Throwing pots on the wheel: is it up your alley?
A potter’s wheel has some key advantages. For both beginners and experienced potters. Anyone who has experience with sculpting or handbuilding with coils or slabs of clay knows that it can take quite a long time to get the shape you want. A potter’s wheel really speeds up that process.
The first potter’s wheel was basically a tabletop with a flywheel at the bottom to make the wheel spin. Potters operated this wheel with their foot. The invention of the potter’s wheel in 3,500 B.C. turned the world of ceramics on its head. It was a revolution that brought many benefits, benefits that still apply today.
- Speed
If you’re a potter who prefers picking up the pace, the speed at which you can throw a pot on a wheel will have you convinced. - Uniformity
If you’re a perfectionist dreaming of consistent, even shapes, a potter’s wheel will make that dream come true. In addition, a potter’s wheel enables you to create thinner walls than when you’re sculpting or handbuilding. - Production throwing
Both speed and consistency make it easier for you to create sets of a particular shape, such as pots and bowls. - New shapes
Because the creation process is so much faster on a wheel than with handbuilding, you’re giving yourself more freedom to experiment with new shapes. And that’s also why new techniques continue to be developed to this day.
What types of potter's wheels are there?
Electric potter’s wheel
An electric potter’s wheel is usually relatively light and therefore easier to move. This type of wheel is powered by electricity, not physical effort.
An electric potter’s wheel can be noisy. Usually, the cheaper the wheel, the higher the decibels.
The number of rotations per minute is a lot higher than with a kick wheel. Perfect for production throwing. For beginners, it is not always easy to control that speed. With a potter’s wheel, learning how to use this tool is a key part of mastering pottery.
There are different modelsof electric potter’s wheels. The tabletop model is a potter’s wheel that you can put on top of any work surface, so you can always move it. This is because tabletop models are small and light. For potters who like to throw on the move, this is a big plus. One drawback is this type of wheel cannot handle as much clay as other types. This makes the tabletop model less suitable to throw large pieces.
The standard model potter’s wheel is one you sit behind. The wheel might have a fixed seat, or you can use a stool. In addition, the wheel might have a loose or a fixed pedal. Whether you choose a separate or attached seat, or a loose or fixed pedal, is completely up to personal preference.
One last type is the potter’s wheel that is meant to be used while standing. The coordination of standing up and controlling the pedal can be a bit of a challenge. In many cases potters choose this type for ergonomic reasons, because they have back problems, for example.
Kick wheel
A kick wheel is very heavy: around 113 kilograms. So moving it, is not really an option. You control the concrete flywheel of the kick wheel with your foot. It requires a lot of physical effort, and also a little more coordination than with an electric potter’s wheel. But one advantage is that you have good control over the throwing process.
Normally, a kick wheel is not noisy. A kick wheel does mean you’ll throw a lot slower than with an electric potter’s wheel. Also know that in many cases you can attach a motor to your kick wheel. A kick wheel is often a whole lot cheaper than an electric one. You can often find them secondhand for a pittance.
Which potter's wheel should you buy?
Now that you know what the benefits are of using a potter’s wheel, and what the different types are, you can make an informed choice. Simply keep some basic guidelines in mind when you’re searching for your match made in heaven.
1) Choosing a wheel is up to personal preference
There is no such thing as “the best potter’s wheel” for ceramics. There are a number of brands well known for their quality, such as Shimpo, Rohde, Roderveld or Brent. Some potters swear by a potter’s wheel with a kick wheel, while others prefer an electric wheel. The most important thing is to choose a potter’s wheel that suits you. Many pottery supply stores let you test or rent potter’s wheels before purchase.
Looking for a pottery supply store near you? Consult our interactive map of noteworthy pottery places.
Ceramics store Colpaert has created a series of enlightening videos on some of the most commonly used electric potter’s wheels.
2) Don’t be swayed by price
When looking for a potter’s wheel, remember that “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Nine times out of ten, a potter’s wheel with a price tag under 1,000 will not be good quality. Some of them could even be dangerous, due to faulty electrical wiring. Potter Marcel Dooijewaard made this video about it.
The price of a good potter’s wheel, standard model, starts at about 1,000 euros. This is a big investment, but it is also one of the most important ones.
3) Trust the expert in your pottery supply store
Some well-known brands on the market are Shimpo, Rohde, Roderveld or Brent. The experts at your local pottery supply store can tell you exactly which brands they know and trust when it comes to quality.
Learning how to make pottery with a potter's wheel
Although you can create many beautiful things with only your hands, a potter’s wheel opens the door to a huge range of additional possibilities. Can’t wait to learn?
In the throwing courses “From Clay to Bowl,” the beginner course, and “Plates, Bowls, Vases,” the course for (semi-)advanced students, you will learn to throw different shapes on the turntable. Both courses are online video courses instructed by a master potter. They follow a clear structure, zoom in on the teacher’s hands, and allow you to ask questions and share your work.
Want to go through the basics of working with clay and ceramics first? Then be sure to check out the beginner’s guide “Getting Started with Ceramics”.
