Buying a Used Pottery Wheel? Here’s What You NEED to Know.

Dreaming of your perfect home pottery studio? We totally get it—late-night wheel sessions, endless creativity, and total control over your clay creations. But once you’ve added up extruders, bats, glazes, and that dreamy speckled clay, your cart total can feel like a slap of reality. So, how can you save some cash without sacrificing your pottery dreams? Buying a used pottery wheel is your ticket!

But where exactly should you start looking? What questions ensure you’re getting a beaut and not a bust? Buckle up: we’ve got all your answers right here!

Where to Find a Reliable Used Pottery Wheel

Let’s face it: Finding a trustworthy used pottery wheel online can feel like panning for gold. Here are your best bets:

Facebook Groups

Join pottery-specific Facebook groups like Potters Used Tools and Equipment. With over 31K pottery enthusiasts posting daily, it’s a treasure trove. Note: You can’t post “in search of” listings, so set those notifications and check back often!

Facebook Marketplace

If you live near a bustling pottery scene, Marketplace could be your jackpot. Set your search radius and look for terms like “pottery wheel” or popular wheel models:

• Shimpo VL-Whisper
• Shimpo VL-LITE
• Brent Model C
• Brent Model B
• Skutt Thomas Stuart Elite
• Skutt Thomas Stuart Prodigy
• Soldner P-200
• Pacifica GT-800
• Speedball Clay Boss
• Speedball Big Boss

eBay

Searching eBay for a used pottery wheel might initially yield countless cheap, new models. Don’t despair! Be patient, scroll past those, and keep hunting. Use specific model names to filter results effectively.

Local Wheel Retailers

Don’t overlook local retailers—some, like Rocky Mountain Clay, even have dedicated sections for secondhand gear. Pop into your favorite pottery shop or check their website to see what’s available.

Crucial Questions to Ask Before Buying

Sadly, scams and disappointments can lurk online. To keep you safe, here’s the ultimate checklist to ensure your used wheel is the real deal:

1. Why are you selling the wheel?
2. Does the wheel include all necessary parts? (Specifically ask about)
   • Foot pedal
   • Power cord
   • Splash pan
   • Bat pins or bats
3. Are all parts original, or have some been replaced?
4. How well does it function overall? Any quirks or issues?
5. What’s the torque like? (How much clay can it comfortably handle?)
6. Is the motor loud during operation? (Request a quick video demo.)
7. Any problems when changing speeds or stopping?
8. Has it been serviced or repaired previously?
9. How often and how long was the wheel typically used? (Frequent, heavy use means more wear.)

Bonus for lefties: Confirm if the wheel spins in multiple directions!

Still Can’t Find Your Wheel? Try Renting!

If your pottery wheel search hits a dead end, don’t panic! Consider renting a wheel temporarily. Many local studios offer short-term wheel rentals. For example, Quiggly’s Clayhouse in Texas offers daily rentals ($50/day) or weekly ($200/week). It’s a fantastic stopgap if you’re itching to get your hands dirty ASAP.

Happy Hunting for Your Used Pottery Wheel!

Finding the perfect used pottery wheel takes patience and persistence, but the reward—a studio tailored exactly to your creative rhythm—is absolutely worth it. So keep searching, stay vigilant, and soon enough, you’ll be spinning pottery magic right from home. Here’s to bringing your pottery dreams to life!