I Tested And Reviewed 8 Best Pottery Wheel For Home Use (2023)

I have always been intrigued by pottery but have been hesitant to take a class due to past negative experiences. That's why I decided to purchase this pottery wheel as a way to practice on my own before enrolling in a beginner's class. Let me be clear, this pottery wheel is not designed for professional use or for those who are serious about pottery making. It has a slower motor and is more suited for children or beginners like myself.

It did take some time for me to get used to the machine and understand how to work with the clay, but overall, I found it to be a nice little pottery wheel for my purposes. It has helped me gain confidence and I feel more prepared to eventually join a beginner's pottery class. Until then, I will continue to practice on this pottery wheel.

For those who are looking for a pottery wheel for their children, this one is perfect. It is small in size but works great for small projects. The quality of the materials is impressive and it comes with everything needed to get started. It is a good value for the price and will be sufficient unless your child wants to work on larger pieces.

As an experienced artist who has been throwing on a wheel for over 30 years, I find this smaller pottery wheel to be enjoyable for throwing small pieces of artwork. It is not meant to be a functional tool for professional artists, but rather a fun addition to their collection. It is well-built and offers good value for the price.

The mini wheel is a fantastic choice for beginners like myself who are interested in learning the art of throwing pottery. Its compact size makes it easy to handle and provides a comfortable throwing experience. The wheel's smooth rotation allows for precise control and helps me practice my technique.

While the overall performance of the mini wheel is commendable, there are a couple of minor drawbacks that I have come across. The assembly of the splash pan can be a bit challenging due to its design, making it slightly difficult to put together. Additionally, I have found that changing the wheel head can be a bit cumbersome, which can be a hindrance when experimenting with different sizes and shapes.

Despite these minor inconveniences, the mini wheel continues to impress me with its functionality and performance. It offers a satisfying throwing experience and allows me to create beautiful pottery pieces. I am thoroughly enjoying my time working with this wheel and would recommend it to other aspiring potters who are looking for a compact and reliable option.

I am happy with the size of this product as it fits well with my needs. Although it arrived slightly dirty, it was easily cleaned with a quick wipe or wash. Overall, I am extremely pleased with my purchase.

I had a pleasant surprise when I tried out this pottery wheel. The unboxing and set up process was fairly easy, taking around 10 minutes. The set includes 3lbs of clay, so you can start using the pottery wheel right away. Everything you need is included in the set, which is great for beginners. The instructions are easy to understand, and they even include QR codes for additional video instructions if needed.

We tried out the centering tool and opening tool, which were beneficial for my younger son. However, my husband and I preferred using our fingers and hands to shape the clay. It does get quite messy, but the clean-up process was surprisingly easy. The pottery wheel is lightweight yet sturdy, making it easy to move and manage. It can be set up in a small area, which is convenient. Overall, we are pleased with this pottery wheel for beginners.

This pottery making wheel from National Geographic is excellent. It kept our 7-year-old child focused and busy for a long period of time. However, it can be quite challenging for younger kids to control the speed and attach the pottery to the spinning wheel. It's also difficult for them to learn how to shape the clay and maintain a good thickness. Despite these challenges, our kids enjoyed it so much that we played with it for the entire afternoon. We love it.

I must say, this pottery wheel is amazing. It really makes it easy to learn how to use one. My 4-year-old son and I tried it out, and it was my first time using a pottery wheel as well as teaching him. The instructions provided made it so simple to follow along, and we almost made a bowl! We would have had a beautiful bowl, but I let him keep spinning it instead of taking it off, and eventually the sides separated from the base. However, the clay provided can be reused if it hasn't dried out. They send you everything you need to get started, and we had so much fun! I especially loved the attachments on the overhead handle, as they made the learning process much easier. Having tools to help us get used to working with clay was a great feature. This pottery wheel is definitely a worthwhile investment, providing fun for both kids and adults.

The starter wheel I purchased exceeded my expectations! Not only does it work flawlessly, but it also arrived in double packaging, ensuring its safety during transit.

One of the standout features of this wheel is its ability to catch all the water and excess clay. This has made my pottery sessions much more enjoyable, as I no longer have to worry about making a mess. Additionally, the wheel itself is spacious and provides ample room for me to work comfortably.

However, I must admit that I haven't had much time to use the wheel myself. As soon as my sons and husband saw it, they became obsessed with it and quickly took over. In fact, they enjoyed it so much that I had to order a second one just to keep up with their enthusiasm! Now, we have a wonderful family activity where we spend quality time together learning how to throw pots.

I am still extremely satisfied with my purchase of this pottery wheel. It has become my dedicated trimming wheel, and I have attached a griffin grip to it. Although I treated myself to a Shimpo wheel as well, I find that this wheel offers more precise speed control. I actually prefer the hand control for adjusting the speed on this wheel, as it allows for smaller incremental changes. Overall, I believe this wheel is an excellent option for those looking to get into pottery without investing in professional equipment. The only drawback is that you must throw directly on the wheelhead and wire off the pieces or drill bat pins, but this is a skill that can be learned and is manageable.

