Testing Low Fire Clear Glaze Recipes G1619Q and Duncan 1001 Clear

Inspired by the recently published Low-Fire Glazes for Potters and Sculptors, I have been testing low fire glazes. This post compares the G1619Q glaze vs the commercially available Duncan 1001 clear glaze.

G1619Q was developed by Tony Hansen of the website Digital Fire. In the Low-Fire Glazes book, author Ben Carter mentions that he and his students at the workshop renamed the glaze “Quigley Clear.” I happen to like Hansen’s numbering system, but maybe the Quigley Clear will stick.

In any case, it’s a simple recipe that contains 3 different frits and ball clay. I haven’t tested it yet, but I believe it will work well with stains.

I did test it with the oxides I recently mixed up for a low fire majolica test, and those test tiles are below. (Had similar mixed results on this clear glaze as with the white majolica glaze.)

To see how this stacked up, I also ran the same tests with the Duncan 1001 Envision clear glaze. On white clay, it was the same, but the Duncan clear had an interesting bluish cloudiness on the Standard 103 red clay. Just goes to show, you should test everything before you put it into production!

If you are looking for more low fire glaze recipes, definitely check out the book!

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G1619Q "Quigley Clear" Low Fire Clear Glaze Recipe

Ingredient	Percentage	1000g batch
Frit 3195	65	650g
OM4 Ball Clay	15	150g
Frit 3110	10	100g
Frit 3249	10	10g

Instructions:

Weigh and mix the dry ingredients together.
Then, add the dry ingredients to water and mix to a specific gravity of 1.45.

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G1619Q vs Duncan Envision 1001 tests

G1619Q glaze on top, Duncan Envision 1001 Clear on bottom. The Duncan turns a bluish hue on the red clay.

A closer look at the Duncan Envision test tiles.

Low Fire Clear tests with Oxide Washes

This image shows the G1619Q glaze on top and Duncan Envision 1001 Clear on the bottom, tested with oxide washes. These are the same washes from the recent test on low fire white majolica glaze. The oxide washes need some refinement, in my opinion (maybe more frit) but it’s what I had on hand so I ran the tests.

If you need a guide on mixing a glaze, click here. And this is a guide to the best glaze mixing tools and accessories.

You can also have a lot of success with commercial low fire glazes. Duncan Pure Brilliance is similar to the Duncan glaze used in this test, and Blick also makes an affordable low fire clear. There are a lot of other options out there too.

Duncan Pure Brilliance Low Fire Glaze
formulated for brushing (with gums) or dipping
Brushing pint: $9
Brushing Gallon: $35
Dipping Gallon: $31
Dipping 3.5 Gallons: $71

Blick Essentials Low Fire Clear Glaze
formulated for brushing
Pint: $8
Gallon: $31

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Have you mixed a low-fire clear from scratch that you like? Let us know in the comments.

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Pottery Wheel Buyer’s Guide

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Best Bats for the Pottery Wheel

Updated for 2025

This is a complete guide to all the different types of pottery wheel bats on the market, including different materials, bat systems, and assorted tools that are useful with bats.

Bats are available in various sizes and a variety of materials, including plaster, plastic, medex, MDF, and tempered hardboard such as Masonite. In addition to individual bats, there are also bat systems with inserts that can speed up the throwing process.

This post will attempt to cover all the bats available on the market, explain the options, and help you pick the right bats for your studio. This guide is based on more than 20 years of personal experience with pottery and wheelthrowing, including managing a variety of studios and using all sorts of different bats.

A 12” Speedball Plastic Bat on a 14” wheel head.

TOP PICK: Speedball Plastic Bats

The top pick for most studios are Speedball Plastic Bats. Available in 3 sizes and a variety different colors, they have a lip that makes picking up and removing from the wheel a breeze, they don’t warp, and they are long-lasting.

Injection molded, all the bats (even the square!) have universal 9” and 10” pin spacing. They are easy to clean and store, and a good value for the money.

One tradeoff is that plastic bats are not absorbent. Absorbent bats, such as Hydrobats, are a definite upgrade but they often cost almost twice as much. But given the price, durability, and all-around functionality, the Speedball plastic bats definitely have a place in a lot of studios.

Speedball Plastic Bats
7 1/2” square, $8-$10
12” round, $11-$13
14” round, $12-$15

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The bottom of a 12.5” HydroBat, note the red rubber bat pin grommets.

UPGRADE PICK: Hydro-Bats

Hydro-Bats are made from Hydro-Stone, a gypsum compound that is harder than plaster, and feature rubber grommets cast into the bat. Most have 10” pin spacing but there are other sizes as well. The absorbent Hydro-Stone virtually eliminates the need to cut your works off with a wire, and it is more resistant to chipping and scraping than plaster. They are thicker than plastic bats, about 1/2” thick, but if you have the room, these are a joy to use.

Hyrdo-Bats are manufactured by The Ceramic Shop in Philadelphia, PA and are available there and from a variety of other ceramic suppliers.

Hydro-Bats
Available in almost 20 sizes both flat and shaped like plates, bowls and platters,
Prices range from $10 to $50 each
As an example, the flat 12.5” bats are around $21

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About Bats:

Bats are useful for a variety of reasons: they provide a platform to pick up and move your work as it is drying, they protect the wheelhead, and they might even make clean-up easier. You can throw directly on the wheel head, but for wide or flat forms, you will definitely need a bat to successfully move it off the wheel.

Scroll down for a full review of a all types of bats.

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Table of Contents:

• Top Pick: Speedball Plastic Bats

• Upgrade Pick: HydroBats

• Amaco Plasti-Bats

• Laguna Plaster Bats

• Masonite Bats

• Medex Bats

• Bat Systems

• Bat Accessories

• Summary

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The 7.5 inch square Speedball Plastic Bat

Top Pick: Speedball Plastic Bats

The bottom of the Speedball Plastic Bat.

Speedball Plastic Bats are injection molded and available in three sizes: 14 inch round, 12 inch round, and 7.5 inch square. All feature universal 9 and 10 inch pin spacing (yes, even the square!). They have a grid of support on the underside, are about 1/4” thick, and do not warp. They don’t chip, but they can be cut by sharp knives.

A side view of the lip on the Speedball Plastic Bat.

The best feature of these bats is the lip on the side. This makes them very easy to remove, as opposed to the Amaco Plasti-bats, which sit flush with the wheel head. The one drawback is with the pin opening on the bottom, you can find yourself hunting to match the bat up with pins.

These bats can be stored horizontally or vertically. The most interesting is the space-saving 7.5 inch square bat, which can really reduce storage space if you are making a variety of bowls or platters.

They are available in a variety of different colors, including brown, blue, green, orange, teal, purple, pink, and red.

Speedball Plastic Bats
7 1/2” square, $8-$10
12” round, $11-$13
14” round, $12-$15

The 12 inch Speedball Plastic Bat on a 14” wheel head.

The 14 inch Speedball Plastic Bat.

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Upgrade Pick: Hydro-Bats

The bottom of a 12.5 inch diameter Hyrdo-Bat, with the red rubber grommets that fit on standard 3/8” bat pins.

Hydro-Bats are a line of bats made from HydroStone, a U.S. Gypsum product that is harder and stronger than plaster but still absorbent. They are widely available, but are manufactured by the team at The Ceramic Shop in Philadelphia. In addition to the absorbent surface, the bats have a lip for easy removal, and rubber grommets that easily fit over bat pins.

The complete line has flat bats, hump bats, and a variety of plate and platter shapes. The flat bats have two sizes of pin spacing: the standard 10” pin spacing comes in diameters ranging from 12.5 to 28 inches, and the smaller 6” pin spacing has bats that are 8.5 and 10 inches in diameter. The 6 inch pins might fit tabletop wheels or there is also a 10” to 6” adapter available.

Hydro-Bats do take up more space, they are about 1/2 inch thick. And if they become saturated with water, they won’t be very useful until they dry out. But the absorbency of the HydroStone makes these a great option for throwing bigger forms, as you will have more even drying on all sides of the vessel. When the clay pulls away from the bat without sticking, your ware will be at the perfect dryness for trimming.

Hydrobats will chip or take cuts from very sharp knives, but from experience I can say that you can drop them without much risk of them breaking (you might get some chips though.) Overall, these are my favorite bats to use because they make trimming much easier, and they are stronger and easier to use than homemade plaster bats, or other absorbent bats without grommets. They do cost more, but it’s worth it.

Hydro-Bats
Available in almost 20 sizes, prices range from $10 to $50 each.
Flat 12.5” bats are around $21

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Amaco Plasti-Bats

Amaco Plasti-Bats are available in 12” and 14” diamater.

Amaco Plasti-Bats are 1/4” thick hard plastic with holes for bat pins drilled through. Available in 14 and 12 inch diameter, and 9 inch square, the holes are a universal 10 inch spacing. It would be simple to drill new holes if needed for alternative pin spacing. Simple, easy, and effective, these are functional bats that will get the job done.

There is also a 9” square Amaco Plasti-Bat, which also has holes for 10” pin spacing.

With no ribs or lip, either side can be used and cleanup is very easy. As with all plastic bats, they are non-absorbent.

The drawback with these is that while they are easy to attach to the wheel head because you can see the pin holes, the lack of a lip makes removal a bit hard. Some sort of tool or knife is needed to wedge one side of the bat up, so that your fingers can get underneath. Without the ribbing, these can warp if stored incorrectly. It’s best to store these horizontally, but they can be stored vertically as long as pressure is not applied.

These bats used to be some of the cheapest on the market, but now they cost almost as much as Hydro-Bats, making them a less attractive pick.

Amaco Plasti-Bats
9” square, $16.75
12” round, $25
14” round, $30

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Medex Bats

Medex Bats are a made by a variety of manufacturers including Speedball and Penguin Pottery. Medex is a 3/8” thick, engineered particle board that is made with no formaldehyde. It’s smooth, dense, and water resistant. Think of it as thicker Masonite.

With Medex, avoid soaking or long-term ware storage, or the bats may warp and/or grow mold. But if kept clean and cycling through your studio, these bats should stay flat and are cost-effective. They are more prone to warping than plastic bats, but if used correctly, they are a cost-effective option.

Potters choose these over plastic bats as the absorbency of the material will help your ware dry more evenly. Depending on the vendor, these range from half the price of a Hydro-bat to just a few dollars less, so it might be worth it to pay extra and upgrade to the Hydro-bats

Speedball Medex Bats
12” round, $12-$17
14” round, $14-$20
16” round, $17

Penguin Pottery Medex Bats
9” square, set of 5 bats: $45 ($5 each)
12” round, set of 5 bats, $65 ($13 each)

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Masonite Bats

A 12” Masonite bat with universal 10” bat pins.

Masonite bats are made by a variety of manufacturers. They are affordable, thin, and can be real workhorses if used correctly. Masonite is a 1/4” thick, tempered, water-resistant hardboard that is usable on both sides and is slightly absorbent, making it ideal for helping pots dry. Their affordability also makes these common in production pottery, but if they stay wet for a long time (such as long-term storage of wet ware) or are soaked, they will warp, break down, or get moldy. They will also scratch if metal tools are used too aggressively on the surface.

The best way to use masonite bats is to remove the pot when it is ready for trimming, then clean the bat with a minimum of water, and allow the bat to dry before using again. Also, never soak a Masonite bat or flex it when wet, and store them horizontally. With care, Masonite bats can last a long time.

Masonite bats, generic manufacturers
12” round, around $5 per bat (usually sold in multi-packs)

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Baltic Birch / Tiger Ply Plywood Bats

Plywood bats

Bailey Ceramic Supply in New York makes 3/4” thick Plywood Bats in either Baltic Birch or Tiger Ply. (Baltic Birch Plywood is hard to come by because of the war in Ukraine so they have switched to Tiger Ply.) Absorbent like plaster, these bats are lighter than plaster or Hydro Stone, and won’t break or chip if you drop them. They are also more rigid for larger forms—plastic gets floppy at larger diameters. You could make your own plywood bats but these are predrilled and ready to go.

Like Masonate / Medex / hardboard, plywood will warp and get moldy if clay and ware is stored on them for a few weeks. Clean up with a minimum of water, and remove your piece as soon as you are able. It’s also a good idea to let these dry out in between uses. If properly cared for, plywood bats are long lasting.

Plywood bats
12” round to 29.5” round, $17 to $74

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Bat Systems

Bat systems feature a large bat and smaller inserts that can be swapped out. The idea is to save space on the shelf, and not have to bother attaching bats over and over. It’s particularly ideal for smaller work such as mugs, and small cylinders and bowls. The downside is that you commit to one manufacturer if you need extra or replacement bats. Some potters make their own version of these using a drill and a jigsaw. Only commit to a bat system if you know it’s the right system for you, the size of work you make, and your studio. It can be a definite space saver, though, so it is worth considering if it makes sense for you..

The Penguin Pottery Heavy Duty Bat System is made from MDF.

Penguin Pottery Heavy Duty Bat System

This system features a 14” circular bat with 6 inch square inserts, all made of Medex / MDF. The pins on the large bat are set for a 10” bat pin spacing, and the system is made in the USA. The inner bats are easily removable via four finger holes.

The Penguin Pottery Bat System comes with the 14” bat and 5 inserts, along with 2 pins.
Listed at $71

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Dirty Girl Bat Systems

The Dirty Girl round bat system.

Dirty Girl tools makes two bat system, a square and round set. The large bat is 12.5”, and the smaller bats are 6.5 inches.

It’s not listed on the site, but it appears the larger bat is Medex or pressboard, and the inserts are thinner Masonite or some kind of tempered hardboard.

Dirty Girl Bat System
includes 10 bat inserts, $78

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Snap Bat Throwing System

The all plastic Snap Bat system.

The Snap Bat Throwing System is an all-plastic option developed by The Ceramic Shop in Philadelphia. The large bat is 11.5” round and 1/2 thick, and the smaller bats 7 x 7 inches square and 1/4” thick.

Snap Bat Throwing System
comes with 5 inserts
Listed at $83

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Generic Bat Systems

The WonderBat Square Bat System.

There are a variety of generic bat systems available on Amazon.

As with all the sort of generic “Amazon Brands,” these products seem to come and go, and are often direct copies of some of the bat systems listed above.

Buyer beware! These may be a great deal, or they might be a piece of junk.

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Bat Accessories

There are a variety of accessories and add-ons that can help with bats and the throwing process.

Xiem Studio Tools BatMate.

Xiem Studio Tools BatMate

The BatMate from Xiem Studio Tools is a 12-inch diameter piece of synthetic fabric that can be placed in between a bat and wheel head to virtually eliminate any wobble, improving the accuracy of throwing and trimming. Many potters, however, wet the fabric and place it directly on a wheel head to use when trimming pots. Pots will stay put just by tension, without adding little balls of clay wadding. This saves time and works just as well.

It’s probably not necessary if you get Speedball Plastic Bats or Hydro-Bats, but it may be helpful for masonite or other bats that might have a slight warp. And it’s also a great tool for trimming small pots. At around $15, this is a tool that gets used all the time once it’s in a potter’s kit.

Xiem BatMate
12 and 14 inch diameters, $11-$14

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Xiem Tools Bat Lifter

If you have bats without a lip, the Xiem Tools Bat Lifter will save your fettling knife or nails, helping you easily pick up one side of the bat. If you have Amaco Plasti-Bats, you definitely want one of these!

Xiem Tools Bat Lifter
$7-$15

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WiziWig Tools Clay Shield

The WiziWig Tools Clay Shield.

The WiziWig Tools Clay Shield is a set of 14 flexible panels that will guard your throwing area from trimming and throwing splatters. Each panel is 4 1/4” wide, 8 3/4” tall, and has a base that slides under your splash pan. When combined, the Clay Shield will cover a 20 inch diameter. Coverage varies depends on set up and your wheel, but overall, this is a simple tool that can make a big difference in cleanup. It does require some set up and can get in the way, but if you’re working in tight quarters it can really help.

If this doesn’t seem right for you, some people tape newspaper, cardboard, or even flexible cutting boards to achieve the same ends.

WiziWig Clay Shield
$35-$37

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Foam Trimming Bat

Foam Trimming Bats by StudioPro.

StudioPro and others make foam trimming bats. These are foam glued to a bat. You can make your own, but StudioPro offers two options: one has 1/4 in foam for smaller pots, and another has 3/4” foam for heavier or uneven pots. Simple, easy and time saving, if you think a foam bat is going to help you, it probably will.

StudioPro Foam Trimming Bats
14” or 18” round
1/4” or 3/4” thick foam

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Brent Batmobile

The Brent Batmobile is a mobile cart perfectly designed to hold scores of round bats. It can accommodate bats that are 12 to 14 inches tall, and has locking 4 inch rubber casters. It’s not cheap—you might try a DIY option—but Brent’s entire product line is built to withstand heavy use in a production or busy academic studio. It will last forever.

Brent Batmobile Bat Cart
$790

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Grinding Discs

There are now a variety of grinding discs that fit right on your wheel head. A great solution—you’ve already got this spinning motor with a waterproof splash pan! Some grinding discs have sticker backs that can be used with a bat. If you’re interested in this, a good place to start is with our DIY grinding disc tutorial.

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Summary

This post covered a variety of bats for use on the pottery wheel. There are bats available in plastic, HydroStone, plaster, Masonite and other hardboards, and even plywood. There’s also a variety of bat systems and other bat accessories. Overall, my favorite bat is the Speedball Plastic Bat for it’s easy to move lip and resistance to warping. Hydro-Bats are my favorite for absorbent bats.

What are your favorite bats?

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Clay weight for throwing — in ounces and grams

“How much clay do I need?” is a common question from potters. Truthfully, the amount will vary based on how you throw and if you trim a foot or have flat bottom. But these measurements are a starting point and if you keep notes, over time you will develop your own approach.

Below is a chart of suggested starting weights of clay in pounds and grams for throwing various pottery forms—adjust accordingly depending on how you throw. These weights are listed with the goal of about a 1/4 to 3/8 inch wall thickness. If you are having trouble achieving a particular size or shape, add clay and plan to trim more. Good luck and have fun.

The Accuteck Postal Scale is a great option for weighing clay and costs around $20. To keep it clean, try placing it inside a clear plastic bag.

Scales for weighing clay:

Our budget pick is the $20 Accuteck shipping scale.
Accurate to about 2 grams. (shop at Amazon.)

Our upgrade pick is the $55 Oxo 11 pound kitchen scale.
Accurate to about 1 gram. (shop at Amazon)

Our manual scale pick is the Lem 44 lb scale
Accurate to about 2 ounce increments. $50 (shop at Amazon)

If you need a more accurate scale, check out our complete guide to scales for pottery studios.

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Weight of Clay for Pottery Forms

Form	Weight (lbs)	Weight (grams)
Drinking Vessels
Mug (8 oz)	12 oz	340 g
Large Mug (12 oz)	16 oz	450 g
Small cup	14 oz	400 g
Tumbler	16 oz	450 g
Pint Glass	1 lb 4 oz	565 g
Bowls
Small Bowl (no foot)	1 lb	450 g
Small Footed Bowl	1 lb 4 oz	565 g
Soup Bowl	2 lb	900 g
Footed Serving Bowl	4 lb	1800 g
Large Footed Bowl	5 lb 8 oz	2500 g
Small Mixing Bowl (no foot)	1 lb 8 oz	680 g
Medium Mixing Bowl	3 lb	1360 g
Large Mixing Bowl	4 lb 8oz	2040 g
Plates
Saucer	1 lb	450 g
Side Plate	2 lbs	900 g
Medium Plate	4 lbs	1800 g
Large Plate	5 lbs	2270 g
Pitchers and Bottles
Sake Jar / Small Creamer	12 oz	340 g
Small Carafe	2 lbs 8 oz	1130 g
Large Carafe	4 lbs	1800 g
Small Bottle	1 lb 8 oz	680 g
Large Bottle	3 lbs	1360 g
Jars
Small Jar	2 lbs	900 g
Medium Jar	4 lbs	1800 g
Large Jar	6 lbs	2700 g

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Need a scale to weigh your clay?

Check out our review of scales for pottery and ceramic studios.

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What weights do you use for throwing pottery forms? Let us know in the comments.

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The Best Cone 6 Glossy Clear Glaze Recipe

Updated for 2025

Cone 6 Glossy Clear applied over three clays from Standard Ceramics, from left: 308 Brooklyn Red, 112 Brown Speckle, 182 White Stoneware. The top half had a quick dip, bottom half had a second dip. Note the crazing on the thickly applied glaze over white stoneware.

