Power

How much horse power is behind your wheel?  The longevity of the motor will be based on how much work you are putting it through day in and day out.  If the motor is built to handle only 10lbs and you consistently use it to throw 10lbs count on that motor burning up quickly.  There are beginner wheels and streamline top notch wheels, but if you are just getting into this profession or hobby,  don’t sell yourself short.  Sometime going for the wheel you will grow into will pay off.  You may spend a little more but wheels can last a very long time, and most have parts that can be replaced when need be.  

Righty, lefty or ambidextrous 

 Pretty obvious, yet sometimes forgotten characteristics of wheels… when you are right handed you want the wheel to spin counterclockwise and you work on the right of your work at 3:00… when left handed the opposite.   Some wheels have the capability to do both, some do not.  Make sure if you are part of the 10% of the population that is left handed, that you check on that feature.

Noise

Motors make noise, some are louder then others.. to some this is very important.  the hum of your wheel can sooth you, or annoy you.  There are wheels that make no noise and wheels that roar like a train.  Currently Randy uses a Whisper by ???? … And I use a motorized Randal kick wheel.   Kick wheels can be some of the quietest and before the whisper models came the were the preferred voices of the vocation.  But my wheel screams like the thunder…. but it clams me.  

Speed control

this is interesting because mostly we are talking about foot pedals… but there are wheels with hand lever to control the speed.   The stopping speed is also important. some spot immediately and some coast to a halt.  All of which take some getting used to.  But it‘s good to know what you have used and what you are considering purchasing.  

Wheel Head or Bat Pins

Having bats are a luxury.  Some wheels come with bat pin placements and some don’t.  if you are used to this fix, you will want to check what bats will fit your new wheel options.   Another lesser known option is the bucket wheel head…. with this version you use plaster bats which can be great for a number of reasons but are large and somewhat hard to store.  

Ok we have given you a lot to digest and here are some brands you may come across in your search. 

Pottery wheel brands

• Brent wheels are probably the best known. Most potters find them highly reliable.
• Soldner wheels are pricey but some models can handle extraordinary weight. They also have a model that can be used in a wheelchair. 
• Creative Industries/Speedball wheels have been re-engineered but have a reputation for not being quite as reliable.
• Shimpo wheels are known for their super quiet operation.
• Pacifica/Laguna has worked to marry smooth operation with high torque.
• Skutt Potter’s Wheels is the result of a merger between Skutt (known for their electric kilns) and Thomas Stuart wheels.
• “Store Brands” are worth looking at. Companies like Bailey and Campbell’s offer their own wheels, often at a good price.

information from www.thesprucecrafts.com

images from

www.wikipedia.org

www.connecticuthistory.org