Clay Times Back Issues Vol. 2 Issue 3 • Mar/Apr 1996 | Page 21

Buying A New Wheel
BY GAIL PFEIFER

A

sk ten different potters which
is the best wheel to buy, and
you may get ten different
answers. Yet the experts all agree:
you should first define your own
individual needs, then seek a
reputable, brand-name
wheel likely to serve you
well into the future.

consider the benefits (and required
space) of a wheel which comes with
a work table.

The wheel that’s
right for you may
not be the right one
for the next person,
and vice versa.
Consider the following points to help you
decide which wheel will
best meet your needs:
• Experience—Be honest
about evaluating your skills and
ability, because these will influence
your satisfaction with the product.
• Scale of Work—If you throw
regularly with smaller amounts of
clay (up to 25 lbs.), you needn’t pay
extra for a high-end wheel. Yet persons who do large-scale work should
obtain a wheel with enough power
to handle the heavier clay weight.
• Affordability—Prices range
from the low $100s if you are
inclined to build your own wheel, to
more than $1,000 for the high-end,
workhorse models. Brent makes an
affordably-priced build-it-yourself
kickwheel kit ($180 for plans and
metal parts only, with 12” wheelhead). Creative Industries has just
introduced a new entry-level electric
wheel, “The Clay Boss,” which
retails for $495. Shimpo hopes to
unveil its new low-priced beginner’s
model (1/3 hp with 25-lb. centering
capacity) at the ‘96 NCECA
Conference in Rochester, NY.
• Portability—Planning to take
your wheel on tour? Brent’s model A
weighs just 48 pounds.
•Space Considerations—
Measure your space and make sure
the wheel you buy will fit into it.
Don’t forget that you’ll need an electrical outlet in your work space. Also

Above: Students work at Shimpo RK-10
Series wheels. With their fixed foot pedals and compact, enclosed design, these
wheels are well-suited to classroom use.

• Throwing Position—Do you
throw sitting, standing, or do you
use a wheelchair? Creative
Industries offers its Multi-Level
Throwing Wheel for any of these
options, with lever-controlled
adjustable height from the standard
21.5” to 36”. Wheel speed can be
controlled by hand or foot. Brent
offers its crank-up model “16
Rehabilitation Wheel” for wheelchair
use. Its pedal can also be set up for
operation by hand or foot, and it has
sides with arms for persons who
need leaning support. This model
can be adjusted for the average user,
too. For persons with back problems,
Brent and Laguna both offer wheel
leg extension kits, to raise the height
of one’s wheel so that throwing may
be performed standing up or at a
more comfortable level.

Kickwheel vs. Electric
The amount of practice required
to learn how to throw well on a kickwheel can be discouraging to begin-

ners. It can be difficult to master
smooth speed changes on kickwheels. The amount of power generated is more limited than that produced by motorized wheels, and
therefore limits the size of
pieces that can be thrown.
Kickwheels are generally
heavy, bulky, and hard
to transport.
On the other
hand, kickwheels
and treadle wheels
are relatively inexpensive, especially if
you build your own.
They are also usually
quiet, a major consideration for some potters. Warren
Mackenzie’s pots illustrate some
of the finest work