Electric Mid&Hi Fired Ceramics
Potters & Sculptors - Making Rock from Mud
Any recommendations for a potter's wheel?
Okay Ladies and Gents, I've been at a school of the arts for almost 3 years and have been using their equipment in exchange for teaching classes. It has worked well, but I am finding that I am spending more time doing for others and less for myself. I have decided it is time to set up my own studio.
I am looking at a Clay Boss Elite SQ, 1 HP for two reasons. Its affordable and has a 5 year warranty. Are any of you familiar with this wheel? I need a work horse that will be somewhat quiet.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Norm Stuart on
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If you want a quiet potters wheel you want a Shimpo.
We have two potters wheels at our studio, both more than five years old, probably ten years. A Shimpo RK-Whisper wheel and a noisy Clay Boss wheel which I have never seen anyone use after someone donated the old used Shimpo wheel to our studio.
If we had purchased these wheels the Shimpo would have cost $998 and the Clay Boss $550.
Some people think the motors used in some Shimpos are not strong enough, so they need a noisier wheel. But I have noticed that those people now use the Shimpo in spite of its alleged drawbacks.
It's possible the Clay Boss wheel was quieter when it was new. But I wasn't around then, so I don't know for sure.
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I can put in a good word for Brent wheels. I have had my Brent CXC since 1995 and I love it. It has been shipped from the US to Brazil and back, to Canada and back and never once has had a problem. And it is quiet.
Hopefully you'll hear good things about other makes giving you lots of good choices for a quiet work horse.
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Bailey pro for me. Thought I would love the unique splash pan, but the only thing I like about the pan is its size. The foot pedal is great! Wish I could help ya with the Clay boss.
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I'm weird, so this is just me! I have a clay boss & the thing I like most is the composite wheel head. I'm not a batt kind of guy, so I always throw on the wheel head & I have always hated the metal leaching onto your hand when centering, but I don't have that problem with the clay boss & I got mine for under 5 bills. I'm not a full time potter, but mine is still going strong. I also like that I can pull the splash pan apart if I need to get underneath something to trim it right on the wheelhead. Just my $.02 jhp
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Permalink Reply by George Lewter on
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I tried a Thomas Stuart during a class about ten years ago. It was smooth, precise, and rock solid, Quiet and having very little vibration. My own wheel is an old Brent Model B. It serves, and I was recently able to get a speed controller board for it.
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