Does the Tribest Solostar ll and a hydraulic press yield the same performance and results like the Norwalk. I think it would be as good as Norwalk? The Norwalk uses a titurator which spins at a high rpm which would produce almost the same amount of heat that the Solostar II produces?What do you all think or recommend? Thanks so much for your help!I think I would save lots of money with solostar II and hydraulic press setup.

The Norwalk triturator is medium rpm and one would assume that it might generate heat but because it functions only as a coarse cutter rather than a juicer, significant heat is not produced. This cutting process is to prepare the veggies for the juice-extraction process which the built-in hydraulic press does. Significant heat is only produced when a machine spins or rotates in order to extract juice (e.g. centrifugal juicer like a Juiceman or many others like it). The Tribest spins in order to extract juice but at low rpm so the heat generated should be minimal. However, the weakness of this design is that the effort required to push the veggies through such a machine does take some muscle because it takes significant pushing down on the plunger to force the veggies through the masticating gear. I had a dual gear Greenstar (similar to the Tribest but uses 2 masticating gears instead of 1 so is actually a better design) and to tell you the truth, I got really tired after 30-45 minutes using the machine. This, in turn, caused me to use it less often. The norwalk, on the other hand, pretty much does all the work. The coarse cutter (triturator) requires very little muscle and its much quicker and simpler to clean too. And it will outlast any plastic machine because it is all surgical stainless. As for your using a hydraulic press with the Tribest, you don’t need one. The Tribest is a stand-alone juicer. Keep in mind also that when you run veggies through non-norwalk machines, you don’t get as much juice out of your veggies (this can vary from 30-45% from data given with my norwalk) so in the long run, you save money on your grocery bill by using a norwalk.

I knew all along the norwalk was the superior machine with its rock-solid build quality, simple but effective design, and huge cost. So the question was always about cost, not about which machine was best. My first centrifugal machine (Juiceman) lasted 2 years before the plastic parts deformed and wore out. Too much juice was thrown away (and wasted) with the pulp. You could actually see lots of juice building up at the bottom of the waste/pulp bin. My next machine, The Greenstar was better but the physical effort needed to push down on the plunger and to assemble/disassemble it was discouraging. A brush is needed to remove the fiber stuck in all the tight crevices/gears/parts. The plastic parts started to crack after 6 months and one masticating gear cracked after 3 years. As those dual gears began to wear ever so slightly, it became harder and harder to push veggies through them. Then came the norwalk. Its so easy to use, I can’t go back to any of the other machines (those other machines don’t work anymore anyway!). The only thing that takes a little skill is using the bags properly. Not overfilling the bags is key to getting the most juice and decreasing the clean-up time down to several minutes. We were able to afford the +2K cost by buying a used car rather than new, not having a mortgage, and keeping our other expenditures low. Our financial priorities are completely geared toward our health. And its worth it.

I agree with much of what you have stated. The high cost of a Norwalk is justified and balanced by the improvement in health and efficiency of being able to assimilate much more nutrients and vitality from food you are buying. I have been collecting juicers for many years and my favorite is the Norwalk. Such great uncompromising quality. Norwalk Manufacturing has been offered opportunities to have the juicer made more cheaply maybe in Asia. But they have refused to compromise and they want to keep producing the very best. Each new generation and in fact within each models’ lifetime there are refinements and improvements. i believe that even paying list for a new norwalk will probably pay for itself in health benefits in a little over a year. Now if one is not able to afford even a good used Norwalk then buy the best juicer you can and use it regularly!! You wiil still be getting health benefits and you have to start somewhere reversing the years of poor eating. Don’t fall into the mental trap of believing that only by buying the very best will you be able to regain your health. There are so many used juicers on ebay etc. why?? have you ever wondered for a moment why this is!!?...Part of the reason i believe is that most people find it very difficult to change…to reverse their bad habits. They try a system for a little while but soon grow weary and put aside the quest. i work with a lot of very sick people and have met numerous cancer patients who in desperation are looking for one last chance with a juicer. Unfortunately very often it is too late. So, I recommend that people start with what they can afford and do the best with that. You will also develop discipline and experience more vitality. If possible find a few others to share the expenses and preparation of the veggies.

Buying a juicer can be like buying a membership to a gym – the enthusiasm wears off when the New Years’ resolution to lose weight or eat healthier is forgotten.

I currently own 4 juicers, a norwalk, a champion, a juiceman, and a breville. I have also owned many other brands in the past. I disagree with the statement “Significant heat is only produced when a machine spins or rotates in order to extract juice (e.g. centrifugal juicer like a Juiceman or many others like it).” Why would spinning ground pulp around in a basket to extract the juice create heat? When you do the laundry are your clothes hot after going through the spin cycle? Not unless you use hot wash water. I think what creates heat in any juicer is a lack of power or blades that are not sharp which causes the motor to bog down and get hot. Of the juicers I have now the warmest pulp/juice comes out of the champion. The pulp from the norwalk will also heat up if the grid your using is too small. The juiceman is a cheap juicer and the pulp is pretty wet after juicing but I’ve never noticed it to be warm. Despite that it will make decent juice especially if you strain it and the price is right at $10 – $50 for a used one. Don’t get hung up on not making juice just because you can’t afford a norwalk. Although I own a norwalk I rarely use it now. I find it to be a hassle and it takes up alot of counterspace so I use my current favorite, which is the breville. The pulp from it is never warm and while not as dry as from a press, it’s not very wet. I made a quart of carrot juice with the breville and then put the pulp in the norwalk and only got 31/2 oz. more. I hope I haven’t made too many of you guys mad. I know how attached some of you are to norwalk and all in all I’m sure it will outlast the breville by a lot. I will keep an open mind and if anyone can show scientificly why centrifical juicers make an inferior juice I’d like to see it. All I’ve ever seen are myths and who knows how they got started. Heats up juice, kills enzymes, Spinning clockwise screws up the life energy in the juice and what not.

One thing worth considering with the Breville types of juicer. The cutting disc is not as efficient as other juicers such as the norwalk, Omega even the champion. The iseal is to cut open most of the cells and apply pressure some how to express most of the juice contained in the cells. If one is not able to efficiently cut open or tritrate the cells then there will not be as much juice or wetness in the pulp. ,also the centrifugal juicers suck a great amount of air down through the feed tube. i think this tends to dry the pulp also. I agree with you on the juiceman and i had the same experience with the brevile model 95..the pulp and juice never get hot. The main thing is to make juice with which ever machine you like and can afford. Make sure that thew juice is pulp free or use a strainer. Drink the juice slowly and soon after it is made. I know that myself and others have gained benefit s from juice made from the humblest of juicers. i make a lot of juice daily and use my norwalk. I have noticed that the centrifugal juicer produces juice that changes color and flavor soon after being made.

So far I haven’t noticed any change in color or flavor even after 2 days using the Breville. I usually consume most of it right away but once and awhile I’ll make too much and it seems to keep fine. The main thing is to peel your carrots and clean whatever else your juicing really well. If you don’t peel the carrots, the juice starts off with a brownish tinge and won’t last long, nor will it taste very good.