I started making my own corn tortillas, and at first used a glass pie pan (put dough inbetween two pieces of zip lock plastic, and then squash with the pie plate.) I would have to press hard, and rotate the round pie dish to get the dough to squish out to the right size/thickness. It worked well, but I was afraid I would break the glass dish and cut myself I had to use so much pressure. It was sort of a rocking swirling motion to get it to press out right. It worked, but I had to lean on the plate too much. I had used a skillet bottom, but you couldn't see how big/thin the tortilla was, so if you don't buy this, try a pyrex pie pan on two plastic sheets of ziplock material.My husband purchased this press for me, and it is so easy to use. I use two pieces of ziplock plastic, cut to fit the press, and my flour (Masa Harina) has a recipe on the back for 4, 8 and 12 torillas. These make balls about the size of a ping pong ball or golf ball. They squeeze out perfectly every time, and I use no pressure at all.I have read that there are two types of presses: cast iron and aluminum. The aluminum is lighter, but requires more force. The cast iron is heavy, and comes with a "shiny paint job" that comes off with time, according to internet reveiws, but my dough does not touch the press with the plastic sheets, so this is simply cosmetic in my opinion. I did notice some grease on it, but I assumed it was to keep the product from rusting, being that it is iron....you put oil on your cast iron pans for this purpose. It was minimal oil.To protect my granite counters, I put felt stick-on feet onto the bottom since it is heavy and iron. May not be needed, but it makes me feel better. I could not be more impressed with it, and I can whip out fresh tortillas in about 2 minutes. I had at first told my husband not to get me one, I'd continue with the pie plate, but now I am thrilled to have it. It is effortless. I hate to see that some people had theirs break, or not make thin tortillas, but I imagine it is just a problem with their particular unit. If my tortillas were any thinner, you couldn't get them off of the plastic sheet. If they were thicker, they wouldn't be "right." Hope that makes sense! I like the press, and hope that it lasts. I received it in November, and have used it almost daily, and it is now in January...I haven't seen any issues with the product in that amount of time.6 MONTH UPDATEProduct is still working great after 6 months. I am going to try wax paper as was suggested by a fellow Amazon shopper, in lieu of the zip lock. I have slowed down making tortillas, so it is not getting "as much use" as it was, but this is merely for waist-line purposes! I'd make them all day, everyday if I could, without getting as big as an ox. It has held up well, and makes excellent tortillas with ease.