This is a glaze that is actually glossy and clear, and can be mixed from scratch in bulk for pennies. It can be surprisingly hard to mix a clear glaze that is as good as the much-more expensive commercial options, and this is the best recipe I have found. It doesn’t develop bubbles or a milky quality when applied correctly (not too thick!) and for the most part, doesn’t develop crazing except when applied thickly over white clays as shown above.

This glaze works great over underglazes and slips, and can be double-dipped and layered with other glazes. It also works with oxide washes. And not only does it work, it’s cheap. When materials are ordered in bulk, this glaze costs about $10 for 3,000 grams, or enough to make approximately 1.5 gallons of glaze. Similar commercial glazes, such as the Penguin Pottery Mid-Fire Clear cost as much as $65 for a gallon. All in all, this is a simple, effective glossy clear and could also be a great base glaze to build your own studio palette.

One issue with this glaze is that it has 24% Gerstley Borate. By around Spring 2023, Gerstley Borate was no longer available. If you still have some, then great, this glaze will work for you. You can also substitute Gillespie Borate, but in my experience, that doesn’t always give the desired results.

In the studio, I am currently testing a few other glossy clear recipes and will update this post if I find one that works as well as this glaze.

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The glaze tests tiles posted below were oxidation fired to Cone 6 in an electric front-loading kiln, with a 10 minute soak and very slow cooling due to the 6-inch+ thickness of the kiln walls.

Cone 6 Glossy Clear Glaze

Ingredient	Percentage	3000g batch
Nepheline Syenite	30	900g
Gerstley Borate	24	720g
Silica	20	600g
Kaolin (EPK)	16.5	495g
Wollastonite	9.5	285g
Talc	2	60g
	102	3060g

#Glazes That Work

This recipe is part of our series of posts of glazes that just work. There’s a million glaze recipes out there, but we’re posting a series of our tried-and-true favorites. Click here to see the other recipes we’ve posted.

For more info:
Read our guide on mixing glazes from scratch.
See our reviews of the best scales, cordless drills, or corded drills for mixing glazes.
Check out our recommended glazing accessories.

Mid-Range Glaze Book by John Britt

If you’d like to learn more about mid-range glazes, the best place to start is the book The Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes by John Britt. The book provides a comprehensive overview of materials, techniques and glaze recipes. Listed at $33, it’s usually available for less.

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Test Tile Images

Cone 6 Glossy Clear over Standard Ceramics 308 Brooklyn Red, 112 Brown Speckle, and 182 White Stoneware. Top half is a quick first dip, bottom half of test tile shows a second dip. Fired to cone 6 in oxidation with a slow 36-hour cooling simply due to the thickness of the kiln walls.

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Commercial Clear Glaze Options for Cone 5-6

This Cone 6 Glossy Clear glaze is a great addition to any studio. To make it, you will need a variety of tools to mix it from scratch, including a scale, drill, ventilator or dust mask, and other tools.

If you don’t have the tools and space to mix a glaze, you can also order pre-mixed glazes. Generally these cost a lot more as you are paying for the labor of mixing and the cost of shipping the heavier product with water added. But if they work for you, it can be a great option. Generally, they are available in pints or gallon jars.

Another more affordable clear glaze option is to order dry glaze and add water in your studio. You can make it a dipping glaze with water, or add CMC gum and other materials to make a brushing glaze (brushing glaze tutorial here.) Standard Ceramics makes a nice glaze called 1199 Clear Glaze that your local clay supplier might carry. Or check below for premixed or dry glazes from a variety of companies via Amazon or Blick.

Penguin Pottery Mid-Range Clear
Pint: $26
Gallon: $69
5 lbs dry mix: $61

Spectrum Stoneware Transparent Gloss
Pint: $9.50

Mayco Stoneware Clear Glaze
Gallon: $36
10 lbs dry mix: $60

Mayco Stoneware Zinc-Free Clear
Gallon: $44
10 lbs dry mix: $60

*Zinc interacts with some underglaze colors and makes them milky or washed out, so if you have issues with a regular clear glaze, try the zinc-free clear.

Speedball Stoneware Glaze Clear
Pint: $12.50

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Do you have a favorite Cone 6 Glossy Clear glaze? Let us know in the comments.

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Orton Pyrometric Cone Chart in Fahrenheit and Celsius

Melted large Orton pyrometric cones 5, 6 and 7. Cone pack is pictured after being removed from the kiln.

Pyrometric cones are designed to melt at certain temperatures in a kiln. They measure “heat work” during a firing, or time plus temperature.

A digital pyrometer can give an accurate temperature, but pyrometric cones are useful for determining how the firing went for your ceramic ware, and they can be useful for noting if you have different temperature zones in your kiln.

The rate of the firing, or the speed at which the temperature climbs per hour, can determine when the cone bends.

Generally, a cone accurately measures the temperature when it has bent to approximately “9pm” on the left side. This can vary a bit based on if you are using regular or self supporting cones.

To make a cone pack, generally you will use three cones. One cone, the “guide” cone, is lower than your target temperature. The next cone is your target temperature. And then the next higher temperature cone is your “guard” cone. Make sure all the cones are lined up in the same direction so they will bend in the same direction. In practice, if you were firing to say, cone 6, you would have a cone 5, 6, and 7 cones in your pack.

Self supporting cones can be placed directly on kiln shelves. It’s still a good idea to use the guide and guard cones with self supporting cones.

Pyrometric cones can be purchased at ceramic suppliers, or in the US shop Orton Cones at Blick.

Most kilns now have temperature sensors, but you can also purchase high-temperature thermocouple sensors that can be moved from kiln to kiln. Shop High Temperature thermocouple at Amazon.

Below is a chart of temperature equivalents for cones. This chart is for large cones, and the temperature rate increase measures the speed of firing in the last 90 to 120 minutes of firing.

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Orton Pyrometric Cone Chart in Fahrenheit and Celsius

Cone number	60°C/hour	108°F/hour	150°C/hour	270°F/hour
019	676°C	1249°F	693°C	1279°F
018	712°C	1314°F	732°C	1350°F
017	736°C	1357°F	761°C	1402°F
016	769°C	1416°F	794°C	1461°F
015	788°C	1450°F	816°C	1501°F
014	807°C	1485°F	836°C	1537°F
013	837°C	1539°F	859°C	1578°F
012	858°C	1576°F	880°C	1616°F
011	873°C	1603°F	892°C	1638°F
010	898°C	1648°F	913°C	1675°F
09	917°C	1683°F	928°C	1702°F
08	942°C	1728°F	954°C	1749°F
07	973°C	1783°F	985°C	1805°F
06	995°C	1823°F	1011°C	1852°F
05	1030°C	1886°F	1046°C	1915°F
04	1060°C	1940°F	1070°C	1958°F
03	1086°C	1987°F	1101°C	2014°F
02	1101°C	2014°F	1120°C	2048°F
01	1117°C	2043°F	1137°C	2079°F
1	1136°C	2077°F	1154°C	2109°F
2	1142°C	2088°F	1162°C	2124°F
3	1152°C	2106°F	1168°C	2134°F
4	1160°C	2120°F	1181°C	2158°F
5	1184°C	2163°F	1205°C	2201°F
6	1220°C	2228°F	1241°C	2266°F
7	1237°C	2259°F	1255°C	2291°F
8	1247°C	2277°F	1269°C	2316°F
9	1257°C	2295°F	1278°C	2332°F
10	1282°C	2340°F	1303°C	2377°F
11	1293°C	2359°F	1312°C	2394°F
12	1304°C	2379°F	1324°C	2415°F

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The Best Cut Off Wire for Ceramic Wedging Tables

The best wedging table cut off wire is Music Wire or Piano Wire.

The best cut off wire for clay is Music Wire or Piano Wire. It’s durable, flexible, and strong enough even with harder clay. Under normal use, a few feet of wire can last for years, making this the perfect choice for a DIY cut off wire or as replacement wire for a wedging table. One package of almost 200 feet of this wire costs about $20 and that might be a lifetime supply of cut off wire for your studio.

Pair it with a 4 or 5 inch hook and eye turnbuckle and you’ve got a flexible, adjustable cut off wire for your wedging table. Images of how to set up a cut off wire are below. (Shop 4 pack of turnbuckles at Amazon) You may have better luck finding a single turnbuckle at a local hardware store.

The 0.031 inch music wire is preferred but if that’s not available, try the slightly thicker 0.045 inch music wire. There are a variety of other thicknesses available.

Precision Brand Steel Alloy Music Wire
0.031 in, approx, 185 feet, $21
0.045 in, approx. 185 feet, $20

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There’s a lot more you can do with music wire:

> Use to hang plates, bowls or tiles

> Super-strong picture frame wire

> Attach test tiles to screws on the wall

> ??? Sky’s the limit but some extra wire always comes in handy when you need it

Here’s a few pictures of music wire in use with a wedging table:

Here’s a close up of the eye and eye turnbuckle that can be used to fine tune the tension on the wire. This helps to get the wire very taught.

To “tie” the wire to the bottom of the wedging table, we just wrap and twist it a few times. Pliers are helpful for this task. This example is from a Bailey Wedging Table, but you can also screw in an eyelet screw if you have a wooden edge on your wedging table.

Our last tip is to take a soft plastic blue rib (shop at amazon), screw a hole in it, and attach it to the table with rope or twine. With this set up, you’ll always have a scraper handy to clean your wedging table.

How do you set up your wedging table? Let us know in the comments.

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The Best Banding Wheels for Pottery and Ceramics

The Nidec Shimpo 9 1/2” wide banding wheel.

Banding wheels are one of the most useful tools in a ceramic studio, especially for handbuilding, decorating, and carving. They allow you to turn a piece while building, and can be extremely useful during the glazing process.

A good banding wheel will spin freely and with some speed, allowing you to hold a brush steady and paint a “band” or line of or underglaze glaze. But they can be so much more than that.

This post will cover quality banding wheels that can handle the weight of clay and be cleaned. You don’t want to mess with cheap plastic options, or lazy susans that aren’t designed to get dirty and be cleaned again. Those cheaper options will often break down or don’t have enough weight to spin freely.

The best banding wheels are heavy and made out of metal, but there are a variety of options to fit each studio and budget. Read below for a full buyer’s guide to banding wheels.

This guide is based on personal experience with all the banding wheels, along with observations of what works and holds up in academic and community ceramic studios, and what tends to fall apart and not be worth the money.

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Table of Contents

1. Top Pick: Shimpo Banding Wheels

2. Budget Pick: CSI Banding Wheels

3. Great option: Generic Metal Banding Wheels from Falling in Art etc

4. Other Banding Wheels

5. Summary

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Top Pick: Nidec Shimpo Banding Wheels

The complete line of Shimpo Banding Wheels. The three shorter options are 2 1/4” tall while the two “pedestal” banding wheels are 4 3/4” and 7 1/2” tall.

Nidec Shimpo banding wheels are made of cast iron and painted with rust-resisted blue paint and are heavy, durable and will last a lifetime. They have sealed ball bearings, a one-piece design that will not come apart when picked up, and the weight of the cast iron results in a smooth, even spin. These banding wheels are a pleasure to use whether you are coil building, painting, carving, or sculpting.

Once again, these are solid, durable cast iron. Take good care of this banding wheel and it you will be passing it down to the next potter in decades or longer. They are easy to clean, just don’t submerge the whole thing in water.

Shimpo banding wheels come in five sizes ranging from 7” to 11 3/4” wide. The three smaller wheels are all 2 1/4” tall, while the two taller sizes are 4 3/4” tall and 7 1/2” tall.

My preference is for the shorter, lower-profile banding wheels but a pedestal-style banding wheel may work for your studio. Some may find these banding wheels to be on the heavy side, but the weight works to your advantage to create a steady, even, long-lasting spin.

Shopping tip: These banding wheels tend to be cheaper at Blick than Amazon. Yes, the Nidec Shimpo are the most expensive banding wheels out there but they are also the heaviest, most durable, and the weight allows them to spin for much longer than other banding wheels. In the 5 years we have been maintaining this guide to banding wheels, the Nidec Shimpo banding wheel prices have only increased by a few dollars to they have remained a good value.

The Shimpo 25L Banding Wheel is 9 7/8” x 2 1/4”

Shimpo Banding Wheel Specs:
Model number, diameter, height, and weight:

18L 7” x 2 1/4”, 6.5 lbs, $66-$82 (Shop at Amazon | Shop at Blick)

22L 8 3/4” x 2 1/4”, 13 lbs, $77-$90 (Shop at Blick)

25L 9 1/2” x 2 1/4”, 15 lbs, $131 (Shop at Amazon)

25H 9 7/8” x 7 1/2”, 19 lbs, $123-$148 (Shop at Amazon | Shop at Blick)

30M 11 3/4” x 4 3/4”, 28 lbs, $142-$172 (Shop at Amazon | Shop at Blick)

More pics of the Nidec Shimpo banding wheel

Top view

Bottom view

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Budget Pick: CSI Banding Wheels

CSI Banding Wheels come in sizes ranging from 8” to 16” in diameter.

CSI Banding Wheels are heavy-duty, economical banding wheels made from two Formica-covered particle boards with stainless steel ball bearings. They are 2 inches tall and range from 8 to 16” in diameter. These banding wheels are portable and stackable, and are lighter than cast-iron options such as the Shimpo. They have decent turning capacity but they don’t turn as readily and easily as the Shimpo banding wheels. They are great for everything except a very fast and continuous painting of a line or band.

For heavy sculptures or vessels these are great options for handbuilding where you will be turning the piece slowly. The 8” and 10” wheels have a 200 lb capacity, the 12” is rated to 300 lbs, and the 14” and 16” are rated to an 800 lb capacity.

The CSI banding wheels range in price from around $28 to about $42. That’s an incredibly great deal for a heavy-duty banding wheel, making this a great option for educational studios, beginners, or those more focused on sculpture and handbuilding rather than spinning decoration.

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Metal Wheel Budget Pick: Falling In Art Banding Wheel

These generic metal banding wheels, available under a variety of names online such as Falling In Art or US Art Supply, are highly rated and run about half the price of the Shimpo banding wheels. Available in 7” and 12” diameter, with a 4 inch pedestal, and a weight of about 10 lbs, these wheels have a set screw to hold the top and bottom pieces together. They are not quite as heavy as the Shimpo, but much heavier than other options such as the CSI Turntables or plastic wheels. For 1/3 to 1/2 of the price of the Shimpo banding wheels, these are a decent option for any studio, especially if you are on a budget.

As with all the banding wheels, do not submerge these in water for cleaning to avoid damaging the ball bearings.

7” banding wheel, generally $28

12” banding wheel, generally $38-$40

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Other Banding Wheels options:

Laguna Banding Wheels

The Laguna NL-278 Banding Wheel is 12 inches wide and 2 inches tall.

Laguna Clay makes a line of banding wheels with a cast iron base, steel bearings, and aluminum wheel head. Often, the wheel head will be very similar to the wheel head of a regular pottery wheel.

There are 6 options in the Laguna product line; 4 pedestal banding wheels that range from 5” to 6.5” tall, and 2 that are 2 inches tall. My favorite model is NL-278 which is 12 inches wide and 2 inches tall and retails for around $140. It’s basically a full-size wheel head, but as a banding wheel.

Because these are aluminum on top, they don’t spin as long as the Shimpo wheels, but they are well made and hold up. These wheels are available at a variety of ceramic suppliers, or directly from Laguna via their Axner Clay website.

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Yncotte 7” Aluminum Banding Wheel

This light duty banding wheel is 7” wide, made out of aluminum, and is ok for light duty work. It doesn’t spin very long, due to the light weight. But it can be used in either direction and it fits just about anywhere as it is small.

I have used these more recently in a number of academic studios and they are definitely better than a plastic banding wheel, but given the $32 price tag, I would go for either the Falling In Art banding wheel, or spend more and get the Nidec Shimpo Banding Wheel.

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Amaco #5 Banding Wheel

The Amaco #5 Banding Wheel is a 7” wide aluminum banding wheel that sits on a pedestal stand. Along with the Shimpo and CSI banding wheels, it’s quite common to see this in many ceramic studios. The smaller size, lighter weight, and pedestal stand makes it popular for decorating, carving, scraffitto work, and painting. It is not designed for heavy weight, but it is sturdy.

The drawbacks with this stand is that it is in two pieces and will separate if picked up by the top piece. There are also a variety of mixed reviews online, mentioning poor construction quality. AMACO may be having production issues with this unit, but in my experience, it’s a quality turntable that is great for small decorative tasks.

As of 2025, this turntable doesn’t appear to be listed on the Amaco website or at any stores. It is most likely out of production, but you may still see it for sale used.

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Shop pottery shirts and aprons at Redbubble.

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Plastic Banding Wheels

The Richeson Plastic Banding Wheel is 8” wide and 1 1/2” tall.

To be completely honest, I feel that plastic banding wheels are not worth buying. They can’t really be used for painting or banding, as the light weight doesn’t result in any lasting spin. They are also prone to breaking. You’ll be better off spending a bit more to get a CSI wheel or Falling in Art.

The only reason I can see to get a plastic banding wheel is for working with young children. They are lightweight and stackable (but not robust…treat them carefully!) Or the other reason if you just need a lightweight turntable for detail work such as carving or fine detail sculpting.

Given the price of these, ranging from $21 to $36, the money would be better used to get a metal banding wheel.

Richeson Plastic Banding Wheel
8” diameter, 1 1/2” tall, $21

The Amaco Decorating Wheel is 8” wide, all plastic, and is available in brown or off white.

Amaco Plastic Banding Wheel
8” diameter, $36

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Jack Richeson Mobile Sculpture Stand and Turntable

A mobile sculpture stand gives you the freedom to work on pottery and sculptures from all sides, and roll your work station out of the way if needed. This can be a great option for figurative sculpture, or if you want to create an additional workspace without adding another table. To work on this stand comfortably, you’ll need a tall stool or work standing up. The center shaft is adjustable for a working height of 39.5 to 44 inches. The wooden work surface is 12 inches square, and the base is 29 inches square with 4 locking caster wheels. It’s a great stand for working on sculptures, pottery, or as a display stand.

Jack Richeson Mobile Sculpture Stan
$215 to $225.

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Summary

This post has covered a variety of banding wheels, turntables, and sculpture stands. In general, the best option is the heavy-duty cast iron Shimpo banding wheels, especially if you need to get a smooth, steady spin for painting pottery. If you are working with heavy sculptures, the CSI Turntables are a sturdy, economical option. And there are other cheaper and lighter options.

What banding wheels do you use? Let us know in the comments.

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Best Masks for Silica Dust in Pottery and Ceramic Studios — updated for 2025

The 3M Half Mask with P100 particulate filters is the best mask option for ceramic studios.

Silica dust is a real hazard in ceramics studios and it’s important to have the right mask. Cloth masks or basic nuisance-grade dust mask will not offer enough protection against silica. The best options are respirators with P100 or P95 filters, or N95/KN95 masks. This is also the level of protection businesses are required by OSHA to provide to employees if silica dust is present.

Respirable silica is very fine with almost invisible particles that can stay airborne for some time, and repeated exposure can lead to silicosis or black lung. To protect against silica, it is important that masks fit correctly. If air can leak around the sides, it really defeats the whole purpose. This is especially of concern if you have facial hair, as that can cause the mask to not be properly sealed to the face. In that case, you may need a full face mask or to trim your beard.

Overall, the best mask is going to be one that you reach for and wear during dust-generating tasks. Any protection is better than none. Personally, I use a respirator with P100 filtration whenever I am working with clay, plaster, wood, or other materials that create dust.

Also consider what is causing dust in your studio and seek to minimize that activity if possible. Keep an organized studio, use wet cleaning and sanding methods, and avoid creating dust. You may want to consider adding a dust collection system. For additional recommendations, visit our guides for cleaning tools and HEPA vacuums.

The reviews in this article are based on personal experience with a wide variety of masks along with experience working in ceramic studios for more than 20 years.

TOP PICK: 3M Half-Facepiece Respirator with P100 Filters

3M 6300 Half-Facepiece Mask without filters attached.

The 3M 6300 Half-Facepiece Respirator is a comfortable, reusable mask with filters that can be replaced as needed. This facepiece will take the round P95 or P100 particulate filters, or the cartridge style filters that are rated for particulates and some types of gases. Either will work, but you might find the round particulate filters to be more breathable. 3M also makes upgraded half masks (see below for more info) but this basic model is affordable, long-lasting, and will get the job done.

