I don't know if this is a good way to make a pottery wheel or not, but this is exactly how a instructional video should be made. This is one of the best "How to " videos I have ever seen,prefect editing, clear and concise information and most importantly, all information pertained only to that project being worked on. Keep up the good work ,Lou.

@donm6578

6 жыл бұрын

Maybe a variable speed fan motor would work better. As you pull the clay and it becomes thinner, one will want to slow the wheel speed. Pretty good idea and very detailed instruction, just needs some kinks worked out.

@JulesHunterHillBigSkyBeauty

6 жыл бұрын

This Is. EXCELLENT

@hughmorris2008

5 жыл бұрын

AND NO STUPID MUSIC ♫♪ IN THE BACKGROUND!!!! Kudos

@KnaussLarks

4 жыл бұрын

I was skeptical on your comment and I concede you nailed it. That is a great DIY tutorial. You can watch as a beginner and gain some questions or much more advanced and still have deeper questions while being totally satisfied. A+

@brittanydiane214

4 жыл бұрын

john smith I came to give the same feedback... 4 years late but still. Lol

HowToLou I would change one thing on this potters wheel. I would raise the motor a bit higher, then I would cut the plywood that is going to be the surface for the clay about 1" wider than the top of the bucket. By doing that, the wood would extend over the sides of the bucket and not allow any water or clay to drop into the bucket. Actually, you can also put a lid on the bucket with a cutout in the middle of the it making it just large enough so that the wooden top can be screwed into the motor. The plastic lid would definitely ensure that no water would make it down to the motor area. I think that you did a great job on this Lou, my hats 🎩 off to you. 😎

@HowToLou

7 жыл бұрын

+Frank Daniels - thanks for the ideas. Actually, the top plate is inside the bucket by design. Any water that sits on top of this "spinning umbrella" gets thrown off and hits the inside walls of the bucket and drips down to the bottom and never touches the motor or electronics. You do have to drill a hole in the side of the bucket to let it drain, which I forgot to show. If you put the plate above and outside the bucket, it will spray water everywhere.

@Crazybird920

6 жыл бұрын

many potters work without a drip pan, they normally just work more efficiently with less water. one half inch is normally not enough of a barrier to be throwing in your living room, so you'd probably be in the garage or outside anyway. a problem with letting the water drip down to the bottom is that even if you let it drain, there will be significant buildup of clay deposits on the bottom, which is a significant silicosis hazard if you plan to use the wheel a lot. idk maybe you could rinse it too. anyway thanks for the really nice video

@dolphinrider5905

3 жыл бұрын

@@Crazybird920 this was my thought too. The excess clay needs somewhere to go. Not just for the motors sake but for recycling as well.

@MamBoots

2 жыл бұрын

This is what I was thinking. The video is FANTASTIC and super helpful however I would definitely want to include a catch tray for both water and excess clay , especially where i want to be working with tara cotta. Otherwise though, I have this video saved!

@angelviloria4966

8 ай бұрын

CLEANING CONCERNS - build as shown. Cut bottom of bucket off. Insert entire thing into a 2nd bucket (for structural strength and to catch water). You will have to make holes in the side of the second bucket for string and power cord (large enough to pass plug through). To clean, simply take second bucket off and you have full access to interior underside. Of course, as before, you still have to remove the top wheel to clean under it. Great video. I plan on building one for my kids.

You can add a dimer switch to control the speed of your wheel as well. Cool do it yourself tutorial man.

@dougfoster445

Жыл бұрын

Do not use a dimmer on a fan motor.

@jimmyjimmison2376

Жыл бұрын

a fan speed control switch will accomplish what you want, but it's a good idea to make sure the switch is compatible with the fan before putting it all together (sometimes the brand of each matters). A dimmer switch meant for a light will not work on a fan.

Made mine last night. Thank u so much for the video. My kids are already loving it. They are also using the wheel for drawing and other arts. Took me about 5 hrs to make. The only thing i did different was to use the power wire from an old hair drier. Because of the water i wanted built-in GFCI. Again. Thank u!

