Want to try something new out of the blue to bring out your inner artist? Pottery may spark your interest. We know buying a potter’s wheel can be expensive, so, we have gathered several DIY pottery wheel ideas that’ll help you build your own. Because you know what? Building it on your own is not that complicated! Plus, there is nothing like the pleasure of saying “oh, yeah, that? I built it myself.”
Also, check out the best clay for sculpting while you’re at it!
Top 12 DIY Pottery Wheel Projects
Below are some of the best DIY pottery wheel projects that we found on the net. None of it is ours but belong to the individual owners who created it. We are just curating all the best project for your convenience. Hope this helps! Enjoy!
1. Potter’s Wheel: Treadmill motor
Most DIY pottery wheels use treadmill motors as the machine; so, before anything else, here is a thorough instruction to guide you through the whole process.
If you have a lot of power tools then this project will be easy to complete. The treadmill motor will cost the most though. @Instructables said they price hunted and found one for approximately $40.
2. Potter’s Wheel with a Treadmill Motor
Almost there! Now that you have your motor ready, you may now proceed to the next step. This pottery wheel was made with salvaged goods and a few other items; making this a fairly low cost pottery wheel in comparison to buying one.
3. DIY Pottery Wheel from a Washing Machine
If you have an old washer that you’re planning to replace, you might as well make something new out of it! Know all the deets here. This design was constructed around approximately $25, compared to the $200 it could’ve costed.
4. Budget Potter’s Wheel
What shall man do if he’s out of money yet wants a pottery wheel? Take an advice or two from createniks that miraculously found a treadmill along the road on trash day; making it possible for this design to come in around $15 with the use of spare parts.
5. Leach Treadle Wheel
Electrically-powered wheels are so common these days because they’re much more convenient; but, there are also people out there who prefer to use a human-powered wheel. If you prefer the latter, this tutorial might be the one you’re looking for!
Leach treadle wheel are well known pottery wheels and there are numerous designs available online.
6. Potter’s Kick Wheel
Okay, so, you got everything else ready, but, you haven’t wrapped your head around how to do a potter’s kick wheel. Say no more! This guide is as simple as it can get. Read it slowly but surely and follow through.
7. Country Pottery Kickwheel
If you want a longer product life, you might want to consider building this inexpensive traditional pottery kickwheel for approximately $100. The instructions include some cheap tricks so make sure you read thoroughly!
8. Quick and Simple Pottery Wheel
A lot of posts these days have the words “Quick and Simple” in the title just to intrigue people, but, most of them are nothing but a clickbait! (isn’t it frustrating, sometimes?). Not this one, though! Instructables states this design can be completed in roughly 10 minutes. This DIY project is perfect for people that are into recycling! If that’s you, then, gather a mop bucket, some plastic pots and start building!
9. Pottery Wheel Using a Ceiling Fan Motor
Tired of reading through long and complicated tutorials? Just watch this YouTube video to know how to make a pottery wheel with a ceiling fan motor. Plus, you’ll only be needing around $50!
10. Junkyard Car Pottery Wheel
Here is another instructional video to teach you the most basic way to build a potter’s wheel – by using a car wheel and tire! Don’t get too excited, though. Make sure you read the video description before proceeding!
11. AC/DC Pottery Wheel
This Pottery wheel design uses an AC electric motor, but you can also go with a better yet expensive choice – a DC motor. The difference? A DC motor and speed control is easier than an AC motor; that’s why it’s the better choice.
12. DIY Pottery Wheel
Bob from I like to make stuff has a video, written, and visual tutorial to follow along as he shows you how to make a custom DIY pottery wheel. I like how he adjust the design as he goes because any experienced DIYer knows, things don’t always go as planned. This design is more expensive than the others but, it’s made using all new material, increasing the cost and the durability.
How to Make a Pottery Wheel from Scratch
Materials Required:
- One 55 gallon drum
- One piece of plywood, at least 24″x48″
- One tube of silicone sealant or construction adhesive
- One spade bit, size #16 (or larger)
- Two adjustable wrenches
- 12 screws, size #14 or #16 x ½” long
- 24 nuts, size ¼”-20
- 36 washers, size ¼” ID × ½” OD
Assembly Instructions:
Using the spade bit, drill a hole in the center of the lid of the drum. The hole should be large enough to fit the shaft of the motor comfortably.
The next step is to cut out your plywood base. The base should be large enough to fit the drum snugly, with about an inch of clearance all around. Once you have your base cut out, drill four holes in each corner. These holes will be used to attach the base to the drum later on.
Now it’s time to attach the motor to the lid of the drum. First, apply a generous amount of silicone sealant or construction adhesive around the hole you drilled earlier. Next, insert the shaft of the motor through the hole and screw it into place using two adjustable wrenches. Be sure to tighten the nuts securely so that the motor doesn’t come loose while in use.
Once the motor is in place, it’s time to start attaching the other parts of the wheel. Begin by screwing the washers onto the threaded rod, followed by the nuts. Tighten the nuts securely so that they don’t come loose over time.
Next, take the plywood base and place it on top of the drum so that the holes in each corner line up with those on the drum. Use a drill to pre-drill pilot holes in each corner of the base, then use screws to attach it to the drum. Make sure everything is nice and tight before moving on to the next step.
Now it’s time to add the support armature. This can be done one of two ways: either by welding it together or by using a construction adhesive such as silicone sealant. If you choose to weld it together, we recommend using a MIG welder. If you don’t have access to a welding machine, you can use a construction adhesive such as silicone sealant instead. Simply apply a thick layer of the sealant to both ends of the tubing, then press them together and hold for about 30 seconds until the adhesive sets.
Once the armature is in place, it’s time to add the clay bats. These bats help keep the pottery wheel stable while in use, and they come in different sizes depending on your needs. We recommend using at least three bats, but feel free to use more if needed. Attach them to the support armature by drilling small holes through each bat and into the tubing, then using screws to secure them in place.
Time to Get Those Wheels Spinning
Still scratching your head on where to start with your FIY pottery wheel? We hope not! If you have any questions, let us know and we’ll get back to you. Don’t give up, alright– You got this! And if you are looking for other DIY project, you might want to try creating a DIY End Table or look continue on this same train of thought and look into different kinds of sculpting clay. If you don’t have time and just want to buy an electric pottery wheel then check out this list. ‘till the next craft!