The Half-Facepiece respirator can be purchased as a plain mask, or packaged with filters or cartridge filters. Amazon has a variety of options; Home Depot and Lowes and other hardware stores tend to sell the more expensive version with cartridge filters. This may be useful if you also paint or have volatile gases in your studio, but the round P100 filters are perfect for ceramic studios where silica and other airborne dust particles are the main concern.

Note: this half-facepiece mask has unfiltered exhaust valves that are not appropriate for Covid safety in shared spaces.

3M 6300 Half-Facepiece Respirator
Available in size small, medium and large
Typical price
Respirator only: $14-$21
With P100 filters: around $25-$26
With cartridge filters: around $39

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The pink, round 3M 2097 P100 filters will fit the half facepiece mask.

P100 Filters and other options

The round, pink 3M 2097 Filters rated to P100 will offer the highest level of particulate protection. You could go with the slightly cheaper, white P95 filters but in my opinion, P100 filters are the way to go.

When using these half masks, there can be some moisture buildup inside, but in general, I find them more comfortable than disposable masks.

Replacement prices:

P100 filters are around $14-$20 for a package of two sets of filters

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DISPOSABLE MASK TOP PICK: 3M 8210 N95 Masks

The 3M 8210 N95 mask has straps that go over the head.

N95 or KN-95 Masks are NIOSH rated to filter 95 percent of dust particles and are good for multiple uses if kept clean. N95 Masks have straps that go over your head, making them fit more snugly. KN-95 masks typically have ear bands and fit more loosely, however, they often seem to be constructed with a bit more breathing room around your mouth.

A solid option for an N95 is the 3M 8210 N95 Mask. It typically comes in bulk packs where each mask costs about $1 to $1.50 each or around $20-$30 for a box of 20 masks.

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ALTERNATE DISPOSABLE PICK: KN-95 Masks

Armbrust is an Austin, Texas-based mask manufacturer. Their KN-95 masks are available in a variety of colors. Shop at Armbrust

Throughout the Covid pandemic, the availability and quality of masks varied widely, with a variety of manufacturers attempting to fulfill the demand. There also have been reports of fake name-brand masks and other problems. It can be very confusing to buy a “real” N95 or KN-95 mask, as detailed in this NY Times report from 2021.

KN-95 masks, which have ear bands as opposed to the over-the-head N95 style, have become quite common but the number and variety available are confusing. One place to start is by reviewing CDC-approved mask manufacturers as explained here or listed by the CDC here.

The Texas-based, U.S. manufacturer Armbrust makes very high quality surgical masks, KN-95 masks, and kids KN-95 masks. Not only are they NIOSH approved, but the masks are available in a variety of colors and they are made in the USA.

Prices for Armbrust KN-95 range from $15 for a pack of 5 (or $3 per mask) to almost $1,000 for a pack of 540 masks. There are significant discounts if you subscribe to regular mask delivery.

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Tightest Fit: Pouch or “Duckbill” Style N95s

The Kimtech Pouch Style N95 has two soft straps that go over your head.

They may look sort of funny, but in my experience, the pouch or “duckbill-style” N95s have the tightest fit of any disposable masks. You can see the mask material move in and out as you are breathing, and it seems to provide excellent coverage for Covid and dust.

A great option for this style of mask is the Kimtech line from Kimberly-Clark. Made in the USA, the Kimtech N95s cost $50 for a box of 50 masks.

More mask reviews below:

Those are my top picks for studio dust masks that are appropriate to use for silica. Keep reading for a deeper look at various half-facepiece masks and other disposable mask options.

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Table of Contents

• Half Facepiece Masks (3M 6300, 3M 6500, 3M 7500)

• Filters for Half Facepiece Masks

• RZ Masks

• Disposable Masks

• Summary

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Half Facepiece Masks: 3M Models

As reviewed above, the top pick for a dust mask for a pottery or ceramic studio is a 3M 6300 Half Facepiece mask. It’s the basic model but will get the job done. But that’s not the only model made by 3M. There is also “upgraded” models made with softer plastic which also have a few different options for valves and latching straps.

The 3M 6300 Half Facepiece Mask.

3M 6000 series Half Facepiece Mask

The 6000 series is the standard mask in the 3M line, and seems to be readily available in the 6300 model, but you may occasionally see the 6200 or 6100. From what I can tell, these are all about the same. Made of “thermoplastic elastomer,” the masks will work with 3M filters or cartridge filters, and can be taken apart and cleaned.

The masks are available in size small, medium and large and range in price from around $14 to $20.

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3M 6500 Cool Flow Half Facepiece Mask

3M 6503QL Rugged Comfort Quick Latch model.

The 3M 6500 series is termed the “rugged comfort line” and features a softer silicone face seal, a low profile design, a “Cool-Flow” valve, and some models have a quick-latch drop down feature.

The most common and popular model in this series appears to be the 6503QL Rugged Comfort Quick Latch Model. In addition to the silicone lining, this mask features upgraded straps.

Available in small, medium or large sizes, it typically retails for $28 to $31 for the mask and filters are extra. The model sold at Home Depot is around $50 and comes with cartridge-style filters.

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3M 7500 Half Facepiece Mask

The 3M 7502 Half Facepiece Mask.

The 7500 Half Facepiece line from 3M has the same features as the 6500 line, with the silicone lining and Cool Flow valve, but it has one main difference: the exhalation valve air is routed down to reduce fogging. If you wear glasses or googles, you should consider this mask.

Available in small, medium, and large size, the 7500 line typically retails for $33 to $45 for the mask and filters cost extra. plus filters.

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3M Filter Options for Half Facepiece Masks

There are two styles of filters available for 3M masks: round particulate filters and cartridge filters, which work for particulates and gasses. For ceramics, particulate filters are adequate but if you stain wood, paint, or other activities with volatile gases, the cartridges will be a better option.

Particulate Filters

There are two options for round particulate filters: P95 and P100. The P100 offers a higher level of filtration. For a ceramic studio, the 2071 or 2091 filters are your best options. There are a few other filter options aimed at welders, smelting, and chemistry applications.

The P100 filters cost around $14-20 for a box of 4 filters.

3M Cartridge Filters

3M Cartridges are almost all rated P100 and will filter particulates, gases, and vapors. There are a variety of options but the basic 60291 should cover most art studio applications. These are a bit overkill if you are just worried about silica / particulates, but are a good option if you are painting or working with anything that produces volatile fumes. The cartridges are generally about double the cost of particulate filters. At big box hardware stores, they typically only sell the cartridge filters or mask combos, as shown below.

The cartridge filters cost around $20-$30 for a replacement pair of filters. At the time of this write, Home Depot had the best deal on replacement cartridges.

For a complete overview of all the mask and filter options available from 3M, click here or here.

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RZ Masks

The M3 Mask features 3 strap options. Pictured here is the dual strap configuration.

RZ Reusable Face Masks are an interesting mix of a disposable mask with some features of a respirator. Founded in 2010, you can now find these masks at a lot of hardware and home improvement stores, as well as online. The masks are not yet NIOSH rated but they now have some models with a European FFP2 rating. Full approval of these masks would be helpful in comparing these to other masks on the market, but in general these are great workshop masks and there are a variety of sizes and features. (For technical info on RZ masks and the testing they have undergone, click here. )

The M3 Mask from RZ is the top seller and features 3 different strap options so that you can find the perfect fit. The options include a neck strap, ear loops, or dual head strap (pictured at right). RZ claims a 50% increased airflow with their new filter options, and the same 99% filtration of particles down to 0.1 micron.

The M3 Mask retails for $40 and includes the 3 strap options, a carrying case, and 2 filters. Replacement filters cost $15 for a 3 pack.

The RZ M2.5 Two Strap Mask is an upgraded version of the M2 bask with two head straps.

The M2.5 Two Strap Mask from RZ features a mesh fabric, hook and two straps, with carbon filters that filter 99% of particles down to .1 micron. The filters are somewhat similar to a disposable mask and fit into the bigger mask housing. These masks were designed with unfiltered exhalation valves but the company now makes valve caps for use in shared environments where only filtered exhalation is recommended for the best Covid safety.

You will need to replace the carbon filters over time. Think of this mask as a more comfortable hybrid of a respirator and a disposable mask.

The RZ M2.5 retails for $30 and comes in a variety of colors. Replacement filters are available in a 3 pack for $8 to $15.

The Original M2 mask from RZ has a neck strap.

RZ makes a variety of masks with different strap configurations and colors, along with filter options.

Shop all RZ products by clicking here.

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Other Disposable Masks

The 3M N95 and KN-95 masks listed at the top of this post are great options, but there are other disposable masks.

Moldex 2300

The Moldex 2300 Mask.

The Moldex 2300 is another N95 particulate respirator that also features an exhaust valve. This helps reduce moisture buildup.

The Moldex 2300 is available in a 10 pack for around $44.

The Moldex 2200 (does not have an exhaust valve) is available in a 20 pack for around $26.

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Honeywell Nuisance Masks

Honeywell Nuisance Masks

The Honeywell Nuisance Masks are cheap and easy to find, but they are not rated for hazardous dust or particulate use. Too often, I’ve seen these as the masks offered to students in ceramic classes. I guess they are better than no mask but there’s no reason to be casual about silica dust. These might be fine in a pinch, but they are not NIOSH approved and may give a false sense of security. For art studios, it’s best to use the proper N95 or higher masks.

The reason these masks are shown here in this review is that this is what I have seen stocked in many ceramic studios for student use. They are not suitable for silica protection.

These masks cost around $15 for a 50 pack.

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Summary

This post has covered a variety of masks to deal with silica and other particulates in a ceramic studio. The first step should be to avoid making dust if possible. But to deal with silica, use a NIOSH approved half facemask respirator, or N95 rated disposable masks. Your long-term health is worth it, and investing in quality personal protective equipment is always a good idea.

What type of mask do you use to protect against silica and other particulates? Let us know in the comments.

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The Best Scales for Ceramic Studios and Workshops 2025

A scale for a studio or workshop is a heavily-used tool that needs to be accurate, easy to use, and durable. These days, you can get a great scale without spending a lot of money. This post will cover affordable but durable scales that get the job done and hold up under the heavy use of an academic or community ceramic studio, but they are also great options for a personal studio.

These scales have been tested and used in ceramic studios for measuring glaze materials, or weighing clay, plaster, water, and packed boxes for shipping. The ratings are based on personal experience and observations of scales in use in numerous academic and community ceramic studios.

An older model of the OXO 11 Pound Food Scale purchased around 2018, still going strong. It’s shown here with the Ohaus Maxi-Scoop bowl and a metal scoop.

The OXO 11 Pound Scale has a removable, metal top and a light up display.

TOP PICK: OXO 11 Pound Food Scale

The OXO 11 Pound Food Scale is the top pick for a scale in a ceramics or art studio. With accuracy to 1 gram, this scale has a large enough capacity for smaller batches of glaze or plaster-mixing needs. It’s made for home kitchen use but is super tough and has thoughtful design features such as a pull-out, light-up display. It runs on 4 AAA batteries, and is accurate to 1/8 ounce or 1 gram. It is simply incredible that a scale under $55 is this accurate. For similar or more accurate scales (options like this reviewed below) you’ll easily pay $100 or more.

The pull-out, light-up display on the OXO 11 lb capacity scale (Shop at Amazon)

The scale has two buttons: lb/kg toggle, and power / zero. It’s simple and intuitive, and the pull-out display helps if you are using wide bowls. The top stainless steel platform can also be removed for cleaning.

This scale can accommodate up to 11 pounds or almost 5 kilograms at a time. The display will help you know when you’re reaching capacity by displaying more bars on the right-hand side. When mixing glaze, the 5,000 gram capacity is definitely enough. But if you work with larger amounts of material, a higher-capacity scale is reviewed below.

Prior to working with the OXO 11 Pound Scale, I only wanted to use more professional scales with 0.1 gram accuracy. But this is an affordable, durable, well built, and most importantly, accurate scale. The 1 gram accuracy is exact enough for most purposes, and it will survive many years of use in any studio. I liked this scale so much that I bought the smaller OXO 5 Pound Food Scale for use at home in the kitchen.

A note on 1 gram accuracy: For smaller glaze batches, this may not be accurate enough. For example, if you are trying to measure 10 grams of a material for a 500 gram batch of glaze, being off by one gram might change your results. But as you mix larger batches (typically 3,000 grams of dry materials is about 1 gallon of wet glaze) the 1 gram accuracy is enough. It’s a trade off in price versus accuracy. If you need 0.1 gram accuracy, more accurate scales are reviewed below.

OXO 11 lb Scale, typically $55
OXO 5 lb Scale, typically $32
Accurate to 1 gram

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Table of Contents

• Top Pick: OXO 11 Pound Food Scale

• Budget Pick: Accuteck All-In-One 50 lb Scale

• Upgrade pick: MyWeigh iBalance 5500

• Heavy Duty / Large Pick: MyWeigh HD-300 Shipping Scale and Accuteck Heavy Duty Scale

• Manual Scale Pick: LEM Stainless Steel Scale

• Other Scale Options

• Scale Accessories

• Summary

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Budget Pick: Accuteck All-in-One Digital Scale

The Accuteck All-In-One Digital Scale

The Accuteck All-In-One 50lb Digital Scale (Shop at Amazon) is a great budget option. It can weigh up to 50lbs of material, is well-built, and is very affordable—usually priced under $20. It has been a go-to budget scale option for almost 10 years now. It’s not the most accurate, but is great for weighing clay or other general purpose needs.

This scale runs on 3 AAA batteries or an optional 5V plug-in adapter. It is accurate to 0.2 ounce, or about 2 grams. It is definitely not as accurate as our top pick, but if you need something for the occasional glaze batch, it will be ok. It is also great to keep on the wedging table for measuring pieces of clay. If used on a wedging table, it’s not a bad idea to put it in a ziploc bag to keep it clean.

When I originally purchased this, I didn’t expect it to be so well built and have been extremely happy with the purchase. In a world full of low-quality generics and knock offs, I would definitely recommend this scale if you are on a budget. The only drawback is that it is only accurate to about 2 grams. This scale wouldn’t be very accurate if you were measuring small quantities of glaze materials.

Accuteck 50lb Digital Scale, typically $19.99
Accurate to around 2 grams

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Upgrade Pick: MyWeigh iBalance 5500

The MyWeigh iBalance 5500 scale is accurate to 0.1 grams and has a 5500 gram / 12 lb capacity.

The MyWeigh iBalance 5500 (Shop at Amazon) is a great upgrade pick for a studio scale. It’s accurate to 0.1 grams while maintaining a large capacity of 5500 grams or about 12 pounds. It has a stainless steel top, optional AC power adapter, simple and intuitive buttons, and a 3 year warranty. The four feet can be independently leveled.

It’s a workhorse for glaze mixing that allows you to do large batches, or fine tune a small amount of material to a high degree of accuracy. You’ll pay more for this specifity — around $250 at the time of this post — but if you need the range from a few grams to larger amounts, this scale will deliver. There are other models in the MyWeigh iBalance line too, ranging up to 11,000 gram capacity.

MyWeigh iBalance 5500, $249
Accurate to 0.1 grams

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Heavy Duty Picks

You may need a few different scales for all your needs in the studio. If you weigh and ship large boxes or mix plaster, a wider heavy duty scale is what you need. The go to for this category used to be the Rubbermaid Scale, but a few years back that was changed to only be accurate to about 1/2 a lb while still costing over $200.

Previously, this guide recommended the MyWeigh HD-300 Shipping Scale. It’s a great scale and while it still seems to be available a few place, it is harder to find. It’s around $100 and is very sturdy and should last a lifetime.

This guide is now also recommending the cheaper Accuteck Heavy Duty Scale. At only $42 it is quite affordable and while it is used in many studios, it doesn’t have the overbuilt quality of the MyWeigh HD-300, so be sure to treat it carefully.

The Accuteck Heavy Duty Scale features a metal top while still maintaining a thin build.

Accuteck Heavy Duty Scale

The Accuteck Heavy Duty 440 lb Shipping Scale (shop at Amazon) is a great deal at $42, and will provide a scale that can weigh large boxes, plaster, buckets of water, or large amounts of clay or glaze materials. It runs on 4 AAA batteries or a 9V plug, which is included.

It is accurate to 50 grams or 0.05 lbs, which is quite good for a scale of this size. Just don’t use it for small batches of clay or glaze tests.

It is not the strongest build, there are tradeoffs for getting something this cheap, but it will serve you well if you treat it carefully. It is thinner and takes up less space than the MyWeigh HD-300 reviewed below, so that may be a plus if you need something like this but have limited space.

Accuteck Heavy Duty Scale, $42
Accurate to 50 grams

The MyWeigh HD-300 Shipping Scale is a workhorse of a scale with a beefy build quality.

MyWeigh HD-300 Shipping Scale

The MyWeigh HD-300 Heavy Duty Shipping Scale (shop at Amazon) is the top pick for a shipping scale, but it’s also accurate enough for large batches of plaster, concrete, or other studio materials. It can measure up to 300 pounds with an accuracy of 0.1 lbs or to within about 2 ounces. It has a steel top and a remote display on a six foot cord, so you can easily get the weight of even the largest package. It’s powered by 4 AA batteries or an optional AC power adapter. It also has a built-in USB port, if you want to set up communication with printers or other devices. Finally, it has adjustable feet and easy to clean surfaces. This is a great heavy duty scale that comes in around $130. There are plenty of cheaper shipping scales, but if you read online reviews closely, you’ll see that they fail or are inaccurate, while this scale is built too withstand the test of time.

MyWeigh HD-300 Heavy Duty Shipping Scale, 300lb limit, $130
Accurate to 0.1 lbs or about 50 grams

For a complete look at Heavy Duty Scales, click here.

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Manual Scale Pick: LEM Stainless Steel Scale

The LEM Stainless Steel Scale.

The LEM Stainless Steel Scale is a great option for weighing wet clay, plaster, or as a shipping scale. It has a 10” x 8” steel platform, and can weigh up to 44 lbs / 20 kg with an accuracy of 2 ounces or around 50 grams. It’s not accurate enough for mixing glazes, but for just about everything else, this is a great option that is affordable, durable and doesn’t need any batteries or plugs. Sometimes it’s good to keep it simple and for $50, you can’t go wrong with this scale.

LEM Stainless Steel Manual Scale, $50
Accurate to 50 grams

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Other Scale Options

Rubbermaid Commercial 150lb Scale

Rubbermaid Commercial 150lb Digital Scale

The Rubbermaid Commercial 150 Pound Scale is another option for a rugged scale that can measure packages, plaster, or any type of material.

It has a wide metal platform, and the display can be mounted on the wall or pulled to the side with a 9 foot cord. The scale has a capacity of 150 pounds or 68 kilograms, and runs on a 9V battery or option AC adapter.

The drawback of this scale is that it is only accurate to about 1/2 pound. Previous models of this scale were more accurate to around 2/10 of a pound, so it is disappointing that Rubbermaid has let the quality drop. There are also complaints online about this unit, specifically the controller, breaking after a few months of use. That hasn’t been my experience though, so I would still recommend this with the caveat that you treat the control / display panel carefully. It’s priced about the same as the MyWeigh shipping scale, or around $130.

Rubbermaid Commercial 150 lb Digital Scale, $173
Accurate to 0.5 lbs

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The Ohaus CX1201 Scale, 1200 gram capacity with 0.1 gram accuracy.

Ohaus Digital Scale

Ohaus is one of the most trusted names in scales, and the the Ohaus Portable Balance CX1201 is accurate to 0.1 grams with a capacity of 1200 grams or about 2.6 pounds. It costs almot $150 and runs on 3 AA batteries or an optional plug.

I prefer the larger capacity of the MyWeigh 5500, but this scale has a balance of accuracy, cost, and quality that is hard to beat. If you regularly measure smaller batches of glaze and need 0.1 gram accuracy, this scale will deliver.

Ohaus Portable Balance CX1201, $149
Accurate to 0.1 gram

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Triple Beam Mechanical Scales

The Ohaus Triple Pro Scale

Not as common now, but these used to be the standard for glaze labs. Now, almost everyone has switched to digital scales. I definitely have. But, if you want to go old school or want to keep it simple and not worry about batteries or breakdowns, a triple-beam scale is the way to go. They are extremely accurate, long-lasting, and durable. It just takes a bit longer to get a measurement.

