Need to buy just a wheelhead?

We often get emails from customers asking...

"I'm building my own wheel, can I buy just a wheelhead?"

The answer is "yes" but it's not cheap.  Please read on.

What do I need to know about wheelheads?

What else do I need with the wheelhead?

Is there something else I can use as a wheelhead that's less expensive?

Am I crazy building my own wheel?

I still have questions?

What do I need to know about wheelheads:

If you are building your own wheel, and you have to buy a wheelhead, we recommend that you buy a Brent wheelhead.  They come in two sizes:

These wheelheads require a 1" shaft and they are designed to hold onto the shaft with a set screw.  They are drilled for but do not include bat pins.

What else do I need with the wheelhead?

Do you have a shaft?  Do you have a bearing?  

If you just need the wheelhead, see above.  If you need a wheel head assembly, then you can get that from Brent also.  The assembly includes the wheel head, a shaft and a bearing.  It's press-fit at the factory based on a 3/4" shaft (its from their electric wheel series).

They are drilled for but do not include bat pins.

Note:  We do not have individual shafts or bearings for the 1" shaft wheelheads.

Is there something else I can use as a wheelhead 
that's less expensive?

Theoretically, any round object, made of a fairly light weight metal, that is spin- balanced, and has a flange to fit the shaft would work.  The flange must be centered, and the head must be balanced after attaching the flange.  Possibly other materials would work, but all commercial wheels use aluminum (probably for good reasons).

Truthfully, we don't know of any inexpensive, readily-available item that fits that description.  However, some of our friends/customer have made some pretty good pottery wheel design suggestions, and you can check them out here.

Am I crazy building my own wheel?

As someone who loves to take apart, fix, build and design things, I am very sympathetic to the concept of building your own wheel.  I could imagine doing it myself.  

However, in reality, you will probably spend more in time and hassle, and even money than if you just bought one.  Buying a commercial wheel gets you a warranty, technical support and a device that was engineered to do the job well. 

Often in potter's groups, the topic of building an electric wheel is discussed.  The conclusion is always that it is much harder to build a wheel than it appears.  The main reason is the foot pedal / speed control box.  The motor is not too hard to get, but the electronics in the foot pedal / speed controller have to be pretty  sophisticated so that the wheel can turn at a consistent speed with varying loads (i.e. how you are pressing on the clay.)  

You can buy the foot pedal / speed controllers from wheel companies, but by the time you do that, and get a wheelhead, you are almost at the cost of a wheel.   

This is not meant as a sales pitch, it's just way it is.  So I'd say....

If you really love throwing pots, buy or borrow a wheel, or take a class and start throwing pots!

If you really love designing and building mechanical/electrical things, then go for it! 

If you love both, then you'll have to decide.

I still have questions?