Pottery Wheel Buying Guide

Electric pottery wheels vs. kickwheels vs. tabletop wheels "Spin the wheel, take your chances" might be a great slogan when gambling in Vegas, but not so much when it comes to buying pottery wheels. A pottery wheel is a sizeable investment - sometimes literally - that you'll be using for a long time. As such, it should be a well-researched purchase that will reliably provide the qualities and features you need in your ongoing development as a potter. Types of pottery wheels Electric The electric pottery wheel is the most popular type of wheel due to its lightness and ease of use. Most beginner pottery wheels are electric.

Electric pottery wheels use a motor to power the wheel. Though some electric wheels have only multiple fixed speeds, most have a foot pedal that the potter operates to increase or decrease the revolutions per minute. The size of the motor, e.g. 1/4 horsepower, 1/2 horsepower, etc., determines how many pounds of clay an electric potter's wheel can handle.

Kick wheel

Kickwheels are essentially manual pottery wheels, though some do have a motor that helps the potter get the flywheel up to speed. Kick wheels are so named because the potter kicks the cylinder at the bottom to control the wheel's speed.

Pottery kickwheels are extremely durable but also extremely heavy, and thus not a good choice if you're looking for portable pottery wheels. Kicking can also be more physically tiring than using an electric pedal. However, left-handed potters appreciate having the ability to spin the wheel in either direction, and many potters prefer the more natural throwing feel that a kick wheel provides.

Tabletop

An electronic pottery wheel will often be light enough to transport from your home to a class or studio, but if you want a truly portable pottery wheel, then table top pottery wheels are the way to go. Unless you're making relatively large pieces of pottery that require more than 20 or 25 pounds of clay, a tabletop potter's wheel should be more than adequate for your needs.

Etcetera

Additional points to consider when purchasing a pottery wheel:

• We have a good selection of handicap pottery wheels that provide easier accessibility for people in wheelchairs
• Many potter's wheels come with an attached work space and/or splash pan

• Pay attention to wheelhead design details such as bat pin configuration (if any), bucket or flat head (bucket heads accept plaster bats), and wheelhead diameter
• Pottery can become a fun family hobby with our wide selection of kids pottery wheels