There are a variety of generics out there, and Ohaus makes a few models of triple beam scales. The basic model will weigh up to 610 grams and retails for $139. That’s not much weight, but it is accurate to 0.1 grams.

For a larger capacity, look at the Ohaus Triple Pro Mechanical Triple Beam with a 2610 gram capacity that is accurate to 0.1 grams. The scale has a basic capacity of 610 grams, but you can add counterweights to increase the capacity to 2610 grams. If you want to invest in a long-term piece of equipment, this is the kind of tool you could pass down to your grandchildren. It retails for $206.

The generic brand QWORK makes a very similar scale with a 2610 gram capacity and 0.1 gram accuracy for just $60. It has a lower build quality than the Ohaus, but it is significantly cheaper.

Ohaus Triple Pro Scale, 2610 gram capacity, $206
Accurate to 0.1 grams

Ohaus 610 Gram Scale, $139
Accurate to 0.1 grams

QWORK Triple Beam, 2610 gram capacity, $60
Accurate to 0.1 gram

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Favorite Scale Accessories

A scale scoop is great for weighing dry materials.

Scale Scoop Bowl

A plastic bowl with a pouring spout, such as a scale scoop, is my favorite bowl to use on a scale. They do cost extra, but the upgrade might be worth it for your studio. Usually around 10 inches wide with a pouring spout, you can get quite a bit of dry material piled up in this bowl. Of course, you can use any sort of bowl to measure dry ingredients, but this one just seems to be ideal for scales and it’s the one I reach for first when I’m mixing glazes.

If you see the Ohaus Maxi-Scoop, that’s a great option.

Another option is the Penn Scale Scoop, which is 10 inches wide at the rim, 2.75 inches tall, and has a 6 inch wide base. It’s listed at $33.

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Metal Scoops

Metal scoops are the easiest way to pick up glaze materials, plaster, or any dry material. They are also long lasting and easy to clean. A variety of sizes works, or some people like to keep an individual scoop in each bucket of material.

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Ohaus Footed Scoop Bowl

The Ohaus Footed Scoop Bowl.

The Ohaus Footed Scoop is another great option for mixing dry materials. It doesn’t hold as much material as the Maxi-Scoop, but the design of this bowl is much easier to pour.

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Summary

This post has covered a variety of scale options suitable for a ceramics, sculpture, or art studio. Many of these will work at home too. My top pick is the OXO 11 Pound Scale for it’s combination of accuracy, durability, and price. But there are a variety of other options too, along with my favorite accessories for mixing glaze and other materials.

What scale do you use in your studio? Let us know in the comments.

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You Might Also Enjoy:

How to Pack and Ship Ceramics

MyWeigh HD-300 and Other Heavy Duty Scales Review

Kiln Wadding Recipe and Tutorial

Pottery Wheel Buyer’s Guide

All Tool Review Posts

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Alex Soth on Being Goofy, Following Your Ideas, and How Advice is Meaningless

Photographer Alec Soth started a YouTube channel during the pandemic and the videos range from a tutorial on setting up for a streaming book talk, to talks about his own books and projects.

He doesn’t post as often now, but in a recent video, Soth talks about his recent book, Advice for Young Artists. But there's almost no advice in the book, it's mostly pictures! Still, I think the video is worth a watch for lots of Soth’s wisdom on the artistic process.

As Soth details in the video, his recent book is all about how in his mid 50s, he is constantly trying to reinvigorate and reimagine his artistic and editorial photography practice. He encourages everyone to follow their impulses, stay alive to things, and just experiment, in order to let projects and ideas develop. 

One of the ways he did that was by visiting and photographing undergraduates at art schools around the country, which he then turned into this book. I think the intro statement to the video is quite nice, where he encourages everyone to have fun and just try stuff. He then details a few unsuccessful attempts at projects (such as photographing horror movie conventions in small town hotels) before getting into the book project about 30 minutes into the video.

Soth’s description of the winding road to ending up with the idea to do this Advice project is a great example of how ideas come from work, and you have to be open to what happens along the way.

While sharing some of the images from the book, Soth does show a photo of some rules on a poster so that as he says "people feel like they're getting their money's worth." lol. Anyway, the rules he photographed are from Sister Corita Kent and you can read them here, they're quite good.

At the beginning of the video, Soth mentions it has surprised him that people use his video for ASMR or to go to sleep (he does have a soothing voice) so he closes by saying he hopes people are drifting off to sleep and dreaming of their own books and projects and then he says:

"I hope you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go out and make something goofy, make something new, maybe expose a little too much of yourself and make people uncomfortable because really, in the end, what we're trying to do here is share with each other and remind each other of our vulnerabilities and our humanity."

Advice for Young Artists by Alec Soth
72 pages, published September 2024

Available from Mack, $50

Cone 04 Low Fire Majolica Glaze Tests with Oxide Washes

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Tests of Arbuckle Majolica glaze on two different low fire clay bodies, Standard 105 White (top) and Standard 103 Red (bottom). The majolica glaze was mixed to a specific gravity of 1.45. At left shows 2 dips, a 3 second dip over the whole tile and a second 3 second dip angled at the top left. The middle tiles show oxide washes over a 3 second dip of majolica. The tiles at right show oxide washes over two dips of glazes (3 seconds each dip.)

Detail of Arbuckle Majolica over Standard 105 low fire white clay body, fired to cone 04.

This post shares tests of the low fire white glaze, Arbuckle Majolica, along with oxide washes mixed to the specifications found in Linda Arbuckle’s comprehensive Majolica Handout.

Detail of Arbuckle Majolica over Standard 103 low fire red clay body, fired to cone 04.

I have been experimenting with oxide washes at midrange temperatures and wanted to see if I could get similar at a lower temperature. I have also been inspired by numerous artists making great work with low fire clay and glaze, along with the recently published Low-Fire Glazes for Potters and Sculptors by Ben Carter. (shop book at Amazon) This Majolica recipe is found on page 159 of that book, although it is readily available online in many places.

Arbuckle Majolica, low fire white glaze

Ingredient	Percentage	1000g batch
Frit 3124	66	660g
Minspar 200	17	170g
Tile #6 Kaolin	11	110g
Nepheline Syenite	6	60g
Tin	4	40g
Zirconium	9	90g
Bentonite	2	20g

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Oxide Wash Recipes

The 8 washes made for these tests.

1 part colorant
1 part Frit 3124
1 part Bentonite

Recipe for: Copper Carbonate, Cobalt Carbonate, and Synthetic Red Iron Oxide

For these tests, 20 grams of each were mixed.

The 60 grams of dry materials were then mixed with 250 grams of water.

Cobalt Carbonate wash in a 16 ounce deli container.

1 part colorant
1 part Frit 3110
1 part Bentonite

Manganese Oxide was used in this test

20 grams of each were used in these tests.

The 60 grams of dry materials were then mixed with 275 grams of water.

1 part colorant
3 parts Frit 3124
1 part Bentonite

Chrome Oxide, Light Rutile, Titanium Dioxide, and Mason Stain 6600 Best Black were used in these tests.

20 grams of colorant, 60 grams of frit, and 20 grams of bentonite were used in these tests

The 100 grams of dry materials were then mixed with 300 grams of water.

Note on water:

These were mixed until they seemed usable, based on my experience. You may want a thicker or thinner mix.

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Majolica glaze results:
The glaze is an easy to use, durable white glaze that gave me nice results on test tiles. I plan to add it to my studio. As seen on the red clay test tile, a thin coat allows some body color to come through, and a double coat is a more solid white while still seeing some body color where the glaze breaks over texture.

Oxide Wash results:
From previous work at midrange and high fire, I am used to mixing oxides just with water for high fire, or with something that helps the oxide melt at midrange, such as a frit. The recipe from the Arbuckle handout (listed above) includes mostly Frit 3124 along with bentonite to help the oxide stay in suspension and resist smudging after it has dried.

I can attest that the bentonite did result in a brushstroke that resists smudging, but I found the overall mix to be somewhat gelatinous. This resulted in an application that started out thick but quickly became thin throughout the brushstroke. Sometimes I was depositing too much oxide, and others were quite thin. I would like to test again with maybe half the percentage of bentonite, so for example a recipe of 1 part colorant, 1 part frit, and a 1/2 part bentonite.

I would also note that the oxides with the 3 parts frit generally melted better and didn’t have surface breakups. Another point of testing would be to increase the frit percentage for all the oxides.

You can see in test tiles that the oxide effect also varied based on the thickness of glaze. Obviously, I will have to do more testing to get the results that please me, but sharing these results here as they may be a starting point for others to develop what works for them.

Storage: 60 to 100 grams of material with water fit a 16 ounce deli container. This is a LOT of oxide wash for an individual studio. You may want to mix smaller amounts.

The oxide washes at Cone 04 over Arbuckle Majolica (top) and G1619Q / Quigley Clear at bottom

Same recipes over low fire clear: These were also tested over G1619Q / Quigley Clear glaze, and had nice results. Not majolica, but the oxides melted more on the clear and had nice results.

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Low fire versus mid range: the same recipes were tested over Arbuckle Majolica fired to Cone 04 at left (both a single and double dip) and at right, over the VC Soft Satin 1 Glossy White fired to cone 6.

Same recipes at cone 6: These recipes were also painted on VC Soft Satin 1 Glossy White modified with Frit 3134 and the results were ok, if a bit muted. They might need to be mixed thicker or have a higher percentage of colorant if used at mid-range temperatures.

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Individual notes

Light Rutile Oxide Wash: Good straw yellow when applied thickly. Brushstrokes developed when applied thinly. Might need to paint designs twice or use less water.

Copper Carbonate Wash: Oxidized copper green as expected. Where applied very thick, had breakups in final glazed results

Cobalt Carbonate Wash: Worked as expected over clear glaze. Where applied thickly, broke up. Might need more frit, such as a 1 part colorant to 2 parts frit.

Synthetic Red Iron Oxide Wash: Was most iron red on majolica glaze over red clay. Did not benefit from a thicker application of majolica glaze underneath.

Chrome Oxide Wash: Very refractory, as expected. Did melt ok over a thinner glaze application. Did not benefit from thicker majolica glaze. Melted quite well over clear glaze.

Manganese Oxide Wash: Plum to brown with the Frit 3110 mix. Had issues breaking up with both thick and thin application. May need more frit in the mix.

Mason Stain Best Black 6600: Ok black, did not benefit from thicker application of glaze. Already has a high percentage of frit, might need more.

Titanium Dioxide Wash: I knew this would be hard to see on a white glaze, but there was some contrast there. Especially interesting over the clear glaze over red clay, where it’s a pale yellowish white.

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Conclusion

The Arbuckle Majolica is a great low fire white. I had mixed results with the oxide washes, but have a direction to go for further testing to get the washes locked in for the results I am looking for. I generally don’t want the brushstroke / washed out look, but that may work for you.

You may also enjoy:

Cone 6 VC Soft Satin 1 Glossy White Glaze Recipe

Gift Guide for Potters

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Cone 6 Midrange White Glaze – modified VC Soft Satin Glossy 1

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VC Soft Satin 1 with Frit 3134 substituted for Gerstley Borate test tiles. From left: Standard 240 white stoneware, Standard 112 Brown Speckle Stoneware, Stoneward 308 Brooklyn Red Stoneware. The glaze was mixed to a specific gravity of 1.50 and dipped for 3 seconds. An additional dip of 3 seconds is at a diagonal at the top of the test tile.

VC Soft Satin Glossy 1 is a great midrange white glaze that is forgiving and easy to use. It has been my go-to midrange white for almost a decade. Developed by Val Cushing (maybe decades ago?), you can see lots of references to this glaze in books and online. Many report it does well with stains ranging from 2 to 10% mixed in, but I haven’t tested that yet.

I am sharing this post because I had to make changes to the glaze now that Gerstley Borate is no longer available. I’m pleased to report that substituting Frit 3134 for the Gerstley gave the same results for me. I did bump up the bentonite from 2 to 3% as well, to help the glaze stay in suspension and help compensate for the now higher percentage of frits in the glaze .

I know that many are using Gillespie Borate as a substitute for Gerstley, but that hasn’t always worked for me. So I replaced the 14 percent Gerstley one to one with Frit 3134. It wasn’t the most technical change to a glaze recipe, but it worked for me and the glaze seems the same in handling and color effects.

The only other thing I can add to the wide knowledge base around this glaze, is that I once worked at a studio that was adding both the 14% Zircopax and an additional 10% Tin Oxide. That’s a crazy expensive glaze! But it was very bright white and extremely hard and durable at midrange temperatures. If you are not happy with the cool white results of a zircopax glaze and want a more yellow / bright white, you can play around with the percentages of zircopax and tin; maybe try 7% and 7% of each? Or go with all tin oxide. I imagine the glaze would be about the same.

VC Soft Satin Glossy 1 modified with Frit 3134

Ingredient	Percentage	1000g batch
Cornwall Stone	46	460g
Wollastonite	10	100g
Kaolin (EPK used in this test)	10	100g
Dolomite	12	120g
Frit 3124	8	80g
Frit 3134	14	140g
Add:
Zircopax	14	140g
Bentonite	3	30g

Mix all the ingredients dry, then add them to water.

Mix and blend the ingredients with the water, screen through 40 mesh and then 80 mesh screens.

Add water if needed to get to a specific gravity of 1.50. Adjust as necessary for your studio.

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Thanks for reading. You might also enjoy:

Pussywillow and Blueberry Hill Glazes

Midrange Ultramarine Blue Glaze

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2025 Pottery Wheel Buyer's Guide — The Best Wheels For All Studios

A classroom set of our top pick, the Shimpo VL-Whisper pottery wheel. The latest model of the Whisper has a slightly different table top shape but same super-quiet motor.

This guide will help you choose the wheel that is best for your studio and budget. This guide includes our recommended picks, an overview of the features found on pottery wheels, and a comprehensive guide to every model of wheel we could find on the market.

First, a quick rundown of our top picks, with more detailed descriptions below:

The Shimpo VL-Whisper is our top pick for a pottery wheel.

TOP PICK:
As in previous guides, our top pick for all studios in 2025 is the Shimpo VL-Whisper. It’s a super-quiet workhorse with a 1/2 horse power motor that usually costs around $1,600–$1,800.

The Shimpo VL-Lite is our top pick for a budget wheel.

BUDGET PICKS:
For a budget / entry level wheel, we love the Shimpo VL-Lite. It’s got a belt-driven, 1/2 horse power moter and usually retails for around $900. It is also the most affordable wheel designed for professional use.

The Speedball Clay Boss is another great wheel that is available at a more budget-friendly price.

Another great budget wheel is the Speedball Clay Boss, which also has 1/2 HP belt-driven motor. It did, however, take a big price jump recently and now typically retails for around $1,000 to $1,040.

The CXC is the top-of-the-line Brent Wheel and has a 1 HP motor.

UPGRADE / PRO PICK:
Any of the above wheels are great and are used by many professionals, but for extra power and a heavy-duty build, check out Brent wheels such as the Model C or CXC; a Skutt Wheel, especially the Skutt Classic with an aluminum splash pan; or a Soldner Wheel. Both Skutt and Brent wheels usually retail for $2,000 and up and Soldner Wheels start at $2,350.

The Skutt Classic pottery wheel features a cast aluminum splash pan.

In addition to reviews and recommendations of top wheels, this guide will cover:

• What to look for when buying a wheel

• Tips on where and how to buy

• Provide a side-by-side comparison chart of just about every wheel on the market so that you can make the most informed decision.

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Changes for 2025
A few of the big changes for 2025:

1. Brent Wheels have a slightly more streamlined approach. The B model now has a 14” wheel head (up from a 12”) so the main difference between the B, C and CXC models now is the motor strength.

2. Skutt Wheels have also streamlined their product line. As opposed to multiple options of motor strengths in the Legend and Classic model, now just a 1/3 HP model of each are listed.

3. Soldner Wheels are still not available at most retailers, but they can be ordered directly from the manufacturer, Bluebird Clay. The models and features have changed with new ownership.

4. Price increases: Almost every wheel is more expensive than our last guide (from October ‘23), and some are hundreds of dollars more, building in massive increases in the five years of this guide from The Studio Manager. Some manufacturers, however, are little changed from fall of ‘23. For example, the Speedball Clay Boss and Nidec Shimpo VL-Lite used to be available for around $700-$750 in 2020. The VL-Lite was usually around $860 in 2023 and now is around $900. The Speedball Clay Boss is still around $1,000 to $1,050. Outside of entry-level models, there have been more aggressive price increases. In 2020, The Shimpo VL-Whisper was around $1450. That climbed to around $1,550 in 2023 and now $1,650 and up. The Brent C used to be around $1,500 in 2020 as well, then climbed to around $1,950 in 2023. It is now listed at $2,700 but is typically available for around $2,100, or about a 40% increase over the typical 2015 price.

5. Budget / Entry Level wheels: A few ceramic retailers are carrying Bth wheels, a new entry in the budget line of wheels and a possible competitor for the Shimpo VL-Lite and Speedball Clay Boss.

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Note on “Under $200” wheels:
This guide covers wheels from manufacturers including Bailey, Brent, Lockerbie, Pacifica, Shimpo, Skutt, Soldner, and Speedball. These are designed for professional, heavy-duty use. Wether you spend $850 or $1,850, you will get a wheel that could last a lifetime.

The small Vevor wheel is available for just $130.

But what if you are just starting out and want to try wheelthrowing for less? It is probably best to try the wheel in a class, but if you really want something at home, there are numerous wheels that are available online for such as a Vevor for $142 or even just $120. These wheels are small, have weak motors that max out with about 5 pounds of clay, no holes for bat pins, and may not hold up under regular use. You can make them work, but that $100 to 200 would be better put towards any wheel listed in this article, which will last 10 to 20 years or when used properly, a lifetime.

Another option is to check out our guide to table top and portable wheels, which start around $600.

For a complete review and guide to full-size wheels, keep scrolling.

How This Guide Was Created

This guide draws on almost 25 years of experience working in ceramic studios, including using almost every single model of wheel listed in this guide. While for the most part, if the wheel spins, it will do what you need to do, each manufacturer brings something different to the table and this guide will help you narrow down the right model for you. The technical and pricing info was drawn from visiting numerous websites to compile technical and price information, and is updated as of February 2025.

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Table of Contents

1. Top Pick: Shimpo VL-Whisper

2. Budget Picks: Shimpo VL-Lite or Speedball Clay Boss

3. Pro Pick: Brent Wheels, Soldner, or Skutt Wheels

4. Other Great Wheels

5. Understanding Pottery Wheels

6. How To Shop For A Wheel

7. Pottery Wheel Comparison Charts

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Top Pick: Shimpo VL-Whisper

The Nidec-Shimpo VL-Whisper pottery wheel, our top pick for a wheel. It has a super-quiet motor, adjustable legs, and a lot of thoughtful features.

Our top pick for all types of studios and skill levels is the Nidec Shimpo VL-Whisper pottery wheel. Introduced almost 20 years ago, this has become one of the top-selling wheels mainly due to its innovative 1/2 horse power, direct-drive DC motor that uses magnets to drive the wheel. This system makes the VL-Whisper truly the most quiet wheel on the market. Almost every other wheel uses a belt-drive system that makes more noise and has more moving parts that can break down over time.

The Shimpo VL-Whisper with the legs removed, for use as a table top wheel if you prefer to stand while throwing.

Along with being super quiet, the VL-Whisper magnetic drive has instant torque and is powerful enough for most potters. The rest of the wheel is well designed with a three legs, sturdy plastic top, 2-part splash pan that surrounds a 14” wheelhead, a moveable floor pedal, and a switch to run the wheel clockwise or counterclockwise. The 1/2 horsepower 400 watt motor is rated to a centering capacity of 100 lbs and the wheel comes with a 5 year warranty.

The VL-Whisper has other thoughtful engineering touches, including adjustable, removable legs that allow for tabletop use or a variety of heights on the floor. The wheelhead also turns freely at 0 rpm, allowing for use as a banding wheel (although it is more that it spins freely rather than working as a true banding wheel.” The VL-Whisper weighs around 120 lbs and measures 23 1/8” x 27 1/2” and can range from 11” to 21” in height.

The drawbacks to this wheel would be that the splash pan is not the sturdiest. If you are careful and just using it yourself, it will be fine, but I have noticed that it is more prone to cracking in heavy-use communal studios than the Brent splash pan. The foot pedal cord is also prone to twisting. But these are relatively minor issues.