Update with Issue: After approximately six weeks of daily use, I noticed that the wheel started making a regular thumping noise and didn't seem to be true anymore. I removed the belt and inspected it, but didn't find any issues there. I then proceeded to remove the wheelhead and discovered some clay buildup underneath the plate. After cleaning it out, the wheel became mostly smooth again. To prevent a recurrence, I applied silicone caulk around the plate. I suspect that the issue was caused by water and clay seeping into the wheel bearing. While I'm unsure if other wheels have a way to keep the wheel bearing waterproof, I recommend being cautious when removing the splash pan to ensure no water or clay gets under the plate attaching the wheelhead to the body. Since addressing this issue, the wheel has been throwing smoothly again. I have even thrown 7-8 lb platters without major difficulties, although at this weight, it does start to strain a bit. Overall, it still provides a smooth throwing experience, and I even canceled my order for the Speedball Big Boss wheel because this one is still working fine. I now need bats and plan to drill holes for bat pins in the next couple of days.

I am extremely happy with my purchase of this pottery wheel and have found it invaluable during the coronavirus pandemic. Initially, I was concerned about opting for a less expensive, non-name brand wheel, as I had only heard of people using the expensive options. However, this wheel has exceeded my expectations. The throwing experience is smooth, and I appreciate the ease of adjusting the wheel speed in small increments. It spins at a high speed and has effortlessly handled the four to five pounds of clay I typically work with. While I haven't tested its maximum capacity, as I have never thrown more than six pounds, it has been perfect for creating bowls, mugs, jars, and teapots. So far, I have been wire cutting the pieces off, but my long-term plan is to make plaster bats since the wheel does not come with pins. I have read about placing plaster bats on a wheel over a thin layer of clay, but I haven't tried that myself. I'm uncertain about the difficulty of drilling bat pins into this wheel, but for now, it is easy to wire off the pieces with water.

When first using the wheel, you may notice a slight smell of machine oil as it comes with a thin layer on the wheel and motorized parts. It took a few cleaning sessions before I stopped finding traces of oil on the grooves of the wheelhead. Additionally, this wheel is lower to the ground compared to standard wheels in the USA. However, I find it very comfortable to work with on the ground, using a kiddie swimming pool in a bedroom. I typically sit on the lower step of a stool, but you could also prop it up on bricks or a table if desired. While this setup may not be the same as most American wheels, it is not unusual in other parts of the world where wheels are placed on the ground.

Update: I have now used this wheel approximately 25 times, and it continues to perform well. One thing to note is that the wheel spins very fast, so I have had to learn to adjust downward when centering to avoid excessive speed. The top speed on this wheel is higher than necessary, but as of now, I have not encountered any issues. I will provide another update if any problems arise.

I recently purchased this pottery wheel and I must say, it has been an absolute delight. As someone with over 10 years of throwing experience, I initially had reservations about its size and capabilities. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how adorable and fun it turned out to be.

While this pottery wheel is not designed for significant throwing, it is perfect for creating tiny little vases and other small objects. I found it to be quite easy to use and clean, and I even placed it in a bowl to simulate a splash pan. It is worth noting that using better tools enhanced my experience with this pottery wheel.

One of the main concerns raised in negative reviews was the minimal water usage. However, I personally did not find this to be an issue and actually appreciated that I didn't need to use much water. It is important to keep in mind that the turn table is just 2 1/4" in diameter, which may cause stability issues with larger, light objects. Nevertheless, when balanced or used with small or dense objects, it works wonderfully.

What impressed me the most about this pottery wheel is its powerful motor. It effectively turns large pieces and quickly handles smaller ones. In terms of price, the next comparable option was around $100 more expensive, making this pottery wheel a great value for money.

Interestingly, I came across a comment on Reddit suggesting the use of a small pottery wheel for dice sanding. I decided to give it a try and this pottery wheel turned out to be perfect for the job. The motor is relatively quiet and it can reach high speeds. While it may slow down a bit when pressure is applied, I personally did not find this to be a significant issue. To enhance its functionality, I attached a pocket mirror to the wheel, which resulted in a smooth surface. Now, sanding and polishing small objects has become a breeze.

I am quite impressed with this small yet powerful tool. Its main purpose for me was to polish dice, and it did the job perfectly. The compact size makes it convenient to use and store.

As a clay artist, I find this banding wheel to be of excellent quality considering its affordable price. It turns smoothly and has a well-balanced weight, making it ideal for my clay studio. I have been using it extensively, and it has proven to be reliable and efficient.

Although this tiny wheel is undeniably cute, I must admit that it has its drawbacks. Despite having a pan to catch water, it still tends to splash everywhere, which can be a bit messy. Additionally, when applying excessive force, it does slow down. However, if you are searching for a budget-friendly option for throwing small pots, this wheel is worth considering. Just keep in mind that it may scatter clay particles and experience a decrease in speed under heavy pressure.