Determine Size of Pottery Wheel Head
Before purchasing a pottery wheel you should also determine the size of the equipment you want to use. Most potter's wheels come with either an 11-inch, 12-inch, 13-inch, or 14-inch wheel head. This is sometimes called the centering wheel. The size of the head will determine how much clay you'll be able to center. For example, most 11-inch potter's wheels only let you center a small amount of clay, say, up to 25 lbs. Also, many of the 11-inch wheels are actually desktop wheels. This type of pottery wheel is strictly for the most basic of beginners that don't have a lot of floor space.
Ideally when looking for a pottery wheel for sale you want to choose one with a 13-inch or 14-inch reinforced aluminum head.
Get the Right Horsepower for the Used Pottery Wheel
The horsepower for a pottery wheel ranges from 1/4 HP to a 1 HP motor. The more horsepower, the more clay you can center and the more powerful the overall pottery wheel will be. If you're a beginner you may want to choose a pottery wheel with a 1/2 HP motor. More advanced potters may choose wheels with 1 HP motors.
For more information see:
Buying Used Pottery Wheels
Purchasing a Used Potter's Wheel: The Devil's in the Details
Pottery Wheel for Sale: What Accessories Are Available?
There are several accessories that are available when purchasing a new pottery wheel. However, it's very important that you find out which ones will come with the used pottery wheel that you're looking to purchase. For example, most pottery wheels come from the manufacturer with 2 bats. You'll want to make sure that your used pottery wheel comes with bats. Bats can be made of plaster or wood. Some people prefer one type over the other but that's a personal preference. Some people think wood bats have better absorbency which helps make sure the center of the freshly thrown pottery is properly balanced. Other people like plaster bats because they're heavier and they believe they're less prone to become distorted, warped, or splintered.
For more information see:
Buying Used Pottery Wheels