Some pro potters may want a more powerful motor, and some beginners may find the price tag prohibitive (typically $1,750), but I can really say without a doubt that this is the best overall wheel on the market. What really sets it apart is the quiet motor, adjustable legs, 0 rpm banding wheel option, and how it is just a thoughtfully designed, sturdy machine. The Nidec Shimpo company has also done a good job keeping the price down. Brent B wheels, for example, used to priced about the same as the VL-Whisper, but now the entry-level Brent is typically $200 to $300 more than the VL-Whisper.

This wheel is available at just about every ceramic supplier worldwide. The wheel is readily available at Blick art stores in North America or can sometimes be found at Amazon as well.

Shimpo VL-Whisper
14 inch wheel head, reversible, 1/2 horsepower
List price: $1,900
Typical Price: $1,600-$1,800

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Budget Picks: Shimpo VL-Lite or Speedball Clay Boss

The VL-Lite from Shimpo is a great, budget-friendly wheel.

The Shimpo VL-Lite and Speedball Clay Boss are the best budget wheels on the market, but the VL-Lite is now usually priced around $100 cheaper than the Clay Boss, making it the clear favorite on price.

The VL-Lite has 1/2 horsepower motor, 12 inch wheel had, sturdy plastic table top with metal legs, and is reversible via a switch.

The drawback to this wheel would be it’s somewhat limited, 25-pound centering capacity. But for many, that would be an extremely large amount of clay! So you have to think about what you typically throw and consider if this is the right wheel for you.

Shimpo VL-Lite
12 inch wheel head, reversible, 1/2 horsepower
List Price: $1,060
Typical Price: $901

The Speedball Clay Boss, has a 1/2 horse power motor and a lighter body construction that many prefer for ease of moving the wheel around.

The Speedball Clay Boss has a 1/2 horse power motor, a belt-driven, 14” wheelhead, and a standard triangular design that weighs around 83 pounds, making it one of the lightest full-size wheels on the market. (The VL-Lite weighs 85)

The Clay Boss has a detached foot pedal, and is reversible by switching the direction of the plug, so it will work for throwing clockwise or counter clockwise. Speedball rates it at a 100 pound throwing capacity.

There aren’t any big downsides to this wheel, but there are trade offs. It doesn’t have the most robust build on the foot pedal. And it’s belt-driven, so it will be noisier than our top pick, the Shimpo VL-Whisper. But it’s still a great wheel that will get the job done.

Speedball Clay Boss
14 inch wheel head, reversible with plug, 1/2 horsepower
List Price: $1,299
Typical Price: $1,040

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Pro Pick: Soldner Wheels or Skutt Wheels

The Soldner P-450, a 3/4 horse power pottery wheel. Soldner wheels are known for their ultra-responsive foot pedal and are now ultra-customizable with a variety of table top and color options.

For potters looking for an upgraded experience, the best option are Soldner or Skutt wheels. These wheels feature large, oversized motors and extra-responsive, upgraded foot pedals, combined with sturdy legs and tops. Do you need a wheel like this? If you are serious potter, spending a few hours a day on the wheel or more, the larger motors will really deliver for you and not overheat (The Shimpo VL-Whisper is great in this regard too). But the big upgrade for many will be the super-sensitive foot pedals.

Soldner Wheels and manufacturer Bluebird Clay were purchased by a new owner in 2022 or 2023 and are still the same great quality with some changes. You can now choose a standard pedal or the upgraded Soldner pedal, along with choosing a plastic table top or the classic Soldner plywood top. (Speaking as an owner of an older Soldner wheel before these changes were offered, go with the upgrades if you can afford it.) There have been some other changes as well, such as colors and a few options on the motor, but all with the eye to building upon the Soldner Wheel history while updating the product line. The Soldner wheels are known for their smooth, strong motors with a top-of-the-line foot pedal that will adjust to every touch you give. These wheels are a pleasure to use. Any of the six wheels in the line up are great.

There is no doubt that these are expensive wheels, but they are made in Colorado to your specifications and in the scheme of things, a wheel that will easily last you 30 years or more is probably worth the extra hundreds of dollars you will spend. Visit bluebirdclay.com to learn more and shop for Soldner Wheels.

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The Skutt Classic wheel with a built-in, aluminum splash pan.

The Skutt Pottery Wheel line features three wheels, including their entry-level model, the Prodigy, which has a circular splash pan on a table much like other wheels.

Pros will want to look at the two higher-end models which feature large and deep splash pans.

The Legend wheels have a removable wheel head and splash pan for easy cleanup, and is available 1/3 hp options. Skutt previously offered a 1/2 and 1 HP option, but those aren’t listed online any more.

The Classic wheel has a built in, super sturdy aluminum splash pan and also has the a 1/3 HP motor (the 1/2 and 1 HP options also appears to be gone.

The Skutt wheels also have an optional “SSX” foot pedal upgrade, which gives you an ultra-responsive, smooth response that puts these in the same range as the Soldner wheels. As of 2023, Skutt wheels also feature a new color scheme of red and black.

Skutt Classic
14” wheel head, reversible
Built in splash pan
List Price: $2,195
Typical price: $1,900 to $1,950

Skutt Legend
14” wheel head, reversible
Removable splash pan
List Price: $2,325
Typical Price: $1,850-$1,900

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Other Great Wheels: Brent Wheels and Others

The Brent B, a 1/2 horse power pottery wheel that is one of the most popular wheels on the market.

In addition to the options above, there are other pottery wheel options to consider, particularly wheels from Brent, Bailey, and Pacifica.

For many potters, their favorite wheels are made by Brent. Known for their distinctive yellow ochre plastic tops and splash pans, you have probably seen or used a Brent as they are arguably the best-selling wheels in North America. (This data isn’t public but Brent and Shimpo seem to be the two most common wheels).

As a point of comparison, the Brent B is closest to the other wheels we have recommended above. It has a 1/2 horsepower motor, can go forward and reverse, and now has a 14 inch wheel head. When new, these wheels are very quiet even though they utilize a belt-driven system, and with a 10-year warranty, you can be assured that Brent wheels will last for decades.

While the Brent wheels are incredibly popular, they are not our top pick for two reasons: The Shimpo VL-Whisper is much quieter. And the Soldner and Skutt wheels come with added features, such as better foot pedals and oversized motors. Brent doesn’t have these upgrades, but if they had a more responsive foot pedal option, they would be strong contenders along with Soldner and Skutt wheels

As of early 2025, it appears that Brent has streamlined it’s offering but switching the B model to a 14” wheel head. They also now offer each of their wheels in an all-black option, in addition to the classic yellow ochre. The only difference now is the strength of the motor, so choose accordingly between the B, C, or CXC model.

For a complete guide to Brent wheels, click here.

Brent B
14” wheel head, reversible
1/2 HP motor
List Price: $2,600
Typical Price: $2,000-$2,300

Brent C
14” wheel head, reversible
3/4 HP motor
List Price: $2,700
Typical Price: $2,100-$2,400

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Understanding Pottery Wheels, a Pottery Wheel Buying Guide

In this section, we’ll go through each part and feature to help you understand wheels and how to choose the best one for you. Unfortunately, there’s usually not a store or supplier where you can go and sit down and try every wheel, so going through each part of the wheel will help you understand the different features offered by each manufacturer.

Motor

The biggest difference between wheels, even within a manufacturer’s product line, is usually the motor. With wheels on the market ranging from 1/4 horsepower to 1 horsepower, most potters will find that a 1/2 HP motor is the sweet spot of plenty of power without paying extra. If you are able to test wheels in person, you will see the difference in size of motors too. Not all motors are created equally, even if they are rated to the same HP. You may want to also compare the wattage of the motor, to see which motors may have a higher capacity and will hopefully better withstand overheating under heavy use.

With that in mind, if you can afford it, go for the biggest motor that fits your budget to give yourself more longevity.

Centering Capacity

A similar consideration to the motor power, centering capacity is often mentioned with wheels. It’s a somewhat useful metric that is basically a stand-in for horsepower. Skutt, however, refuses to provide this centering capacity number, arguing that it is a useless metric. But since most manufacturers use it, we’ve kept it in our chart below. Centering capacity is related to both the power of the motor, the torque it gives at start up, and the sensitivity of the foot pedal. If it matters to you, and you have the money, you won’t be disappointed with a bigger motor with more centering capacity. Realistically, most potters aren’t centering more than 10 or 20 lbs so wheels advertising 200 or 300 lb centering capacities are really indicating that they have an overbuilt motor that will be able to take a lot of use.

Table Top, Legs, Frame

The next biggest difference is the material and design of the table and legs. Most wheels have a sturdy plastic top, and metal legs. Some have beefier legs, metal tops, or in the case of Soldner wheels, a marine-grade plywood top option. Manufacturers typically have one or maybe two table styles, and will build different features on top of these frames. These frame constructions will determine the dimensions and some of the weight of the wheel. When choosing a wheel, consider the size, weight, and type of frame and table top that will work for your studio. If you are moving wheels around, say in a classroom, then a lighter wheel may be better.

Splash Pan

Another point of comparison is the splash pan. Typically a two-part plastic pan that clips around the wheelhead, splash pans are useful for collecting throwing water or trimming scraps. Some wheels, such as Baileys and Skutts, have large one-piece splash pans that cover the whole top of the frame. Some of these one-piece splash pans are removable, and others are built in and can be cleaned and emptied via a drain plug. As cleanup is a big part of throwing, choosing a splash pan that suits you can be important.

Weight / Dimensions

Most wheels are about the same size and shape, with some variation with half moon shapes with Soldner and Lockerbie wheels. The weight is determined by the size of the motor and the frame construction. A lighter wheel, such as a Speedball, is easier to move while pro-type wheels, such as Skutt, have marketing pictures of potters standing on top of the wheel. How you are going to use a wheel and your studio space will really determine if you need a lightweight or heavyweight wheel. Some manufacturers have add-on shelves that attach to the wheel for more working space, but you can also set your wheel up next to a low table to have more shelf space within reach.

Wheel head

Most wheels have a 12”, 13” or 14” wheelhead with bat pins spaced 10” a part. Some smaller wheels or table top wheels will have different styles. Measure a wheel head that you like using to determine the size you like, although most wheels now have a 14” wheel head.

Another point of consideration is if the wheel head can be removed or replaced. Typically, this is only built in for everyday cleaning in a few models from Skutt and Bailey. For ongoing maintenance, most wheel head ball bearing assemblies are completely sealed and not designed to be oiled or repacked with grease. If your wheel head develops a grinding sound, you may have to replace it.

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Foot Pedal

A foot pedal may seem just like a simple speed control, but the pro-level Skutt and Soldner wheels use their ultra-responsive (and more expensive) pedals as a selling point. In addition to the upgraded pedal options, also consider if the foot pedal and on-board electronics are providing some kind of computer-controlled speed modulation to keep things even (such as Pacifica wheels), or just letting you control the speed with the pedal (such as Brent, Shimpo, Soldner, and Skutt wheels.) The more experienced you are, the less you’ll want the wheel making decisions for you.

One other point of consideration with foot pedals is whether it is fixed or not. Every model listed below has a moveable foot pedal except the Shimpo RK-Whisper, which has an attached pedal on the right side. A moveable foot pedal lets you to choose which side to place it, and allows you to raise the pedal on bricks if needed.

Speed

Many manufacturers provide a rotations per minute (RPM) figure in relation to motors, which we’ve included below. Once again, these give you a rough approximation of motor power and torque, but they are all within a range that is about the same, ranging from 0 to 240-260 rpm max. The Lockerbie motor has a much lower max rpm but it’s a super beefy 1/3 HP motor that trades a high speed for great torque.

Reversability

Most good wheels these days come with a convenient switch where you can reverse the direction of the motor, allowing you to throw clockwise or counter clockwise. Some lower-priced wheels have a reversible plug, where you have to manually switch the direction of the cord to have the wheel go clockwise or counter-clockwise. Some wheels are not reversible at all.

Adjustable Legs and Leg extenders

Some wheels, such as Soldners, come with adjustable legs so that you can set the wheel height exactly how you want it. Almost any other wheel will have to be adjusted with shims or bricks, if you want to move it up a few inches.

A few manufacturers make leg extenders, so that a wheel can be converted to a standing wheel. This style of throwing can be more comfortable for your lower back. Definitely consider this when choosing a wheel, or look at the models such as the Shimpo Whisper, which has removable legs and a flat bottom so that it can be easily placed on a table.

Shipping and Assembly

Some wheels arrive completely assembled, others need some light assembly such as attaching legs. They also vary on whether they ship via FedEx / UPS or by freight. Expect to pay extra for shipping and delivery, unless you are picking a wheel up in person. Also consider how you will get the wheel into your studio, as they can be heavy. Some vendors will include free shipping so definitely compare prices with shipping included to find the best deal.

Warranty

Warranties on wheels range from 2 to 10 years. But every wheel listed below is a top-quality product that should last for decades. If you are careful and respectful, you shouldn’t worry too much about a shorter warranty. But if you are buying for an educational or communal studio where wheels can really be abused, you might want to consider wheels with longer warranties.

In our experience, the main upkeep on wheels is keeping them clean and trying to occasionally add some oil to moving parts. Foot pedals can be adjusted, electronics such as switches can be replaced. The biggest concern would be a wheel head bearing assembly getting repeatedly swamped with too much water in the splashpan. But if you are careful, a wheel may never need any major repairs.

The “under $200” wheels don’t seem to come with any warranty at all.

Price

All the factors above contribute to the price. The lowest price possible is often the driving force of any purchase, and if that is you, we recommend the Shimpo VL-Lite wheel, which typically cost around $900. For this lower price you are getting a lighter, less beefy frame and most likely a noisier motor but one that will still get the job done for you. Professional-grade wheels typically cost $1,500 and up to $2,000 or more, depending on the options you select. If you are on the fence when choosing upgrades such as a bigger motor or a better foot pedal, consider how you will feel in 5 to 10 or 20 years. You probably won’t think about the extra few hundred dollars you spent initially, instead you will be happy that you got the upgrades to make your wheel last a lifetime.

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Where to Shop and Buy Pottery Wheels

Before buying a wheel, think about what you have used and what features you need. If you currently have a favorite style or brand of wheel, you’ll probably be happy sticking with that style. For research, the best place to start is your local ceramic shop where you can hopefully “test drive” different models to see what feels good to you. Consider asking if they have floor models or special deals on wheels already in stock. Unfortunately, most ceramic suppliers do not have every model of wheel available in the store to try out, so you will almost always be choosing based on limited in-person experience.

If you are shopping online, we have provided links to some wheels at Blick (North America) and Amazon. Some ceramic stores advertise a price that includes shipping, while others add it on in your cart. So definitely shop around and see where you can find the best deals. If you order from online vendors, the wheel is most likely going to be shipped directly from the manufacturer anyway, so you should try to find the best deal.

Wheel Repair and Warranty

After buying a wheel, you will be dealing with the manufacturer if you need any repairs, although a relationship with a local ceramic shop is a great resource if you need help with repairs or adjustments. Manufacturers such as Skutt and Bailey are known for their great online and phone customer service. Other manufacturers, such as Brent, provide lots of support both in person and with repair videos on YouTube.

Most likely, nothing will go wrong with your wheel in the short term but you should expect to make adjustments to foot pedals. And if you are messy, or have an academic studio, expect students to jam clay into any open spot on the wheel, potentially damaging parts such as on/off switches or swamping the wheel head with water, getting water into the bearing assembly. For most quality wheels, repair parts are readily available from ceramic suppliers or the manufacturer. The good news is that manufacturers are increasingly using sealed switches and other waterproof parts.

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Pottery Wheel Comparison Chart

This chart is in alphabetical order by manufacturer, including Bailey, Brent, Bth, Lockerbie, Pacifica, Shimpo, Skutt, Soldner, and Speedball. These are all trustworthy brands and any of the wheels listed below will last a long time. We have done our best to compile a typical range of prices found online and in store, along with each wheel’s features, updated as of February 2025. There is also a description of what to expect from each manufacturer’s wheels.

The Bailey Pro-XL Pottery Wheel is our pick for the best Bailey wheel. It has a 1-piece splash pan and a 1/2 HP motor.

Bailey Pottery Wheels

Bailey Wheels are manufactured by the Bailey Pottery Corporation of Kingston, New York. Known for innovative and high quality slab rollers, kilns, extruders, and other equipment for ceramic studios, the Bailey wheels are characterized by a large, table-sized splash pan. There are two main models, the ST and the PRO model, which each come in three different options. The ST models have a 2-piece, removable splash pan while the PRO models have a 1-piece, counter-sized fixed splash plan with a plug and a drain tube.

Bailey sells optional leg extenders that work with all the models, which can extend the height from 29 to 37 inches.

All the models utilize a standard belt drive system, and have detached foot pedals.

The prices on Bailey wheels have not changed since our last guide in fall of 2023. I’m not sure if they are sitting on a large inventory of unsold stock, or they can absorb the rising costs of manufacturing, but it’s nice to see someone hold the line on pricing and it makes the wheels increasingly competitive while still being a somewhat niche brand in comparison to Brent, Shimpo, and Speedball.

For the best option, go with the ST-XL or PRO-XL, which both feature a 1/2 HP motor, 13” wheelhead, and a reversing switch.

Bailey Pottery Wheels

Available at baileypottery.com

Model	List Price	Typical Price	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
ST	$1,687	$1,351	1/4 HP	12"	10"	Yes, plug	22.5 x 25.5 x 21"	93 lbs	0-200	5/10 years	50 lbs
ST-X	$2,055	$1,541	1/4 HP	13"	10"	Yes, switch	24.5 x 29 x 20.25"	103 lbs	0-200	10 years	50 lbs
ST-XL	$2,154	$1,702	1/2 HP	13"	10"	Yes, switch	24.5 x 29 x 20.25"	123 lbs	0-200	10 years	100 lbs
PRO-50R	$1,874	$1,499	1/4 HP	12"	10"	Yes, plug	24.25 x 29 x 20.25"	92 lbs	0-200	10 years	50 lbs
PRO-X	$2,109	$1,581	1/4 HP	13"	10"	Yes, switch	24.5 x 29 x 20.25"	102 lbs	0-200	10 years	50 lbs
PRO-XL	$2,141	$1,692	1/2 HP	13"	10"	Yes, switch	24.5 x 29 x 20.25"	116 lbs	0-200	10 years	100 lbs

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Brent Pottery Wheels

The Brent B Pottery Wheel, a full-sized wheel with a 1/2 HP motor.

Brent wheels are the workhorses of the ceramics world. These are some of the most popular wheels and you will see these yellow ochre machines just about everywhere. Founded in 1967 by Robert Brent, the wheels have been manufactured by the American Art Clay Company (AMACO) since 1978. The wheels are sturdy, dependable, and easy to adjust and repair. Expect these machines to easily last 15 to 20 years or more even under the heaviest of uses.

The product line is straightforward with one style of frame available in yellow ochre or all black. The difference in the models is simply a larger motor.

The Brent B has a 1/2 hp motor, the C has a 3/4 hp motor, and the CXC has a 1 hp motor. (As of 2023, Brent no longer listed the 1 1/2 hp CXC model.)

One note is the Brent centering capacity, as listed below. These are some really big numbers — Brent claims a 150 lb centering capacity for the Model B with a 1/2 HP motor. Most other manufacturers claim 50 lbs for a 1/2 HP motor. So these numbers may be a bit inflated but we’ve included Brent’s numbers below.

Brent wheels are available at ceramic suppliers or click the links in the chart to shop at Dick Blick. For a complete overview of the product line, click click here.

Brent Pottery Wheels

Click links in the chart to shop at Blick or Amazon.

Model	List Price	Typical Price	Shopping Link	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
B	$2,600	$1,999-$2,300	Blick Amazon	1/2 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	21 x 28 x 21.5"	119 lbs	0-240	10 years	150 lbs
B Black	$2,650	$2,100		1/2 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	21 x 28 x 21.5"	119 lbs	0-240	10 years	150 lbs
C	$2,700	$$2,100-$2,400	Blick	3/4 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	21 x 28 x 21.5"	121 lbs	0-240	10 years	225 lbs
C Black	$2,750	$2,200-$2,450	Blick	3/4 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	21 x 28 x 21.5"	121 lbs	0-240	10 years	225 lbs
CXC	$2,800	$2,200-$2,600	Blick	1 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	21 x 28 x 21.5" H	129 lbs	0-240	10 years	300 lbs
CXC Black	$2,875	$2,250-$2,650	Blick	1 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	21 x 28 x 21.5" H	129 lbs	0-240	10 years	300 lbs
Model 16	$4,800	$3,995-$4,320	Blick	1/2 HP	12"	10"	Yes, switch	36 x 36 x 21-35" H	287 lbs	0-240	2 years	150 lbs

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Bth Pottery Wheels

A newer entry to the North American market, Bth Pottery Wheels are available at just a few ceramic suppliers. The two models are competitively priced entry-level wheels.