I am a wheel throwing potter since 1977. My favorite wheel is my Shimpo RK and cost close to $1300. I also have a Brent CXC $1500. I am going to build your $50 ceiling fan pottery wheel and give it to my grand daughter. I am sure I could turn a beautiful pot on this creative solution to the expensive professional wheels. I will say that a variable speed control is a must for any pottery wheel. The wheel head also needs a lot of torque from the motor because of the pressure required to center the clay. It's probably perfect for a young newbie. Use a Formica sink cut out for a wheel head to keep the water from rotting the plywood. Excellent tutorial. Two thumbs up.

@michaeldausmann6066

7 жыл бұрын

torque is the key issue with this design, I made it, and it just don't have it. can only throw small items I think, centering large ball of clay just stops the wheel.

@JobMcKee

7 жыл бұрын

not a design issue - just requires a more powerful motor. A lot of ceiling fans are actually quite weak, like the one I used.

@spencerwagner903

3 жыл бұрын

@@ClownWhisper will you just shut up. You are throwing a fit on everyone’s post except of course those that have made it and confirmed it works and is safe. You claim to be a potter but that doesn’t mean crap, every other potter on here has stated that this is a good project and works fine. Don’t like, don’t make it. Now shut up

Two thumbs up for the project. I am in the process of making it right now. Not expecting much like a real potter wheel, but i think it might be a great wheel for a startup child. Concerns i have is the electrical being under the the wheel, i understand that the wheel will be like an umbrella but every once in a while if you press hard enough you will stop the spin and water might drip. Since i encountered the same problem as one of the other people with a wire coming off. I took on the project of taking apart the motor, removing all the wires and substituting them with longer wires... (this involves some soldering, alot of patience to take apart the thing) now i will have the electrical part outside of the bucket away from the water. I will also add an old plastic chopping board to the bottom of the wooden board to eliminate the possibility of water seeping through onto the motor, rubber gaskets possibly where i screw the top board. I think this is a fun project, and thank you so much for the great video.

@HowToLou

9 жыл бұрын

Layth Sudairy - Very nice modifications. Once you get it done, please upload a video, showing your wheel and improvements to HowToLou@gmail.com, and I will post it on my web site for others to see. Thanks, Lou

@flyinspirals

9 жыл бұрын

Layth Sudairy I'd be concerned about that, too, but wonder if one couldn't just make a more effective umbrella, something like half of a plasic container (like those awful plastic barrels of cheeze puffs you see) sealed like an upside down bowl to the bottom of the upper disc? Your idea sounds great but a little out of my depth -- I could just about do the project as shown : )

Should also have installed a ground wire because you are working with water & electricity - three prong cord - one extra wire may save your life. Nice construction.

I think the quality and clarity of this video is superb, it sounds like you've really put some thought into this tutorial. I'm currently taking a clay class and I've just begun throwing so I'm not an expert on the topic and I'd love to have my own wheel to learn to throw better, however variable speed and a strong motor with a foot pedal would definitely be needed to make this homemade wheel better, along with plaster inside the bucket for weight and to reduce the wobble. The most important improvement though, would have to be lifting the wheel slightly above the buckets rim and placing a larger metal disk for the wheel that can be removed more easily to clean a rimmed clay catch all plate that could rest on the rim of the bucket. Also the catch all plate needs to be at least three inches wider in diameter from the metal spinning disk. If you made these improvements, I think cleaning would be easier. Oh and a ground wire to keep us all safe. I look forward to seeing more of your videos. Thank you for trying to find cost effective solutions for making these contraptions. I went to a clay shop and a professional wheel costs upwards of $1000+ dollars. So I'd spend up to $200 for materials if you can perfect your tutorial with these improvements. More people like yourself, who care about reducing expenses, would make this world a much better place.

Check out my newest video on how to make an apple masher and cider press with a ceiling fan motor and a few plastic buckets! kzread.info/dash/bejne/kZyWuauxlsmykqg.html

Good Lord, how did you ever figure this out. It, and you, are amazing and a very good instructor. I am a 65 y/o woman, and I know I could do this.

@HowToLou

7 жыл бұрын

+Jeanice Hays - Thanks. I just love to build things :)

Excellent tutorial. I love how you show the basic tools and then the ones that may not be available, but work better, so anyone can try their hand at it without having a lot of the more expensive power tools.Fortunately, I do have them, and will enjoy trying this soon.

