Hendrix, Taylor J. on sun 22 sep 02
Question for all those do-it-yourselfers and penny-pinchers alike:
What was the round-figured cost of your homemade kick/treadle/electric =
wheel, and was it cheaper than a relatively young used electric wheel =
(3-5 years old)? I ask the question because I am trying to decide if I =
should pursue building my own wheel or begin looking for a used one. =
Apart from my teacher's, I don't have access to a wheel, and it is =
difficult to string together any kind of consistent schedule. I am =
finding myself 'relearning' things instead of really progressing in my =
throwing.
I am pretty handy with saw, chisel and hammer, and I have a neighbor who =
would probably be willing to teach me welding if I asked.
Taylor, who is also enjoying these cool Texas days.
David Hendley on mon 23 sep 02
As a confirmed and well-known do-it-yourselfer, I still use a
store-bought wheel (Pacifica).
If you want an electric wheel, I recommend you do the same.
Your skills with a saw and hammer will not help you build
one. You will need a torch, welder, and machine shop tools,
and know how to use them, plus knowledge of electronics to
make the motor control box.
A kick wheel is a different animal, and can be reasonably home
made by a handy person. I built one out of steel, modeled on
the Lockerbie design. For the flywheel, I found a perfect 110
pound flywheel from a printing press at the junkyard. I also
added a motor assist a la the Randall design.
I already had the motor and got the wheelhead at a garage sale,
so that wheel cost about $50 (1978), mostly for the bearings
and shaft.
If you want to go more low-tech, you can build a fine kickwheel
out of lumber, carriage bolts, and machine screws, and cast the
flywheel with concrete.
I have detailed, step-by-step, can't-go-wrong instructions for
building the wood wheel, by Bruce McDougal. He built 20 of
them for his Big Creek Pottery school in the '70s.
You could probably build one today for $150-200.
These home-made kick wheels are not for peripatetic potters;
they are space hogs and hard to move.
Taylor, you will have to drive over to Maydelle if you want
to look at the plans.
One more thing to consider: potter's wheels really hold their
value, unlike 4-year-old Kia Sephias, so buying a wheel is not
like just spending money that is gone forever. A home-made
wheel is a more personal thing, and, should you want to sell
it, no one else will ever appreciate it as much as you do.
Don't build a wheel just to save a few bucks, do it only if you
like building things.
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
Question for all those do-it-yourselfers and penny-pinchers alike:
What was the round-figured cost of your homemade kick/treadle/electric
wheel, and was it cheaper than a relatively young used electric wheel (3-5
years old)? I ask the question because I am trying to decide if I should
pursue building my own wheel or begin looking for a used one.
I am pretty handy with saw, chisel and hammer, and I have a neighbor who
would probably be willing to teach me welding if I asked.
Taylor, who is also enjoying these cool Texas days.
Terri Miller on sat 26 apr 03
Hello all! I am seeking info about a company called "Bruce" that made
handsome, simple kick wheels in the Denver Colorado area during the early
1970's. I am told the company went out of business by the mid-1970's. The
wheel was purchased and used by many schools in the area, as they were
virtually indestructible. If anyone has info on this company, the
principals, the plans for the wheel, or has a wheel to sell, please let me
know?
I am actually travelling to Colorado with my Dad, simply to go photograph
and sketch the plans for the wheels that are still being used at Arapahue
Community College, in Littleton Co., in mid-May. I would be thrilled to
purchase a wheel, if one was available, and we could take it with us!
Thanks!
Terri in Orlando, Florida
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