This is the one wheel I haven’t been able to use in person yet. Reviews in online forums report decent quality on the wheels with some questions about the design of the splash pan, which attaches with magnets. With that said, it is always great to see new products enter into this relatively small field.

Bth Pottery Wheels

Available at The Ceramic Shop and other suppliers.

Model	List Price	Typical Price	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
B2	$1,058	$849	500 watt	12"	10"	Yes, switch	31 x 26 x 23"	51 lbs	0-300 rpm	5 years	88 lbs
D3 Andromeda	$1,680	$1,344	400 watt	14"	10"	Yes, with switch	28 x 25 x 16.5-20.5"	89 lbs	0-300 rpm	5 years	130 lbs

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Lockerbie Pottery Wheels

The Lockerbie Motorized Kick Wheel, a true workhorse of a wheel with possibly the biggest motor on the market.

Lockerbie Wheels are an interesting option manufactured by Laguna Clay in California. There are three models: a kickwheel (K), a motorized kickwheel (EK), and a reversible motorized kickwheel (EK-R). These are big, heavy wheels but if you want to switch between a kickwheel and a motor, this is the best option on the market. All models feature an adjustable wooden seat, a metal splash pan, and an all-metal frame with a concrete flywheel.

The flywheel results in a steady, even spin when used as a kickwheel. While centering and throwing on a non-motorized wheel can take a lot of work, trimming on a kickwheel is an absolute pleasure. The upgraded model with a motor is where this wheel really shines. It’s got a large, powerful motor that while only rated to 1/3 HP and a max of 157 rpm, has a lot of torque and can definitely handle more than the rated 50 lbs centering capacity. When you press the pedal, the motor engages the flywheel through a rubber wheel, or what Laguna calls “rubber friction drive.” This rubber wheel does wear out over time but is easily replaced. When you release the pedal, the kickwheel will continue to spin, until you stop it with a foot or let the flywheel come to a stop.

Lockerbie wheels have been around since the 1960s and in 2007, the company merged with Laguna Clay. The wheel style and design has been virtually unchanged for decades but it is a tough, well-designed beast of a wheel. It’s a great option for educational studios or if you want to have a kickwheel option. The simple, no frills design results in a relatively low price but you will need to pay for freight shipping. Between the fall 2023 guide and early 2025 writing of this guide, each model increased in price by about 10%, or between $150 and $200.

Lockerbie Pottery Wheels

Available at axner.com and other ceramic suppliers.

Model	Typical Price	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
Kickwheel	$1,735	N/A	13"	10"	N/A	42 x 36 x 30"	325 lbs	N/A	5 years	N/A
Electric	$2,070	1/3 HP	13"	10"	No	42 x 36 x 30"	365 lbs	0-157	5 years	50 lbs
Electric-Reversible	$2,230	1/3 HP	13"	10"	Yes	42 x 36 x 30"	365 lbs	0-157	5 years	50 lbs

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Pacifica Pottery Wheels

The Pacifica GT400, one of two wheels from Pacifica with 1/4 HP motor and a 13” wheelhead.

Pacifica has been making wheels since 1972 and was purchased by Laguna Clay in 1992. There are currently two wheels in the product line, the GT400 and GT800. Both wheels are have belt driven, 13” wheelheads, optional leg extensions, and a water-resistant foot pedal. The difference is in the size of the motor, 1/4 HP for the GT400 and 1/2 HP for the GT800.

Pacifica differs from other manufacturers in claiming that, through it’s belt and electronic system, it’s 1/4 HP motor has an effective 1/2 HP, and the 1/2 HP motor has an effective 1 HP. Should these claims be believed? It’s hard to know. What can be said is that these wheels have on-board systems that attempt to modulate the wheel speed and torque to provide even power. In my opinion, the more experienced you are the less you will want these electronic modifications deciding wheel speed for you.

Pacifica wheels do have some of the highest RPMs on the market, topping out at 260 rpms, which is slightly higher than most wheels. Expect these wheels to have a lot of torque. In addition, these wheels are affordable and are a great option for students, educational studios, or serious hobbyists.

Pacifica Wheels are available at ceramic suppliers or click the links in the chart to shop at Blick. Prices of Pacifica wheels have gone up about 10 percent since 2023.

Pacifica Pottery Wheels

Click the links to shop at Blick.

Model	List Price	Typical Price	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
GT400	$1,385	$1,260	1/4 HP	13"	10"	Yes	31 x 27 x 20"	92 lbs	0-260	5 years	80 lbs
GT800	$1,635	$1,635	1/2 HP	13"	10"	Yes	31 x 27 x 20"	105 lbs	0-260	5 years	100 lbs

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Nidec-Shimpo Wheels

The Shimpo VL-Whisper, a 1/2 HP wheel with the quietist motor on the market and a 14” wheelhead.

Shimpo has a straightforward line of three different full-sized wheels and a table top wheel. Founded in Tokyo, Japan in 1952, Shimpo wheels are distributed world wide. North American operations opened in Chicago, Illinois in 1974 as the Nidec-Shimpo Corporation.

Shimpo’s top-of-the-line VL-Whisper (VL stands for Velocity) is our favorite pottery wheel due to its innovative and quiet magnetic direct drive 1/2 HP 400 watt motor. The wheel is reversible, has a 14” wheelhead, and a detached foot pedal. The wheelhead on the VL-Whisper and RK-Whisper models also turns freely at 0 rpm, for use as a banding wheel.

The classic Shimpo RK-Whisper has been updated to feature the same super-quiet magnetic motor as the VL-Whisper, but with a 12” wheelhead and fixed foot pedal.

The classic Shimpo RK model now has this same super quiet 1/2 HP 400 watt magnetic Whisper motor, but with a 12” wheel head. Most importantly, this model has a fixed foot pedal on the right side and hand lever. Many love this fixed foot pedal but definitely try this out before buying.

Rounding out the Shimpo product line, the VL-Lite model is a strong competitor for Speedball and other budget models. It features a 1/2 HP 100 watt belt-driven motor, 14” wheelhead and detached foot pedal.

Note that the info below includes both the horse power and wattage for the motor. Not every manufacturer provides the wattage info, but in this case it helps distinguish between the two motors with the VL-Lite having a lower wattage and less powerful motor.

Shimpo Wheels are available at ceramic suppliers, Amazon, or click the links in the chart to check prices at Blick.

Nidec Shimpo Pottery Wheels

Click the links below to shop at Blick or Amazon.

Model	List Price	Typical Price	Shopping Link	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
Aspire table top	$690	$670	Blick	1/3 HP 100w	7"	6"	No	14.5 x 20 x 9"	25 lbs	0-230 hand, 0-250 foot	5 years	20 lbs
VL-Lite	$1,060	$901	Blick	1/2 HP 100w	12"	10"	Yes, switch	22 x 28 x 21"	85 lbs	0-250	5 years	25 lbs
RK-Whisper	$1,740	$1,400-$1,500	Blick	1/2 HP, 400w	12"	10"	Yes, switch	20 x 21 x 20"	118 lbs	0-250	5 years	100 lbs
VL-Whisper	$1,900	$1,600-$1,800	Blick Amazon	1/2 HP, 400w	14"	10"	Yes, switch	23.2 x 27.5 x 22.75"	122 lbs	0-250	5 years	100 lbs

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Skutt Wheels

The Prodigy Wheel, the entry-level model from Skutt.

Skutt is well known as a manufacturer of electric kilns, and they have been manufacturing wheels since 2008 when they acquired Thomas Stuart Wheels in 2008.

The Skutt line of wheels has been trimmed to just 3 wheels. Previously, there were 3 options of motors each in the Legend and Classic models, but each just has a 1/3 HP option.

The wheels are:

• The entry-level Prodigy wheel

• The Legend wheels with a removable, one-piece, plastic splash pan

• The Classic wheels with a built-in, aluminum splash pan that has a plug and drain tube for cleaning

The Skutt Legend Wheel, which has a removable wheelhead and splash pan.

All the wheels are also available with an optional “SSX” pedal upgrade, which promises a more even and controlled throwing experience, especially at low speeds. In our opinion, if you are getting a Legend or Classic, you should get the SSX upgrade.

If you read through Skutt’s information, they claim to have the thickest wheelheads, beefiest frames, and oversized motors that can go all day without overheating. Skutt also doesn’t make claims on the centering capacity of their models, arguing that this commonly-used metric is almost meaningless. We agree that it’s just a stand-in for horsepower, so you can judge accordingly by reviewing the chart below.

The Skutt Classic wheel with a built-in, cast aluminum splash pan.

Finally there are also optional leg extensions that allow these wheels to be converted to standing options. These are awesome wheels that would work for just about everyone. They do come at a premium price, but the features and quality deliver and Skutt is well known for its customer service and commitment to its products.

The red and black color scheme was new for these wheels in 2023.

Skutt Wheels are available at ceramic suppliers or click the links in the chart for models available at Blick.

Skutt Pottery Wheels

Click the links in the chart to shop at Blick.
*Note that Skutt does not provide RPMs or Centering Capacity.

Model	List Price	Typical Price	Shopping Link	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
Prodigy	$1,715	$1,400-$1,700	Blick	1/3 HP	12"	10"	No	24 x 30 x 24"	94 lbs	-	10 years	-
Removable splash pan:
Legend	$2,325	$1,900-$2,300	Blick	1/3 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	24 x 30 x 24"	117 lbs	-	10 years	-
Built-In Splash Pans:
Classic	$2,195	$1,950-$2,150	Blick	1/3 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	24 x 30 x 24"	127 lbs	-	10 years	-

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Soldner Wheels

The Soldner P series features a half-moon shaped table.

Paul Soldner was one of the original innovators of motorized pottery wheels and founded Soldner Wheels in 1955. For decades, they have been manufactured by Bluebird Manufacturing of Fort Collins, Colorado. In 2023, that company changed hands and is now know as Bluebird Clay. There have been a number of changes to the product line, but the basics are the same: the Studio or S series with a smaller table, and the P or Professional series with a half-moon shaped table. Both styles come with a variety of options now, including choices of motor, pedal, and table top material. If you are going to spend the money on a Soldner, our recommendation is to get the upgraded Soldner pedal and go for the classic plywood table top.

The Soldner wheels are known for their ability to handle large amounts of clay, ultra-smooth, proprietary foot pedal.

The Soldner S series has a studio-sized wheel head. Pictured is an older model from pre-2023.

The wheels come with optional splash pans, or the two-piece Brent splash pans will fit every model. The wheels also feature adjustable legs, which can accommodate a variety of heights for seated pottery. Both the S and P series now ranged from 21.5” to 26” high (The older models were listed as ranging from 19” to 28”.)

Soldner wheels are less common but they have a devoted fan base. They are an absolute pleasure to use, with the foot pedal delivering even, steady power. And the plywood table top is distinctive and very pleasant in the studio environment, as well as being super-tough.

Recently, Bluebird upgraded the motors in these wheels to brushless motors, and improved the foot pedal to make it more waterproof for classroom use.

Soldner Wheels are mostly available directly from Bluebird Clay in Fort Collins, Colorado and shipping is available.

Soldner Pottery Wheels

Available at Bluebird Clay.

Model	List Price	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
S100	$3,450	1/4 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	? x ? x 21.5-26"	? lbs	?	?	?
S150	$2,350	1/2 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	? x ? x 21.5-26"	?	?	?	?
P200	$3,750	1/2 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	38 x 28 x 21.5-26"	?	?	?	?
P250	$2,650	1/2 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	38 x 28 x 21.5-26"	?	?	?	?
P400	$3,995	3/4 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	38 x 28 x 21.5-26"	?	?	?	?
P450	$2,750	3/4 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	38 x 28 x 21.5-26"	?	?	?	?

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Speedball Pottery Wheels

The Speedball Clay Boss, a 1/2 HP pottery wheel with a 14” wheelhead. Our top pick for a budget wheel.

Speedball Pottery Wheels are known for being lighter-weight wheels that still deliver a professional quality motor. Speedball started making wheels in 2009 when they acquired Creative Industries of Cajon, California, which began making wheels in 1971. Many of those Creative Industries wheels are going strong today, although Speedball has changed the table shape and upgraded the line with newer features.

There are three regular-sized wheels in the Speedball product line:

The Clay Boss is an affordable, entry-level wheel. It features a 1/2 HP belt-drive motor, a 14” wheel head, reversible motor by switching the direction of the plug, and can handle 100 lbs of clay. Building on the Clay Boss, the Big Boss and Boss Elite have virtually similar frames and options, but with bigger motors and larger centering capacity.

The Speedball wheels are a great option if price and weight are concerns. There is a trade off with a lighter-weight frame but that also allows you to easily move the wheels around as needed.

Speedball Wheels are available at ceramic suppliers or click the links in the chart to shop at Blick.

Speedball Pottery Wheels

Click the model name to shop at Blick or Amazon.

Model	List Price	Typical Price	Shopping Link	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
Artista table top	$675	$565	Blick Amazon	1/3 HP	11"	10"	No	24 x 18 x 9"	26 lbs	0-220	2 years	25 lbs
Clay Boss	$1,299	$1,000-$1,040	Blick	1/2 HP	14"	10"	Yes, plug	21 x 26 x 19.5"	83 lbs	0-240	10 years	100 lbs
Big Boss	$1,599	$1,279	Blick	1 HP	14"	10"	Yes, plug	21 x 26 x 19.5"	89 lbs	0-250	10 years	150 lbs
Boss Elite SQ	$1,799	$1,499-$1,700	Blick	1 HP	14"	10"	Yes, plug	21 x 26 x 19.5"	96 lbs	0-240	5 years	175 lbs

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Conclusion

Thank you for reading our guide to pottery wheels. It is comprehensive overview of every professional grade wheel we could find on the market, comparing all the features and options of each wheel. Let us know if you have any questions in the comments.

You might also enjoy:

2025 Pottery Wheel Comparison Chart

Table Top Wheel Buyers Guide 2023

Best Loop Tools For Trimming Pottery

Gift Guide for Potters and Ceramic Artists 2023-2024

The Best Banding Wheels

Best Pottery Wheel Stools

Thanks for reading. Stay in touch!

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Pottery Wheel Comparison Chart 2025

The Shimpo VL-Whisper, the top pick in our Pottery Wheel Buyer’s Guide.

This chart includes every wheel made by dependable manufacturers, including Bailey, Brent, Lockerbie, Pacifica, Shimpo, Skutt, Soldner, and Speedball. The chart includes specifications, typical price ranges, and other information to help you make a decision when shopping for a wheel. Additions for 2025 include Bth pottery wheels.

Note: The chart below uses affiliate links with Dick Blick and Amazon. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bailey Pottery Wheels

Available at baileypottery.com

Model	List Price	Typical Price	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
ST	$1,687	$1,351	1/4 HP	12"	10"	Yes, plug	22.5 x 25.5 x 21"	93 lbs	0-200	5/10 years	50 lbs
ST-X	$2,055	$1,541	1/4 HP	13"	10"	Yes, switch	24.5 x 29 x 20.25"	103 lbs	0-200	10 years	50 lbs
ST-XL	$2,154	$1,702	1/2 HP	13"	10"	Yes, switch	24.5 x 29 x 20.25"	123 lbs	0-200	10 years	100 lbs
PRO-50R	$1,874	$1,499	1/4 HP	12"	10"	Yes, plug	24.25 x 29 x 20.25"	92 lbs	0-200	10 years	50 lbs
PRO-X	$2,109	$1,581	1/4 HP	13"	10"	Yes, switch	24.5 x 29 x 20.25"	102 lbs	0-200	10 years	50 lbs
PRO-XL	$2,141	$1,692	1/2 HP	13"	10"	Yes, switch	24.5 x 29 x 20.25"	116 lbs	0-200	10 years	100 lbs

Brent Pottery Wheels

Click links in the chart to shop at Blick or Amazon.

Model	List Price	Typical Price	Shopping Link	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
B	$2,600	$1,999-$2,300	Blick Amazon	1/2 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	21 x 28 x 21.5"	119 lbs	0-240	10 years	150 lbs
B Black	$2,650	$2,100		1/2 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	21 x 28 x 21.5"	119 lbs	0-240	10 years	150 lbs
C	$2,700	$$2,100-$2,400	Blick	3/4 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	21 x 28 x 21.5"	121 lbs	0-240	10 years	225 lbs
C Black	$2,750	$2,200-$2,450	Blick	3/4 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	21 x 28 x 21.5"	121 lbs	0-240	10 years	225 lbs
CXC	$2,800	$2,200-$2,600	Blick	1 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	21 x 28 x 21.5" H	129 lbs	0-240	10 years	300 lbs
CXC Black	$2,875	$2,250-$2,650	Blick	1 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	21 x 28 x 21.5" H	129 lbs	0-240	10 years	300 lbs
Model 16	$4,800	$3,995-$4,320	Blick	1/2 HP	12"	10"	Yes, switch	36 x 36 x 21-35" H	287 lbs	0-240	2 years	150 lbs

Bth Pottery Wheels

Available at The Ceramic Shop and other suppliers.

Model	List Price	Typical Price	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
B2	$1,058	$849	500 watt	12"	10"	Yes, switch	31 x 26 x 23"	51 lbs	0-300 rpm	5 years	88 lbs
D3 Andromeda	$1,680	$1,344	400 watt	14"	10"	Yes, with switch	28 x 25 x 16.5-20.5"	89 lbs	0-300 rpm	5 years	130 lbs

Lockerbie Pottery Wheels

Available at axner.com and other ceramic suppliers.

Model	Typical Price	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
Kickwheel	$1,735	N/A	13"	10"	N/A	42 x 36 x 30"	325 lbs	N/A	5 years	N/A
Electric	$2,070	1/3 HP	13"	10"	No	42 x 36 x 30"	365 lbs	0-157	5 years	50 lbs
Electric-Reversible	$2,230	1/3 HP	13"	10"	Yes	42 x 36 x 30"	365 lbs	0-157	5 years	50 lbs

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Shop pottery and ceramic shirts at Redbubble.

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Pacifica Pottery Wheels

Click the links to shop at Blick.

Model	List Price	Typical Price	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
GT400	$1,385	$1,260	1/4 HP	13"	10"	Yes	31 x 27 x 20"	92 lbs	0-260	5 years	80 lbs
GT800	$1,635	$1,635	1/2 HP	13"	10"	Yes	31 x 27 x 20"	105 lbs	0-260	5 years	100 lbs

Nidec Shimpo Pottery Wheels

Click the links below to shop at Blick or Amazon.

Model	List Price	Typical Price	Shopping Link	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
Aspire table top	$690	$670	Blick	1/3 HP 100w	7"	6"	No	14.5 x 20 x 9"	25 lbs	0-230 hand, 0-250 foot	5 years	20 lbs
VL-Lite	$1,060	$901	Blick	1/2 HP 100w	12"	10"	Yes, switch	22 x 28 x 21"	85 lbs	0-250	5 years	25 lbs
RK-Whisper	$1,740	$1,400-$1,500	Blick	1/2 HP, 400w	12"	10"	Yes, switch	20 x 21 x 20"	118 lbs	0-250	5 years	100 lbs
VL-Whisper	$1,900	$1,600-$1,800	Blick Amazon	1/2 HP, 400w	14"	10"	Yes, switch	23.2 x 27.5 x 22.75"	122 lbs	0-250	5 years	100 lbs

Skutt Pottery Wheels

Click the links in the chart to shop at Blick.
*Note that Skutt does not provide RPMs or Centering Capacity.

Model	List Price	Typical Price	Shopping Link	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
Prodigy	$1,715	$1,400-$1,700	Blick	1/3 HP	12"	10"	No	24 x 30 x 24"	94 lbs	-	10 years	-
Removable splash pan:
Legend	$2,325	$1,900-$2,300	Blick	1/3 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	24 x 30 x 24"	117 lbs	-	10 years	-
Built-In Splash Pans:
Classic	$2,195	$1,950-$2,150	Blick	1/3 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	24 x 30 x 24"	127 lbs	-	10 years	-

Soldner Pottery Wheels

Available at Bluebird Clay.