Mastery. A simple little video, but every person making an DIY instructional video should watch this. Great detail. Did it so wide range of people with different tools and talents could find this very helpful. Thank you.

one thing I would recommend is not throwing directly on the head.... put pins in and use a plastic bat as the head has holes in it from the screws that hold it to the motor and you could get liquid seeping down through. also it keeps the wood head from warping due to water

Made it, no problems, went perfectly. Thanks Lou

@daleenross2977

2 жыл бұрын

Does it work though?

@joeygutierrez8930

2 жыл бұрын

plz post a video if you still have it

@DanaMariedotorg

2 жыл бұрын

@@daleenross2977 maybe it would work for throwing things one pound or abouts.

Great video, design and instructions. Thanks for your time, effort, and information, Lou!

Sweet I have always wanted a potters wheel! You have shown how to do this so well! Thank you! Now I’m off to collect the parts I don’t have on hand! Keep up the great tutorials!!!

THIS IS AMAZING!!!! I will definitely be making this, the cheapest potter's wheel I found was 350 and that was used, so this is much more cost effective. Thank you for this.

This is the clearest and most concise video I've seen on this topic. Thank you for your time and effort.

This does work...I tried it. It was great that this motor had 3 speeds, and it also had a reverse. But here are the problems I encountered. First of all, the slowest speed was still plenty fast at times. The main problem was that... my motor at least... had no torque to it. If you applied pressure to the wheel as you need to do when you center your clay...the wheel stopped spinning. It didn't have enough power to keep spinning. It only took a few times, and I burned up the motor. Maybe if all you are planning on throwing is little things, this might work for you...but my experience wasn't that great.

@TheMatsushitaMan

9 жыл бұрын

Your fan was a cheap one from China. LOL or you had a low power high speed fan.

@pikeevans8559

9 жыл бұрын

It was a Harbor Breeze. With 3 speeds and a reverse direction. Didn't appear to be a cheap one, but it was an old used one. It had no torque, and the slowest speed was too fast to do anything very big. It did work though...I just didn't have any luck with mine. Glad yours worked better.

@connecticutaggie

8 жыл бұрын

+Pike Evans See my comment above on what determines the speed of the motor. The low ceiling fan setting starves the motor and for a ceiling fan that has constant drag, that works; but won't for a pottery wheel where you introduce drag as you work with the clay.

@HowToLou

8 жыл бұрын

+Pike Evans - Mark is correct that the dimmer is starving the motor to slow it down, but that is actually ok, if you use it correctly. Set the fan at it highest setting. With no hands on the wheel, it spins too fast. Adjust the dimmer pedal to slow it down. As you put pressure on the clay, also adjust the dimmer pedal to give full power, so you have maximum torque to work the clay. You are not using the poedal to "set the speed". You are transferring the power from your foot to your hands and back.

@jyothishkumar9888

6 жыл бұрын

its true..if you give pressure it will stop

Thanks, it worked well for me!! with less than 20$!

Thanks for the great video! Nice to meet on the Internet a creative person with Golden hands and a smart head!

Bro, if you thought of this on your own, you're brilliant!!!!!

I would say you're probably a very good potter and a great creative imagination. Thank you for that altruistic endeavor. I doubt I'll ever need it but was amazed by how simple you made it look

Thanks for explaining this so clearly for dummies like me. Can’t wait to make this for my wife.

great video! the way you explained everything was so clear and understanding. Think I will try to build one. I am not a Potter but would like to start.

I really liked this video, so detailed, precise, practical, recycled and useful. Thanks so much for sharing and for take your time in editing and explaining the hole video in an excellent way. 👍🏽

Awesome video. Easy to follow. You covered every detail perfectly. THANKS SO MUCH!

hello! just finished building mine.. totally loving it! i used flower pots instead of bucket and a lazy suzann for the tray, i also got a pedal to regulate the speed... totaly having a blast turning right now!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!! BRILLIANT!!

@HowToLou

7 жыл бұрын

+Elodie Massa - you bet. If you get a chance, please send a video to HowToLou@gmail.com, and I will post it in my gallery. Thank you

this has to be one of the best diy ideas on you tube and so well explained-great video, thank You!

Thanks Lou. Following your video, I took a ceiling fan from a dumpster; and came up with a 3 speed, bi-directional, rotary table, for bottle cutting. Thanks again!

