A ricer is a device with holes, through which one squeezes something gooshy in order to make strands of it.

picture of a ricer:

http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-26981-Potato-Ricer/dp/images/B00004OCJQ

My husband's Czech grandfather used a ricer to make potato dumplings.

One might make hash browns by ricing boiled, peeled potatoes straight into hot fat. Might solve the wet potato problem = see next paragraph.

My aunt makes hash browns by shredding potatoes and frying them. Trouble is, shredded potatoes have a tendency to become wet. Perhaps it is a good idea to use newly-purchased potatoes, I'm not sure.

Good luck.