Model	List Price	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
S100	$3,450	1/4 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	? x ? x 21.5-26"	? lbs	?	?	?
S150	$2,350	1/2 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	? x ? x 21.5-26"	?	?	?	?
P200	$3,750	1/2 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	38 x 28 x 21.5-26"	?	?	?	?
P250	$2,650	1/2 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	38 x 28 x 21.5-26"	?	?	?	?
P400	$3,995	3/4 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	38 x 28 x 21.5-26"	?	?	?	?
P450	$2,750	3/4 HP	14"	10"	Yes, switch	38 x 28 x 21.5-26"	?	?	?	?

Speedball Pottery Wheels

Click the model name to shop at Blick or Amazon.

Model	List Price	Typical Price	Shopping Link	Motor (HP)	Wheelhead Diameter	Bat Pin Diameter	Reversible	Dimensions	Weight	Speed (RPM)	Warranty	Capacity
Artista table top	$675	$565	Blick Amazon	1/3 HP	11"	10"	No	24 x 18 x 9"	26 lbs	0-220	2 years	25 lbs
Clay Boss	$1,299	$1,000-$1,040	Blick	1/2 HP	14"	10"	Yes, plug	21 x 26 x 19.5"	83 lbs	0-240	10 years	100 lbs
Big Boss	$1,599	$1,279	Blick	1 HP	14"	10"	Yes, plug	21 x 26 x 19.5"	89 lbs	0-250	10 years	150 lbs
Boss Elite SQ	$1,799	$1,499-$1,700	Blick	1 HP	14"	10"	Yes, plug	21 x 26 x 19.5"	96 lbs	0-240	5 years	175 lbs

Sources and Research

The information in the chart was compiled by visiting manufacturers’ websites, reviewing product manuals, and researching products on various retailers’ websites. Every effort has been made to provide accurate, up-to-date info. If you notice any errors, please contact us.

Click here for our complete 2025 Pottery Wheel Buyer’s Guide.

Or check out our 2023-24 Table Top Wheel Buyer’s Guide.

Other posts of interest:

Gift Guide For Potters and Ceramic Artists

Best Loop Tools for Trimming Pottery

For more info on Pottery Wheels and where this data was sourced from:

Bailey: baileypottery.com

Brent: amaco.com/t/equipment/brent/wheels

Lockerbie: www.lagunaclay.com/potterswheels

Pacifica: www.lagunaclay.com/potterswheels

Nidec Shimpo: Japan www.nidec-shimpotougei.jp/en/pe; North America: www1.ceramics.nidec-shimpo.com

Skutt Thomas Stuart: skutt.com/pottery-wheels

Soldner: bluebirdclay.com

Speedball: speedballart.com

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Nidec-Shimpo Pottery Wheels Buyers Guide 2025

Note: Updated pricing and info as of February 2025

Nidec-Shimpo makes four different wheels ranging from the tabletop Aspire to the ultra-quiet VL-Whisper. The wheels are beloved, especially the classic RK style, and the four wheels do a great job of covering the prices and features that will work for any potter. The company also makes a variety of attachments and add-ons that make these wheels some of the most popular with professionals and production potters.

This post will cover all the models, features, and accessories in the Shimpo product line. For other manufacturers, check out our 2025 Pottery Wheel Buyer’s Guide and our Pottery Wheel Comparison Chart. (Will be updating those pages soon)

Nidec acquired Shimpo some years ago and while they are listed as “Nidec” or “Nidec-Shimpo,” most still call these Shimpo wheels, so we will use that name throughout this post.

Top Pick: VL-Whisper

The VL-Whisper pottery wheel

The VL-Whisper is our top pick in the Shimpo product line, and it’s also the top pick in our Pottery Wheel Buyer’s Guide. It has an innovative, magnet-driven wheel that doesn’t make any sound while still supplying great power, torque, and control. It can easily switch between forward or reverse directions. The adjustable legs can also be removed or lowered, and the plastic box covering the magnets and controls will sit flat on a tabletop, allowing you to easily convert this model into a powerful tabletop wheel.

This VL-Whisper has been on the market for more than a decade and has quickly become one of the most popular wheels among professionals and anyone looking for a quiet wheel. It has also held somewhat steady on price; as other comparable wheels have crept into the $2,000 range, this wheel is listed at $1900 and can often be found for $1,600-$1,800. About five years ago, it as typically around $1,500, so there hasn’t been a massive increase in the cost of this wheel.

Keep scrolling for a complete overview of Shimpo pottery wheels.

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Table of Contents

• Overview of Shimpo Wheels

• Aspire Tabletop Wheel

• VL-Lite

• RK-Whisper

• VL-Whisper

• Shimpo Pottery Wheel Accessories

• Notes on repairing Shimpo wheels

• Summary

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Overview of Shimpo Wheels

Founded in 1952 in Tokyo, Japan, Shimpo wheels are distributed worldwide. North American operations opened in Chicago, Illinois in 1974 as the Nidec-Shimpo Corporation. Increasingly, Shimpo products are branded with just the Nidec name but for this guide I will continue to use Shimpo as that is what most people call these wheels.

Shimpo also makes high quality pugmills, ball mills, slab rollers, banding wheels, and handheld extruders. There are also a variety of pottery wheel accessories (see below) that will work with the pro-level RK-Whisper or VL-Whisper. Shimpo also has a tabletop wheel and a budget model, the belt-driven VL-Lite.

Shimpo wheels have long been studio favorites for many potters. They are high quality, long lasting, easy to adjust and there is truly no other wheel quite like the little turtle-shaped RK models. With the newer offerings such as the VL-Whisper, Shimpo has opened up to a larger audience and to my eye, is about equal with Brent in terms of popularity in studios, community centers, and academic institutions.

The next sections will cover Shimpo wheels from cheapest to most expensive.

Notes on buying wheels online:

Wheels are available from a variety of vendors, and it’s good to shop around. Some stores will include shipping in the price, while other stores add shipping, which can cost $200 or more. With this in mind, it’s important to compare the total cost including shipping and delivery.

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The Shimpo Aspire tabletop wheel with the hand lever for speed.

Aspire

The Shimpo Aspire tabletop wheel has a 1/3 horse power motor and 7 inch wheelhead. It is belt-driven and is rated to a 20 lb centering capacity. There is also an optional foot pedal. The unit weighs 31 lbs, making it a truly portable wheel that can be put away when not in use. The bat pins have a 6 inch spacing, and there are a variety of bats available for this size.

The Shimpo Aspire with the optional foot pedal.

Shimpo Aspire features
Motor: 1/3 horsepower
Wheelhead: 7 inch diameter
Reversible: No
Dimensions: 14 x 20 x 9 inches tall
Weight: 31 lbs
Speed: 0 to 230 rpm handheld, 0 to 250 rpm with foot pedal
Warranty: 5 years
Centering Capacity: 20 lbs
List Price: $690 for hand crank and $780 with foot pedal
Usually available for $590 to $670

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VL-Lite

The Shimpo VL-Lite pottery wheel.

The VL-Lite is Shimpo’s entry-level, full-size wheel. It is a strong competitor for Speedball and other budget models, with a 1/2 HP 100 watt, belt-driven motor, 12” wheelhead and is reversible. It’s relatively lightweight at 85lbs, and is rated to a centering capacity of 25 lbs.

VL-Lite features
Motor: 1/2 horsepower, 100 watts
Wheelhead: 12 inch diameter
Reversible: Yes, with a switch
Dimensions: 22 x 28 x 21 inches tall
Weight: 85 lbs
Speed: 0 to 250 rpm
Warranty: 5 years
Centering Capacity: 25 lbs
List Price: $1,060
Typically available at $901

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RK-Whisper

The RK-Whisper model now has a virtually silent, magnetic-driven wheel.

The classic RK-Whisper is a beloved pottery wheel with a distinctive rounded-off rectangular shape and fixed foot pedal on the right side. Previous models had a belt-driven wheel and motor, but It is now made with the same, super-quiet 1/2 HP, 400 watt magnetic “motor” as the VL-Whisper, but with a 12” wheel head. It may look like the classic model but under the hood it is state of the art.

RK-Whisper features
Motor: 1/2 horsepower, 400 watts
Wheelhead: 12 inch diameter
Reversible: Yes, with a switch
Dimensions: 20 x 21 x 20 inches tall
Weight: 118 lbs
Speed: 0 to 250 rpm
Warranty: 5 years
Centering Capacity: 100 lbs
List Price: $1,740
Usually available for $1,450–$1,600 depending on shipping options

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VL-Whisper

The Shimpo VL-Whisper

Shimpo’s top-of-the-line VL-Whisper (VL stands for Velocity) is innovative and quiet, with the same 1/2 HP, 400 watt magnetic drive as the RK-Whsper but with a 14” wheelhead. The magnetic drive is ultra-quiet, powerful, and ready with instant torque when the pedal is engaged. There are no belts or motors in the Shimpo Whisper models, making them a truly distinctive option on the pottery wheel market. The wheel is reversible with the turn of the switch and the wheel head will turn freely at 0 rpm for use as a banding wheel, although it does not turn as easily as a regular banding wheel.

My only complaint with the VL-Whisper is the splash pan is not as durable as the Brent splash pans. This is only a concern in shared studios, such as a community center where splash pans are cleaned often and can be abused by inexperienced users. An individual potter will be able to maintain a crack-free splash pan forever.

VL-Whisper features
Motor: 1/2 horsepower, 400 watt
Wheelhead: 14 inch diameter
Reversible: Yes, with a switch
Dimensions: 23 x 27.5x 22.75 inches tall
Weight: 122 lbs
Speed: 0 to 250 rpm
Warranty: 5 years
Centering Capacity: 100 lbs
List price: $1,900
Price: Usually available for $1,650–$1,850 depending on shipping options

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Shimpo Pottery Wheel Accessories

Shimpo makes a variety of innovative accessories for wheels. For the most part, these are designed to be used with the RK models, but most will fit on the VL-Whisper as well. These accessories will most likely not fit well with the VL-Lite, but they possibly could be used with wheels from other manufacturers. The RK models and VL-Whisper have two bolts on the wheel tabletop that are designed to be used with these attachments, making Shimpo some of the most popular wheels with production potters.

Potter’s Stool

The Shimpo Potters Stool is the most comfortable pottery stool on the market, and is also completely adjustable. Besides the comfort, it’s also nice to have the seat set up at a slight angle, or keep it flat. Your choice! Each leg adjusts independently with a locking button.

Typically available for around $100–125

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The Shimpo Jigger Arm.

Jigger Arm Attachment

The Shimpo Jigger Arm Attachment is a speciality tool for use with jigger/jolly plaster molds. It allows you to quickly make accurate pots using a pottery wheel. The product manual states that it will fit on the VL-Whisper, RK-Whisper, and the older RK-10 and RK-2 models. Contact Nidec-Shimpo if you have other models, but in general, it seems like it will work with most wheels that have a 12” or larger wheelhead.

To see these jigger arms in action, check out this video about Jono Pandolfi.

The Shimpo Ball Mill attachment on an RK wheel.

Ball Mill Attachment

The Shimpo Ball Mill attachment will turn your wheelhead into a ball mill without the added expense of a new machine. Ball mills are used for grinding and unifying glazes.

This attachment retails for around $560 while the smallest ball mill from Shimpo is about $1000, so this represents a real savings. Like the jigger arm, this attachment will definitely work with the VL-Whisper, RK-Whisper, the RK-10, and RK-2 models, and it may work with other wheels that are 12” in diameter or larger.

These days, many glaze products are so finely milled that a ball mill isn’t exactly a studio necessity, but it can still be a nice thing to have, such as making your own underglazes from ball clay and stain.

Extension Tables for RK Models

The Shimpo RK models do not have much table space, which is ideal for small studios. But if you want more room, Shimpo makes two add on tables that add either 2 or 4 square feet of work area within arms reach.

The small table adds 2 square feet of working area.

The large table adds 4 square feet of working area.

Extension Legs for VL-Whisper

Extension legs for the VL-Whisper models.

Although the VL-Whisper can sit flat on a tabletop, you can also convert it into a standing wheel with these leg extensions. They will bring the wheelhead to a height ranging from 35 to 37 inches, and they work by replacing the standard legs that come with the wheel.

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Notes on Repairing Shimpo Wheels

Shimpo pottery wheels have stood the test of time and there are many of these wheels on their second or third decade of constant use. They are good machines that are worth the money. However, like any wheel, there will be maintenance and repairs over time. Repair parts for Shimpo wheels are available at many ceramic suppliers.

On the older RK models with a motor and belt, you can make most adjustments to the speed and pedal by adjusting screws on the machine. And the older Shimpo switches seem more resilient than the electronics that Brent used to use, however Brent has begun using sealed switches that don’t seem to be affected by clay-covered hands.

The newer VL-Whisper and RK-Whisper models use fewer moving parts as they are magnet driven rather than having a motor and a belt. Ideally, this should mean fewer repairs. For the most part, it seems that most Whisper models are still going strong but as we get to 10 or 15 years out from when these models first came on the market, I expect there will be more repairs needed. However, I had a hard time finding message board and other info about broken Whisper models, and I haven’t seen them break down myself.

Overall, my biggest complaint with Shimpo wheels is that the splash pans are less resilient. This is not a concern for an individual, who can maintain their wheel with care. But in shared spaces such as community centers, where the splash pans are cleaned multiple times a day and dropped and abused, the Shimpo splash pans develop cracks faster than the Brent splash pans.

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Summary

Shimpo Wheels are great wheels. If you decide to get one, it will be a useful studio tool for decades. With four wheels on the market, Nidec-Shimpo has really targeted their offerings with quality wheels that will work for any level of potter.

The Aspire is a great tabletop wheel for a hobbyist, kid, or a pro looking for a mini-portable wheel.

The VL-Lite is an affordable, entry-level wheel that will make great pots and is easier to move.

The RK-Whisper takes the classic Shimpo wheel shape and updates it with the super-quiet Whisper magnet drive with a 12 inch wheel. And the VL-Whisper is super quiet and offers a 14 inch wheel head with the same 1/2 hp, 400 watt Whisper magnet drive.

Combine this with offerings such as the Jigger Arm Attachment, and you’ve got a flexible and useful line of wheels.

What do you think about Shimpo wheels? Let us know in the comments.

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For more on pottery wheels, check out:

2025 Pottery Wheel’s Buyers Guide

2023-24 Tabletop Pottery Wheel Buyer’s Guide

Pottery Wheel Comparison Chart

Brent Pottery Wheels Buyers Guide

The Best Banding Wheels

Best Pottery Wheel Stools

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Brent Pottery Wheels Buyers Guide 2025

Edited and updated for 2025.

Brent wheels are popular, dependable wheels known for an overbuilt style that features a strong plastic table with steel legs, sturdy splash pan, and a variety of belt-driven motors. You will see these yellow ochre machines everywhere and that’s because of their dependability and long-lasting quality. In addition to narrowing the product line a few years ago to just four wheels, Brent now offers most wheels in an all-black option. The yellow ochre is so classic but I can see the appeal of the black wheels.

Brent wheels come with a 10 year warranty but expect them to last much longer than that. In my experience, the main issue with Brent’s is when beginning potters overload the splash pan with water, so try to prevent swamping the wheel housing and you should be fine.

Since last updating this Brent pottery wheel buyers guide in 2023, the main change is that the Model B now features a 14” wheel head, just like the model C and CXC. This means that the main (and possibly only?) difference between the wheels is the motor. The B has a 1/2 HP motor, the C has a 3/4 HP motor, and the CXC has a 1 HP motor.

This post will cover all the models and features of Brent pottery wheels. For other wheels, check out our 2025 pottery wheel buyer’s guide or a comparison chart of wheels.

TOP PICK: Brent Model C

Brent Model C pottery wheel in the classic Brent yellow.

The top pick for a Brent Wheel is the Model C. It features a 14” wheelhead, 3/4 HP motor, and can go forward or reverse with the flip of a switch. The Model C is listed at $2,600 but is generally available for around $2,100 to $2,400. (The price difference is often related to free shipping or not, so compare offers carefully)

Model C is also available in a sleek, all-black model for around $50 more.

The C model strikes a balance of features and affordability: The Model B has a less-powerful motor, while the CXC features a larger and more costly motor.

Most Brent Models, including the C, are also available in all black.

Read below for more info and an overview of each wheel offered by Brent.

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Table of Contents

• Overview of Brent Wheels

• Brent Model B

• Brent Model C

• Brent Model CXC

• Brent Model 16

• Brent Pottery Wheel Accessories

• Discontinued Brent Models

• Notes on repairing Brent Wheels

• Summary

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Brent Wheels: Overview and Background

Founded in 1967 by Robert Brent, the wheels have been manufactured by the American Art Clay Company (AMACO) since 1978. There have been a variety of wheels over time (including the IE models which were discontinued around 2022) but for decades, Brent has had a classic lineup of wheels built on top of a similar table and frame. Each wheel has the same, high-quality foot pedal, the same frame, and same splash pan. The only differences will be wheelhead size and the power of the motor.

Brent wheels are easy to adjust and repair, and really hold up under heavy use such as at schools or community centers. In my experience, Brent splash pans are the sturdiest on the market and can take the most abuse. Brent has also made upgrades in the past few years, such as sealed switches that are easier to clean.

Brent wheels use belt-driven motors. These are strong motors with good torque; definitely get the largest motor your budget can afford. New Brent wheels are quiet and might stay that way over time, but if the wheelheads get waterlogged or the wheel gets abused (this will happen in most shared studio spaces) expect the belt, wheelhead and/or motor to develop some noise. It’s not the loudest sound, but if this is a concern, check out other wheels such as the ultra-quiet Shimpo Whisper.

The B and C models are where most will find the sweet spot of power and price within the Brent product line. The difference in these models are the size of the motor (1/2 HP vs 3/4 HP). The CXC models are basically the same as the C, but with a 1 HP motors.

One note is the Brent centering capacity. These are some really big numbers — Brent claims a 150 lb centering capacity for the Model B with a 1/2 HP motor. Most other manufacturers claim 50 lbs for a 1/2 HP motor while other manufacturers don’t even use these numbers. So centering capacity may be a bit inflated but Brent’s numbers are included below. In general, I think Brent uses centering capacity to mean how much clay can be turned on the wheel. If you build big pots on the wheel, go for a bigger motor.

Overall, Brent makes great, dependable wheels. The Brent Wheels are workhorses that won’t disappoint and will be a trusty, dependable studio tool for decades.

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Brent Model B

Brent Model B Pottery Wheel.

The Brent Model B is currently Brent’s entry-level wheel. This model now features a 14” wheel head like the other Brent wheels, and a 1/2 HP motor. This motor is quite strong but if your budget allows, you might consider getting the Model C with a larger wheelhead and motor for about $100 more.

This wheel is now availale in the class Brent yellow, or all black.

Brent Model B features
Motor: 1/2 Horsepower
Wheelhead: 14 inch diameter
Reversible: Yes, with a switch on the control panel
Dimensions: 21 x 28 x 21.5 inches
Weight: 119 lbs
Speed: 0 to 240 rpm
Warranty: 10 years
Centering Capacity: 150 lbs
Listed Price: $2,600 for yellow, $2,650 for black
Usually available for between $2,000 to $2,400, depending on if shipping is included or not

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Brent Model C

Brent Model C

Brent Model C has the sweet spot of features and price in the Brent lineup, making it our top pick. It’s also available in an all black model. Model C has a 3/4 horsepower motor and a 14” wheelhead.

Brent Model C is also available in an all-black model.

Brent Model C features
Motor: 3/4 Horsepower
Wheelhead: 14 inch diameter
Reversible: Yes, with a switch on the control panel
Dimensions: 21 x 28 x 21.5 inches
Weight: 121 lbs
Speed: 0 to 240 rpm
Warranty: 10 years
Centering Capacity: 225 lbs
Manufacturers price: $2,700 for yellow, $2,750 for black
Usually available for $2,100 to $2,300 depending on shipping options

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Brent Model CXC

The Brent CXC pottery wheel.

The Brent Model CXC is virtually identical to the Model C, except that it has a 1 horsepower motor. It is now available in all black as well.

