Porta Rollers

The North Star Porta Rollers are packaged in 2 boxes.
Assembly time typically takes 1 minute.
One Canvas Set included with all Slab Rollers.
Additional Canvas Sets recommended for working with different colored clays.

Simple UPS Shipping Rates for North Star Porta Rollers:

Porta Roller for Commercial locations and Schools via UPS $35.00
Porta Roller for Residential deliveries via UPS $45.00

Jumbo Porta Roller Commercial locations and Schools via UPS $45.00
Jumbo Porta Roller for Residential deliveries via UPS $55.00

Super Jumbo Porta Roller Commercial locations and Schools via UPS $50.00
Jumbo Porta Roller for Residential deliveries via UPS $60.00

The Simple UPS Shipping Rates include applicable insurance, oversized package fees and an allowance for the fuel surcharge.

The location of the customer will determine the shipping point (Dogwood Ceramic Supply warehouse or the North Star factory)

Additional Information

North Star Catalog

The North Star PortaRoller is made in America!

12590 Dedeaux Road
Gulfport Mississippi, 39503
Telephone (228) 831-4848        Fax (228) 831-3111

Showroom Business Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 10AM to 5PM
Thursday 1PM to 6PM

Closed Wednesday and Sunday

The popular North Star Porta Roller is perfect for beginners, the classroom and for professionals that require a small portable slab roller.