@HowToLou

4 жыл бұрын

Great adaption!!

I like the way you made the video easy for those who don’t have the fancy tools to make it possible and made genius ways to get the centre or screw holes perfect

Great idea! That lets me have a pottery wheel sooner than I thought I could. Thanks for saving me money!

Thank you so much for taking the time to show this 🙏 I’m only 8 years late in finding this 😆 Your instructions are great !

I am a potter (ceramist) i'll try to make this pottery wheel at home, it is an accomplished masterful thing you did..

Great idea and execution. Thanks a ton for sharing.

Thank you very much! Very useful information! Everything is clear and simple! Good luck!

brilliant, im going to try it

Thank you, I actually feel I could probably do this, with a little help. If we update our ceiling fans this summer I know where one motor is going!

Wow. A very well made and clear video. Thank you!

great video ! clear and precise. Thought I would be a bit nervous about water dripping down to the motor...

Outstanding video. You covered all of the bases!

I love the idea! Just want to add that cheap solutions are not always ideal. If you want a professional unit.... We'll then go buy one. Keep it coming Lou.

Thanks for teaching this, I can't wait to try it.

Wow great presentation! Love it. Now to get my son to make it. Brilliant

Great video! A solid basis. I will see about adding a variable foot pedal and using a metal stool for the base. I'm also looking for a cotton candy machine bowl to put the wheel inside of. Thanks for the inspiration.

Excellent idea and very well explained. Thanks

Great vid. Perfect execution

Showed this to my hubby and he said,"how much money do you need to buy one, here it is...." LOL

@annielaura7299

7 жыл бұрын

Sandy Mann Hahah! Exactly.

@bgneiting0074

6 жыл бұрын

Lol

@biancacardinale1994

5 жыл бұрын

Lol

@bhdivotfiller

5 жыл бұрын

Ha ha... a good potters wheel cost a thousand bucks.

@sabrinaflipse7732

4 жыл бұрын

Lol 😂

You are excellent at explaining. Great project too!

Brilliant, I Love it. a variable speed fan control switch, could make a big difference.

Very impressive video , clear instructions

It was a great video; you showed tool & technique alternatives for the build. 👍

HI Lou. Great video! your instructions were clear and concise and gave me the confidence to build this for myself, waay the most complicated thing I have built for myself, also gave me an excuse to buy new tools ;). I added a variable speed fan controller also. Results were a little disappointing, torque was low so I guess I didn't get a large enough motor. It might be strong enough to throw cups or smaller items with patience I guess.

@HowToLou

7 жыл бұрын

+Michael Dausmann - thanks for that comment. Yes, this is no commercial wheel, but way better than a toy wheel, for near the same price.

Hey, way cool man, thanks for posting this great idea. God bless you!

Great idea! You just saved me lots of money! Thanks

that is very good and practical! thank you mate

Terrific idea and an outstanding video. Thanks.

thank you soooo much! I will try to make it soon, because I really need a pottery wheel. I will follow your instruction. Thanks again!

You just made me one very happy lady THIS IS PERFECT for a penny pincher like myself who thought she would never have a wheel 😍😍

this is incredible Lou. Can't wait to check out more of our videos

I tell ya what, I'll give you $50 and take that one there off your hands.

@reimagine207

6 жыл бұрын

homesweetgliese 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂👍🏼

@daisyzantjer508

6 жыл бұрын

I'm with you on that one. I'll be happy to pay $50 for them to build it and ship it to me.

@carlacampbellart8028

5 жыл бұрын

I support that idea too!!

@derrickjohnson3656

5 жыл бұрын

Hahahahaha right thats alot of fucking work...

@cynthiareyes2044

4 жыл бұрын

homesweetgliese 😂😂😂😂

You sir are very ingenious! Great job!

Excellent video and idea!!!

I've wanted to get a wheel, to costly. I will have to try this. Thanks for the video, hope I can make it.

Wow 😯 that sure was very clever idea good job 👍 thank you for sharing

Fantastic idea! Great job making this too, by the way. Glad I came across it. I want a wheel but not sure if I want one bad enough to pay a fortune for a new one. What if I decide I’m no good at pottery! Thanks for the great idea. I’m going to try this!

I will be using some of the concepts from this in the development of my schools satellite altitude determination system's testing rig. This has given me lots of ideas for the testing rig.