Brent Model CXC features
Motor: 1 Horsepower
Wheelhead: 14 inch diameter
Reversible: Yes, with a switch on the control panel
Dimensions: 21 x 28 x 21.5 inches
Weight: 129 lbs
Speed: 0 to 240 rpm
Warranty: 10 years
Centering Capacity: 300 lbs
Manufacturer’s Price: $2,800 for yellow, $2,875 for black
Usually available for $$2,200 to $2,500 depending on shipping options

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Model 16

The Brent Model 16 accessible pottery wheel.

The Brent Model 16 is an accessible wheel for use in rehabilitation programs or for potters in wheelchairs. It’s a really innovate design that adds flexibility and accessibility to a studio. It is completely adjustable, such as a crank to raise or lower the wheel/table, so it can be used sitting down or standing up.

The Model 16 can roll on casters and fit through a 36” door, and the casters can be secured so that it will not move while in use.

Regarding the wheel specs, it’s the same numbers as the Model B, with a 14” wheel head and a 1/2 horsepower motor. (Previous models of the Model 16 had a 12” wheel head.)

Brent Model 16 features
Motor: 1/2 Horsepower
Wheelhead: 14 inch diameter
Reversible: Yes, with a switch on the control panel
Dimensions: 36 x 36 x 21 to 35 inches high
Weight: 287 lbs
Speed: 0 to 240 rpm
Warranty: 2 years
Centering Capacity: 150 lbs
Manufacter’s price: $4,800
Usually available for $4,000 to $4,400

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Brent Pottery Wheel Accessories

Brent Workstation

A Brent Workstation mounted on a Model C wheel.

The Brent Workstation is (was?) a bean-shaped plastic table that will attach to almost any Brent wheel manufactured after 2009. It can really expand the work area within arms reach. It’s made of 3/8” thick black plastic—the same plastic used in Brent Plasti-Bats. It’s easy to clean, durable, and functional.

Unfortunately, as of this writing in early 2025 I don’t see the workstation listed for sale any where or on the Brent website.

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Brent Leg Extensions

The Brent Leg Extension Kit pictured here with a Model B wheel.

The Brent Leg Extension Kit will convert most Brent wheels made after 2009 into a standing wheel. The steel legs are adjustable from 35 3/4 to 40 3/4 in one inch increments.

To use, simply place the pin at the desired height and slide the leg extensions over the wheel legs, and then tighten the screws to hold in place. These extenders will work with any wheel leg that have 2 3/8” diameter leg tubes.

The leg extenders retail for $405 but can often be found for around $300.

Brent Leg Booties

Brent Leg Booties will give your wheel a lift of 2 or 4 inches. It’s a useful addition that can be screwed on tight. You can also place your wheel on cinder blocks or pieces of wood, but these are a more stable option. They will fit any Brent wheel made after 2009.

Listed at $64 but typically available for a bit less.

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Discontinued Brent Pottery Wheels

The Brent IE wheels were designed to work as full-size wheels or table top.

As recently as 2020, Brent made the IE models that could be used as a regular pottery wheel or could easily convert to a table top wheel. They are no longer listed on the AMACO Brent website, but you may find them available used.

Similarly, in 2023 we noted that the Model EX with a 1 1/2 HP motor is also no longer listed on the Brent website or is available for sale.The Model EX is still available at some retailers. Shop EX wheel at Amazon

In the past, Brent has made kick wheels and other models, so you may seem some interesting used wheels out there.

For a short history on Robert Brent, the inventor of Brent wheels, check out this PDF or this 2018 article from the Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press-Democrat.

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Notes on Repairing Brent Wheels

Brent Wheels are easy to repair and parts are readily available from AMACO Brent and ceramic supply stores.

The most common adjustment needed is to adjust the speed of the wheel via the foot pedal. This can be done by removing the bottom plate of the pedal and adjusting the potentiometers, which control the low and high limits on the wheel.

Other common repairs include replacing faulty on / off switches. You may also need to replace a belt. Brent has created repair videos for many of these common fixes, which can be found on YouTube.

The wheelhead is not designed to be oiled. Instead, the expectation is that the entire wheelhead assembly would be replaced if needed. For the most part, I think a wheel for an individual that is well maintained won’t need to be repaired much, if it all. But wheels that are used by beginners may have issues, such as being completely swamped by too much water, and the wheelhead can start making noise. For these more serious repairs, you may wan to ask at your local ceramic supplier if they know anyone who repairs wheels and can do these fixes for you.

Finally, if you find a used wheel you may or may not be able to find repair parts. Some of the original Brent wheels from the 1970s and 1980s are still working, or are still out there and turn up for sale. It’s hard to say if they are repairable. But a Brent Wheel that is 10 or 20 years old will probably be more straightforward to fix and use standard parts.

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Summary

Brent Wheels are sturdy, dependable wheels that have been some of the most popular pottery wheels for the past 50 years. They are a worthwhile investment if you are serious about pottery. The product line doesn’t include a entry-level budget model, but instead focuses on professional-grade wheels that are great for beginners or professionals. If it’s the right wheel for you, it’ll be a dependable part of your studio for decades.

You might also enjoy:

2025 Pottery Wheel Buyer’s Guide

Gift Guide for Potters

Pottery Wheel Comparison Chart

Table Top Wheel Buyers Guide 2023

Best Loop Tools For Trimming Pottery

The Best Banding Wheels

Best Pottery Wheel Stools

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Ellsworth Kelly on Drawing Plants and Nature as “The Ultimate Artist”

The Slip is a 2023 book by Prudence Peiffer that tells the story of art studios on Coenties Slip in New York City in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The Slip, located at the very southern tip of Manhattan, was an in-between area that had been full of shipyards and sail-making factories, but was about to become the skyscraper financial district we know today. For almost a decade, artists filled many of the spaces, making work, community, and finding new paths forward for American art. It’s a fascinating, wonderful book that weaves together so much, including the stories of Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Indiana, Agnes Martin, James Rosenquist, and Lenore Tawney.

The following excerpt details Ellsworth Kelly’s fascination with drawing plants.

Plants in the foreground of Ellsworth Kelly’s studio in 1961

Kelly was always planting pits or seeds—he grew avocado, orange, grapefruit, and lemon trees this way. Everyone at the Slip had avocado plants, as they were easy to grow from pits. (A 1951 article in The New York Times) explained exactly how to cultivate these exotic fruites with toothpicks, a glass, and water.) Robert Indiana filled the old elevator shaft in his loft with pots of them, ferns, and fir tree saplings, reflecting his own interest in plants. (His favorite course in Edinburgh had been botany, held in the queen’s botanical gardens.) He also hung found wheels, metal chains, winches, and stencils from the building’s previous occupants, Marine Works ship suppliers. He drew from the avocado plants that “flourish under the skylights of the Marine Works,” as he wrote in his autochronology for the year 1957. Even Daphne Seyrig wrote to her parents in Beirut with instructions on exactly how to grow avocados, and though she hated their taste, she gave a recipe for a trendy new dish that was very easy to prepare and a little like hummus. It was called guacamole.

For Kelly, the plants were more than cheap decor. He made sure he had plenty because he wanted to draw them. They were an “already-made” subject matter of endless variety. Later he would say that he chose them because “I knew I could draw plants forever.” His studio would soon be filled with sketches of plants. They breathed oxygen into his paintings too.

Plants in the background of this 1958 image of Ellsworth Kelly in his studio.

His very first plant drawing was a daffodil on the cover of his junior high school journal, Chirp, in April 1938. In damp February 1949 in Paris, Kelly had bought a little hyacinth plant at the flower market and brought it back to his small, cold room at the Hôtel de Bourgogne to “cheer myself up”; its bright perfume soon filled the air. He began to draw the flower, which was the start of a series of delicate contour line drawings of plants that he would make wherever he was living: fig leaf, seaweed, artichoke, wild grape, burdock.

Kelly’s plant drawings evoked the confident, spare lines of two artists most important to him: Matisse and Calder. But they had their own, independent essence; Kelly called them “portraits.” When he first began making them in Paris, he was also drawing his friends—fast sketches in pencil at cafés, on park benches. Friends were ready-made models, but Kelly’s incessant sketching was also a declartion that these composers, writers, dancers from Merce Cunningham’s company, would make it someday and these portraits would be part of that story. He felt the need to be drawing endlessly, as if there were a direct line between his eyes and hands.

Plants in the midground of this 1961 image of Agnes Martin working in her Coenties Slip studio.

In 1957, the plant drawings became a kind of daily practice at the Slip: when he first got up, or when he needed a break from painting. They were quick, instinctual, mostly made in ink or pencil; he never erased a line as he was working on them, and he discarded a lot.

…

It’s not just that nature provided subjects for Kelly that were “already-made.” or that his drawings allowed him to think through forms in a way that instructed all of his paintings. He saw nature itself as the ultimate artist. “I want to work like nature works,” Kelly said, as if channeling the poet John Keats. “I want to paint in a way that trees grow, leaves come out—how things happen.” That he internalized the process of nature’s spontaneous creation in producing a thing of beauty in itself helps us see how a continous project that might otherwise be dismissed as a hobby could be at the cneter of his art. He called his plant drawings “the point of departure for all of my later work.” This was about figuring out form—the curve or overlapping shpaes of leaves. And about a direct trasnfer of what is seen. “I didn’t solve the painting by doing it; I sovle it before with drawings.” Nature, for Kelly, was not just the world apart from human intervention—it was everything around him that was unaltered, giving his vision a kind of ecology that encompassed the whole environment. The city, then, could be as much a source of nature as a field or an ocean; it, too, is an ecological site. Nature is entwined with place in Kelly’s view. And the persistence of place undergirds every abstraction he ever made. When asked, as an atheist, if there was anything he believe in, he answered without pause, “nature.”

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The cover of The Slip by Prudence Peiffer.

The Slip: The New York City Street That Changed American Art Forever
By Prudence Peiffer
411 pages, published by Harper Collins, 2023

Shop the book new and used at the following links:

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You might also enjoy:

Agnes Martin on Perfection

Ben Okri: A Time for New Dreams

See recent posts tagged Inspiration

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Agnes Martin on “Perfection That Transcends What You See”

The Slip is a 2023 book by Prudence Peiffer that tells the story of art studios on Coenties Slip in New York City in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The Slip, located at the very southern tip of Manhattan, was an in-between area that had been full of shipyards and sail-making factories, but was about to become the skyscraper financial district we know today. For almost a decade, artists filled many of the spaces, making work, community, and finding new paths forward for American art. It’s a fascinating, wonderful book that weaves together so much, including the stories of Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Indiana, Agnes Martin, James Rosenquist, and Lenore Tawney.

The following excerpt, from pages 134-135, details Agnes Martin’s exacting approach to art making.

The stakes were always high for Martin. The artist Chryssa Vardea-Mavromichali, who went by her first name, remembered seeing paintings in Martin’s studio that she admired, but Martin had already rejected them because of a barely perceived texture on their surface. “When art becomes that austere, everything matters.” If a paintinjg wasn’t going well, Martin would quickly take a knife to her canvas. She could not stand to have things around her that didn’t work. A term that comes up repeatedly in her own writing, and for many that knew her, is perfection. (The critic Jill) Johnston wrote that the value Martin placed “on the known rather than the seen suggests innate ideas which she sometimes calls a memory of perfection.” (Jack) Youngerman remembered “Agnes was a perfectionist about her work.” This need for control was a strange way of negating a necessary step of any creative process—trials, failure—and, ironically for such a private person, a way of self-mythologizing, of “not admitting that you’ve ever done anything ordinary.” And Martin herself once said, “I paint about the perfection that transcends what you see—the perfection that only exists in awareness.”

Despite her frenetic approach, Martin’s canvases in this period grew larger, more modulated, serene even. She had, in her own description, eliminated everything from her landscapes until she was left with only the horizontal lines she liked, the horizons. In a review of her first solo show in New York in 1958 at Betty Parson’s Section Eleven gallery, a critic spoke of her “large quiet abstractions.” And Dore Ashton, reviewing that same premiere, got to the essense of what had been considered but wasn’t there—”The result of many years of refinement. She has eliminated all but essentials for her poetic expression.”

Martin required specific conditions to work. “In the studio an artist must have no interrruptions from himself or any else. Interruptions are disasters,” she explained in a lecture a decade after her time in New York. Her second Coenties Slip studio, at 3–5, where she moved in 1959, was “very quiet,” as Wilson remembered, with “an absence of agitation.” Entering it was like entering “large quiet,” with its white walls, gray floors, and homemade picnic table and benches. Everything needed to be calibrated. “You must be clean and arrange your studio in a way that will forward a quiet state of mind,” Martin insisted. And she wrote in her journal once that “the sentimental furniture threatens the peace.” The artist needed to get past “a lot of rubbishy thoughts” to the inner mind, where inspiration lay. “Composition is an absolute mystery. It is dictated by the mind.”

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The cover of The Slip by Prudence Peiffer

The Slip: The New York City Street That Changed American Art Forever
By Prudence Peiffer
411 pages, published by Harper Collins, 2023

Shop the book new and used at the following links:

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You might also enjoy:

Georgia O’Keeffe on making ‘ordinary paintings’

Wayne Thiebaud on how to avoid being an ‘art employee’

Matisse on drawing trees

See all posts tagged Inspiration

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Lithium Carbonate for Ceramic Glazes Price Tracker

In the past few years, there has been a lot of upheaval in the materials market and to my eye, one of the most volatile has been the price of lithium carbonate.

My memory is that a pound of ceramic-grade lithium carb cost about $17 in 2019. Recently, I have seen prices as high as $80 or $90 a pound. Fearful that the price was only going to go higher, I bought a few pounds in summer of 2024 at around $75 a pound. But by fall of 2024, prices had started dropping again, particularly at one supplier, Sheffield Pottery.

I can’t claim to know what will happen with lithium carb prices in the future, but I do know that they currently vary widely. This price tracker was created to identify the best places to shop for lithium carbonate and it will be updated every six months or so. Most vendors will have slightly cheaper prices when buying in bulk, but the chart below shows the price if ordering just 1 pound.

Lithium Carbonate Price Tracker

Supplier	Jan '25 Price	Shopping Link
Sheffield Pottery 1 lb	$33.60	Sheffield
U.S. Pigment 1 lb	$50.00	U.S. Pigment
Paul Brown Art Supply 1 lb (eBay vendor)	$54.00	Paul Brown
Clay King 1 lb	$57.37	Clay King
Axner 1 lb Fine Grade (*Min order 5 lbs)	$75.10	Axner
Ceramic Shop 1 lb	$76.40	Ceramic Shop
Clay Planet 1 lb	$78.10	Clay Planet
Krueger Ceramic Supply 1 lb	$87.35	Krueger

This chart is by no means comprehensive, but I sought to find a variety of vendors from around the United States. If you know of a vendor that should be added, especially one that has prices that would be in the “top 5” in regards to price, let me know via a comment or email.

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You might also enjoy:

Testing Silicon Carbide in Cone 6 Glazes

Greener Options for Packing and Shipping Supplies

Gift Guide for Potters

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10 Best New Pottery and Ceramic Books for 2024

There are a lot of great new books focusing on ceramics and pottery this year. This posts covers ten new books on ceramic artists and technique that were published in 2024, and a few from the very end of 2023.

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Complete Guide to Low-Fire Glazes for Potters and Sculptors by Ben Carter

An excellent introduction and guide to the world of low-fire glazes by Ben Carter, host of the Red Clay Rambler podcast and author of the popular book Mastering the Potter’s Wheel. This new book covers all aspects of mixing glazes, and includes numerous full-color images of example work along with a variety of recipes.

Low-Fire Glazes for Potters and Sculptors
By Ben Carter
Hardcover, 176 pages
published September 2024 by Quarry Books
Listed at $30 but usually available for $27

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Magdalena Suarez Frimkess: The Finest Disregard

Catalogue from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art retrospective of ceramic artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess. The 95-year-old artist is definitely having a moment this year and this wonderful catalogue is full of images of work, mostly from the past 10 years, along with essays and more.

Check out this post on the catalogue as well.

The Finest Disregard
Published by Los Angeles County Museum of Art and DelMonico Books, 2024
Hardcover, 128 pages
Listed at $49.95

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Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within

Another exhibition catalogue that is a worthy addition to any library is Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within, which accompanies the traveling exhibition of the same name. A long-due exploration of the artist, who lived from 1922 to 2011, the catalogue includes essays, lots of full-color images, and even some writings by Takaezu herself. The catalogue includes many examples of the “closed forms” which Takaezu is known for, along with other ceramics, paintings, and more.

Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within
By Glenn Adamson and others
Published by Yale University Press
Hardcover, 368 pages
Listed at $65 but usually available for less

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Glazes for the Contemporary Maker by Louisa Taylor

Louisa Taylor is a ceramic stalwart now, having published multiple editions of The Ceramics Bible and Ceramics Masterclass in 2020 (Check out a full review of Masterclass here). In her latest book, Taylor covers everything you need to get started with glazing. Chapters include “Establishing Your Glaze Practice,” studio setup, firing, and more, along with 200 illustrated recipes. Not as specific as the Low-Fire book mentioned above, this is a more general guide for getting started at all temperatures of firing ceramics.

Glazes for the Contemporary Maker
By Louisa Taylor
Published March, 2024 by The Crowood Press
144 pages
Listed $29.99 but usually available for less

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Magdalene Odundo: A Dialogue with Objects

Magdalene Odundo is a Kenyan-born, British artist known for elegant vessels that draw on traditions ranging from Aztec to Chinese to African pottery, and are in dialogue with contemporary traditions including modernism. In this survey work, potter and art historian Sequoia Miller provides a new perspective on Odundo’s work, and includes an in-depth look at Odundo’s prints and sketchbooks. The book includes a foreword by Susan Jefferies and contributions by Nehal El-Hadi, Elizabeth Harney, and Barbara Thompson.

Magdalena Odundo: A Dialogue with Objects
By Sequoia Miller and others
Published September 2024 by Princeton University Press
Hardcover, 112 pages
Listed at $49.95 but usually available for less

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Thrown by Lilly Maetzig

Following up 2023’s Handbuilt, Maetzig returns with a new book in a similar format, this time focusing on the pottery wheel. The book includes 20 projects ranging from dinner plates to lamp shades, and includes making, decorating, and firing instructions. If you are a fan of the artist’s Mae Ceramics line, or just looking for an inspirational book, this is a good introduction to functional homewares made on the wheel.

Thrown
By Lilly Maetzig
Published October 2024 by Quadrille Press
160 pages
Listed at $29.99

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Radical Clay: Contemporary Women Artists From Japan

Accompanying an exhibition of the same name, this catalogue explores 36 women artists from Japan who have made ceramic work in the past 50 years. Richly illustrated with short texts on each artists, this is a beautiful overview of recent work from Japan. The exhibition was at the Art Institute of Chicago last year, and is currently at the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida, and will travel to The Ackland Art Museum at UNC Chapel Hill in 2025.

Radical Clay: Contemporary Women Artists From Japan
Edited by Joe Earle
Published Novemeber 2023 by the Art Institute of Chicago
128 Pages
Listed at $30 but often available for less

Architectural Pottery: Ceramics for a Modern Landscape

The book focuses on the firm Architectural Pottery, which launched in 1950 with modernist ceramic objects designed for the new houses being built in America. Accompanying an exhibition at the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona, Calif., this book includes numerous black and white and color images. A must for any fan of midcentury modernism, this work also provides a historical background to the numerous artists and companies making large-scale ceramic furniture and planters today.

Architectural Pottery: Ceramics for a Modern Landscape
By Daniel Chavkin, Jeffrey Head, and Jo Lauria
Published September 2024 by The Monacelli Press
256 pages
Listed $59.95 but usually available for less

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Tecla Tofano: This Body of Mine

A small monograph on the Venezuelan artist Tecla Tofano (1927–1995), this book includes essays and images on this innovative artist. Tofano’s work is often totemic but also domestic, and explores issues of maternity, sexism, and socioeconomic status.

Tecla Tofano: This Body of Mine
Published February, 2024 by James Cohan Gallery
112 pages, softcover
Listed at $35 but often available for less

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Dried Peyote and 7 Up: The Work and Vision of Michael Frimkess

A limited-edition book (edition of 250), this book focuses on Los Angeles ceramist Michael Frimkess (and spouse of Magdalena Suarez Frimkess). This is the first monograph on the artist’s 60-year plus career.

Dried Peyote and 7 Up: The Work and Vision of Michael Frimkess
Paperback
$100

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For more books, check out these posts previous years:

Best Pottery and Ceramic Books 2023

Best Pottery Technique Books 2022

Best Ceramic History Books and Monographs 2022

You might also enjoy our Gift Guide for Potters

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