Clay Times Back Issues Vol. 2 Issue 3 • Mar/Apr 1996 | Page 22

Buying A New Wheel
which wheel to buy. Most wheel
manufacturers now rate models by
horsepower and centering capacity.
Vince Pitelka says potters who
work regularly with large amounts of
clay need a wheel that can turn slowly while maintaining tremendous
power and precision. He says the
Soldner P200 is very good at this.
Pacifica’s new Glyde-Torc wheels also
have a strong reputation for powerful, slow speed capability and
smooth pedal operation. If you
intend to throw with 100 pounds of
clay or more, consider the Pacifica
Glyde-Torc 800 (1 hp) or the Brent
CXC (1 hp), both of which feature
electronic silencers and reversible
switches for ease of use by right- and
left-handed people. The new
American-made “Master Series”
Shimpo M750 (1 hp), can also handle
100 lbs. and features extra-smooth,
quiet operation; a 14-in. wheel head;
and fully enclosed components for
safety and reliability. The Creative
Industries Model HP (1-1/3 hp) can
handle up to 650 lbs., and features a
large work space and extra-large
wheel head for making giant pots.

Which Brand?
Cynthia Bringle, who teaches at
Penland School of Crafts in Penland,
North Carolina, says, “If students ask
me what wheel to buy after they’ve
taken one or two classes, I say, ‘It
isn’t time to buy a wheel yet—it’s
time to take more classes.’ Students
need to find what suits them and
how they’re going to work.”
Louise Radochonski, studio coordinator at Penland, agrees that students need to try as many different
wheels as possible. “Your body has to
feel comfortable in it. Are you a
weekend potter? Or will you spend 7
or 8 hours a day throwing? That’s
going to make a big difference.”

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Glenn Dair, director of the pottery program at Callanwolde School
in Atlanta, Georgia, says, “Don’t put
yourself in a situation where you
blame the equipment for poor results.
You want a wheel that you grow into,

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not one you outgrow.” Dair recommends buying the best wheel you can
almost afford. “Like any other investment, you want it to pay off. Your

parts & labor. Pacific offers a 2-year
warranty on electronic components
and 5-year warranty on other parts
and labor. Creative Industries offers a
five-year, 100% parts and labor warranty. Be sure to ask your dealer
about warranty details, as the circumstances to which they apply will vary
between manufacturers.

Comparison Shop

goal should be a wheel that can handle your skills as you improve.”

After you’ve defined your specific needs, take a trip to your local pottery supplier to consider first-hand
the various wheels available. Foot
pedal response is an important factor
if you choose an electric wheel, and
low speed control is more important
than high speed control. Why? Glenn
Dair says, “It’s like a car. If you have
a car that can go 120 miles per hour,
and only 120 miles per hour, what
good is it?”

Dair advises going to a studio,
classroom or supply house with a
variety of brand-name wheels set up
for you to try. “It’s like buying
shoes,” he said. “You have to try
them on. Get to a place where you
can do this.”

If you like to move around and
change position when you throw,
look for a wheel with a remote,
moveable foot pedal. Yet if you need
a wheel for classroom use, a fixed
pedal may be more desirable because
there is no pedal cord to trip over.

Reputation Counts

Note the design of the splash
pan: how easy will it be to remove
and clean? For its new Master Series
models, Shimpo now offers a larger,
one-piece splash pan that doesn’t
even need to be removed for easy
cleaning. Its design allows room to
work with larger pieces, such as platters, yet it’s been “comfort-tested” so
it won’t interfere with the potter’s
throwing position. Be sure to ask
whether or not the wheel price
includes the cost of the splash pan.
Pacifica models are sold with splash
pan included. While Brent Model B
and Model 15 both come with splash
pan, Brent’s other models do not. (Yet
Brent has announced that any of their
wheels purchased during the month
of April, ‘96, will come with a $39
splash pan at no extra charge.)

Cynthia Bringle works at a Brent wheel,
which features a solid-steel tabletop
for added strength and stability.

A brand-name wheel with a good
reputation for service and quality
will have good resale value. “Look
for one that operates smoothly, with
no jerking on slow speed,” Bringle
advises. “And don’t buy a two-speed
wheel if you’re looking at used
ones—you’ll never re-sell it.”
Pitelka cautions, “Avoid any lesser-known or fly-by-night brands...No
matter how good the price, if the
machine fails and you can’t get parts,
all you’ve got is an expensive boat
anchor.”
Shimpo, Brent, Pacifica, Creative
Industries, Soldner, Randall, and
Lockerbie all make wheels of good
value. Quality and ease of operation
is standard. While some companies
offer just one-year warranties with
their wheels, Brent and Shimpo both
offer