@HowToLou

10 жыл бұрын

Cool! That sounds like a neat project. Good luck with it.

This is a brilliant idea, a well-executed prototype and great instruction. May seem somewhat dangerous given the water that comes off a wheel head. You've 'properly' isolated the electrical issues in the peanut butter jar except for the penetrations for powercord and switch string. Btw, good choice on the string as a non-conductor control point between power and human. A pull chain is inappropriate when the device contains water and electricity. String is good. Plastic line is better. A drain hole in the bucket (remember the bucket bottom will have clay end up in the bucket off the wheel and even the clay buildup from dripping water can plug a single hole) or a number of drain holes at different levels is a third level of protection as water should never accumulate to touch the peanut butter jar. So that's your safety barrier. It ain't UL Listed but it's an excellent pragmatic solution for people who crave the feel of spinning clay but can't afford the ridiculous prices on even used electric wheels. They can adapt their handling to manage three different speeds. Variable speed ala light dimmer can be wired in on the outside of the bucket and wired straight into the jar with the switch on high speed. Not a great solution but, again, cheap and replaceable. Now if you can figure out how to build a pottery kiln in a refrigerator, the pottery world is at your feet.

Very cool idea. Thanks.

thank you so much brother. now its very easy for me. i think washing machine motor will be good enough for me.... again thank you so much for your time....

@Me-Just_me

8 жыл бұрын

I recommend a treadmill motor (can be found on craigslist for free in many areas and is what I used) these are variable speed motors and work better and are smaller than a washing machine motor. add a rheostat and a wha wha pedal for a guitar wire these in series and you have amazing fine tuned speed control comparable to most production wheels

A good idea would be to stick a plastic crawfish platter between the bucket and motor, so you wont' have to worry so much about everything below the motor getting wet. It could also be removed for cleaning.

bookmarking this! Thanks for the fab video!

Tks for the video Lou. loved it.

Oh my gosh, THANK YOU! Thanks to you, I might finally get a pottery wheel! Can't wait to try it!♥:-) ♥

Great overall video , I'm gonna make myself one !

Fantastic presentation.

Brilliant! thank you!

Thanks for the hint. I've got my eye on a pedestal fan and some old chairs to make a table. As I'll be using an existing plug in don't need to bother with wiring or burning houses down accidentally.

Id recommend tying a knot on the inside part of the power cord to keep it from coming out if its pulled on.

Brilhant.Congratulations.

Nicely done! Have to tip my hat at how well the video is made. very clear, lots of tips, no unnecessary chit chat. moves along. Only at the end, (the Potterywheel itself) i would of had the wheel be broader then the bucket. Now the bucket will collect clay droppings and water

@HowToLou

7 жыл бұрын

+liefdegator1 - that was by design, not accident. A wheel above the bucket would splatter water and clay everywhere. This design catches it. Cut a hole in the side to empty occasionally.

very thanks for the video nice explanation

thats so awsome thankyou for your time

thank you for that valueble info...

You could use this for small projects for kids. Maybe add a rheostat like another poster said. Maybe look for a higher torque motor for bigger projects. But for the project and end result in itself, I give it two thumbs up. Nice work HowToLou!

Well.....I made my incredible pottery wheel. Thank you so much for this info. I am a 77year old woman, and could follow your instructions. The cost here in South Africa, Bucket R52.00, Second hand ceiling fan R225.00, Plank R170.00 = R447.00 R15.00 = $1

فكرة رائعة شكرا على جهدك و وقتك ❤

Awesome, I’m inspired!!!!!

Sweet...not much of a potter but a excellent builder....thanks for that...

Excellent tutorial!

Wowser!! You are amazing, Because of You,,, I can do this 🎉❤ Thanks so much

Professional work .

Wow, that is awesome. Thanks!

Nice job and thanks for posting!

Very cool, great job

so cool! I might have to do this some time

Thanks for the diy

Thanks a lot This was useful

Fantastic. Thank you

A couple of suggestions,use a three prong cord and hook up the ground,get a rheostat (a dimmer switch might work) to control the rpm for better control.nice idea and good video.

@HowToLou

8 жыл бұрын

+Chuck Cassel - Good suggestions. Several people have suggested a sewing machine pedal.