DIY Pottery Wheel Discussion + Speedball Artista Review 

Thank you for posting this. You've made the goal of building a wheel appear a considerable amount more possible. I had been contemplating a much more complicated stand set up but yours opens up a different approach. Thank you again.

I had been looking for a good review of that initial wheel and hadn't found one as in-depth as yours! Thanks! Nice custom build!!!!

Genius! I love the minimal shape & size of the one you built. You can practically have the wheel in your lap!

That was incredibly informative. You've got a great knowledge of materials and I really liked your design ethos.

I bought this wheel around 7 months ago... same problem with the wheel head ... thank you for the clarity!!!

Thank you, thank you Justin, I too needed to call Speedball about the Arista. I do not have the mechanical thinking and experience that you have but I have electrical and other issues with my wheel. I so appreciate your review and tutorial and I will be buying a different wheel. Thanks so much for the video.

Awesome build! Thanks for sharing, i really enjoyed the vid.

Most people watching this have no clue how much work went into this build... Well done sir, holy shit well done.

AWSOME job! Going to custom build a few . Thanks so much

Really well built! I love it👌

That's such a beautiful wheel! So many aspects of the design seem so much more elegant than the professional grade wheels I've seen (like the easily removable wheelhead and the single piece splash pan, despite the fact that you never use it). I've been wanting to make a wheel but as of now, I lack the necessary tools/budget. Hopefully, one day...

You did a very nice job on this. I'm sure the few seconds you spent talking about casting and machining the wheel don't reflect the many hours you have spent in refining that skill (and others). I'm investigating building a budget wheel. For others interested, you might consider looking into recycling the DC motor and speed controller from a treadmill. The motors are often DC and rated for 1HP continuous operation, and the speed controller in the treadmill can often be controlled with a potentiometer directly.

I have the speedball wheel. Have used it for 12 hour demo days at fairs and love it. My wheel has foot control and does not jump when it is being plugged in or out. I like the lite weight and ease of set up. Mine seems to take a licking and keep on giving. Think you had a lemon . Friend also has one as her primary wheel. Like that you have enough skill to build your own.

A worn bushing is trivially easy to replace. A larger one can be sourced or cut, or the warged out hole can be plastic-welded and re-cut. Preferably with a key way to keep it from turning.

Amazingly over complicated and I LOVE it

Wow. Yes, this is extremely interesting! Thank you for taking the time to share your ideas and knowledge. My big take-away: save up some money for a wheel that'll have the features and power I want and that will last many years (bummer to hear about the Artista - I've been considering it). I'd love to build my own wheel, but I do not posses the skills for such an undertaking. (You melted an aluminum ladder?! That's awesome!) But I'll bet someone out there will really benefit from your clear explanations of the process and your detailed information about the parts. It's obvious you have a real passion for creating unique yet versatile tools and art. I enjoy all of your videos, and I'm always inspired by them. Thanks again!

Love the video and I know it has been a while since you built this and posted about it. Wondering if you think a 110V 3hp treadmill motor would work. I know it has plenty of torque (the treadmill was rated for up to 350 lbs and the belt never slipped when walking on it) but it is rated for 3600 RPMs. Even with a 6:1 gear reduction, that would put the top speed a bit too high. I really want to make a wheel (love the idea of making) and I have this old, professional-grade treadmill just taking up space as the main LCD no longer works and the company no longer makes replacements.

Loved the video, exactly the guidance I needed on a controller. I've been working on plans for a wheel myself and I like the controller you're using. My question is the speedball artista pedal uses a 100k ohm pot but the controller you're using comes with a 5k ohm pot? Did you replace the potentiometer in the artista pedal? Or had any issues using the 100k Ohm pot in the artista pedal?

Ha I did it. Got it untangled without taking it apart. Note to self “always double check even if you think it’s unplugged. Do like your wheel head that pops off. Would have my life easier today. Keep posting. Found your station through John the Potter. My son is a double e So our family over engineers everything.

I wld love to build my own wheel, unfortunately I don’t have quite the technical mind you have! I have an old amaco wheel. No foot pedal, no reverse, wheel head does not lift off, two speed, and not made for bats. Wtg on this!

Do you use the braking of the regen drive? or ''coast to stop''?

I really like your pottery videos. My wife and I want to get into and learn pottery. I have a cnc and would like to build our own pottery wheel. Do you think 1/2” aluminum would be thick enough for the wheel head?

How would I go about upgrading my current wheel. I'm interested in adding speed so that would be voltage. Preferably 1hp. And also will that also help with the wheel slowdown when applying pressure. I got myself a really inexpensive wheel by vexor and I think it has great potential for an upgrade... and seeing your video has given me hope... hehe thank you for your time

Help I have an Artista and I did the unthinkable. I was moving and cleaning somehow the foot pedal cord got underneath the wheel head and it wasn’t off😬fortunately I wasn’t hurt but the cord is stuck in the shaft. Can I loosen the wheel without removing all ten of the little bottom feet?

What size crucible is needed for pouring the wheel head?

i wanted to buy speedball artista and that is why im here

Hey any ideas on a good foot pedal to buy for this speed controller?

Hello ! could you help for the Speed Control setup if I buy one ? Thanks

I like the clean design. Do you have any issues with motor over heating ?

100% accurate

My bushing is shot after less than two hours of use. Now when I throw it feels like the bat is loose.

it's a very nice looking wheel. It has an art nouveau/futurism aesthetic. I was watching your pestle and mortar vid, and it looked like it moves around a bit from pressure while throwing. Have you found a solution to this?

I'm having a wheelhead wobble on our Artista and Speedball Tech Support had ghosted my inquiries. Do you by any chance remember the size and make of bushing you used as a replacement?

From where??

What do you put your artista on ? I just ordered one and I like to sit when I throw.

holly shit man. this is fucking badass! way to much work but DAMN!

Great build, but your motor is TEFC, totally enclosed fan cooled. You really should have a vent or cooling fins on your assembly. You might be OK with short usage time and small items you are throwing, ie having very little load. Perhaps the aluminum case radiates enough heat that the motor is OK.

Is that a DC or AC motor? Are there torque issues at low speed?

It amazes me that a devise with such a limited function is still so horribly expensive! :'(

sir can you help.me

Put time stamps. I wanted to see a built not what is wrong in something I am not going to buy.

complicated to make, buy cheaper

$500 bucks is not inexpensive. If you are doing enough business to warrant a wheel that would cost thousands then yes it might be considered inexpensive but being a budget wheel at $500 bucks and all those issues. It's' a consumer ripoff hands down. Give no accolades to this product.