Speedball Boss Elite SQ Pottery Wheel Review

Finding a quality potter’s wheel that won’t cost an arm and a leg can be a challenge – especially if you are new to pottery and don’t quite know what to look for.

Thankfully, the Speedball Boss Elite SQ Pottery Wheel is a pricey but still somewhat affordable machine that will make even the fussiest potter happy.

Boasting a number of useful features and a very sturdy build, this is a potter’s wheel capable of tackling just about any project.

But no machine is perfect, so where does it fall flat? Where does it excel and where does it need some help?

We’ll cover all that and more in our Speedball Boss Elite review, so you can see if this is the right machine for your needs!

Speedball Boss Elite SQ Pottery Wheel: The Details

Specs:

• Weight: 8 pounds.
• Dimensions: 4 x 24.6 x 23.3 inches.
• Wheel Head Size: 14 inches.
• Centering Capacity: 175 lbs.
• Warranty: Five years – 10 years if bought direct from Speedball.

Construction

An all-steel construction means all-around strength and stability for the pottery wheel. Add in a three-legged design, and little other than an earthquake will cause the Speedball to topple.

As for the motor, it brings enough horsepower to the table to keep the wheel spinning even at max capacity.

A broad table provides space for water jars and spare clay, and the full splash pan catches any stray mess.

Accessories

A pleasing number of accessories come with the Speedball, including the splash pan, twelve-inch and seven-inch bats, and an instructional DVD.

Features

Reversing Plug

The Speedball comes equipped with a reversing plug, allowing users to flip between clockwise and counter-clockwise in a smooth transition.

If users have a certain technique or are left-handed instead of right-handed, this delivers the ability to customize it accordingly.

Whatever direction you want the wheel to turn in, the Speedball can accommodate.

Raised Work Table

In order to house large projects, the work table attached to the wheel is raised.

This provides a massive base to physically hold more clay – or to also hold additional equipment, should you be working on smaller projects and therefore have added space.

It’s suitable for the larger tasks of a professional – or an ambitious – potter, or for those who want their workspace all inclusive.

Centering Capacity

The centering capacity of the Speedball Boss SQ is rather impressive – able to shoulder 175 lbs. of clay at once. This is no small feat by any standards!

If you want to create large sculptures, thick pots, or something unique but demanding, then the horsepower behind this machine will ensure the motor doesn’t burn up when faced with a heavy load.

Powder Coated Pedal

Powder coating, aside from providing a pleasant look to the metal, creates a layer of protection against corrosion and oxidization.

Considering that the pedal is likely going to get smeared in clay and water, this is a clever bit of forethought from the designers.

By doing so, they’ve ensured that the pedal won’t rust, but instead, stays in tip-top shape, increasing the overall longevity of your pottery wheel.

Adjustable Legs

A great feature for those working on uneven surfaces or who like to work at specific heights, this pottery wheel comes equipped with adjustable legs.

It can be raised for those who like to stand or who are taller in the waist than most and lowered for sitting users or those who prefer a certain height for their arms.

Pottery is a task that takes a long time, and few enjoy sitting hunched over a desk for hours on end. This gives users the flexibility to adjust their wheel and themselves into a more ergonomic setting.

Variable Speed Control

This feature allows users to customize the speed of the wheel to their specific project or experience levels. You really have absolute mastery over the pace, which is always good for getting into the groove.

You can speed it up for smooth finishes or slow it down for detail work that requires more focus.

As experienced potters know, keeping the wheel at a consistent speed is important, ensuring the final result looks as you intend, while also preventing accidents or messes.

Splash Pan

A typical feature of modern pottery wheels, a splash pan allows you to go full-force with your project, while not painting the entire room in clay.

The plastic build is easy to disassemble after use and allows you to keep run-off from your project secured in the pan itself, safe from the floor.

Considering how much clay you can throw with a wheel of this size, it is awesome that the splash pan offers full coverage and has a deep reserve, requiring less frequent emptying.

Warranty

A long warranty is always a pleasing thing. It shows that Speedball is confident that their products are worth the money.

Since five years is ample time to decide if there are defects in the machine, it inspires a great deal of confidence, allowing you to purchase the pottery wheel and then receive a replacement if a few months – or years – reveal an issue in its build or features.

You’ll get a five-year warranty from second-party sellers, and a ten-year warranty if you buy directly from Speedball.

There are price differences to consider, so be sure to weigh your options between vendors.

Speedball Boss Elite SQ Pottery Wheel Review

The Positives

Great for Classrooms and Learning

When providing classes to new potters, you run into all experience levels and restrictions.

The splatter pan makes it easy to contain messes that are typical for beginners, the heavy duty capacity ensures you can teach more advanced users without worry of burning up your device, and the adjustability makes it simple to fix the machine to suit each unique student.

The features included in this pottery wheel make for a forgiving device that’s catered to all levels.

Beginners will have the freedom to experiment while more advanced users won’t feel bogged down by simplicity.

The learning curve on this intuitive machine is small, so you won’t have to worry too much about learning just the right techniques for this pottery wheel.

Easy Cleaning

Whether you’re teaching a classroom or going solo, this machine is easy to clean.

Nothing is more annoying in the creative process than a lengthy clean-up time, when you’d rather take a break or quickly move to the next project.

Luckily its steel frame, powder-coated feet, and splash pan ensure the mess is kept to a minimum – and that clean-up is fast and easy.

You could take a hose to the entire machine, adjust the legs to ensure all nooks are tidy, and experience no worry of rust.

Sturdy and Powerful 

The Speedball Boss Elite SQ pottery wheel is built with high-quality materials and a powerful motor so it can handle a variety of projects.

You won’t have to worry about making bigger projects or using heavy amounts of clay with this machine. It can handle up to 175 lbs meaning its ready to tackle the biggest of pottery projects.

It won’t buckle under the pressure either. It will be rare to experience any bumps or skips with the pottery wheel due to its sturdiness, which takes away the hassle of spending the time to correct mistakes caused by your machine.

The adjustable legs allow it to stand sturdily on uneven floors so you don’t have to worry about hurting your pottery wheel by using it on an uneven surface.

Will Last a Lifetime

Speaking of this pottery wheel being sturdily built, this pottery wheel promises to last.

Pottery wheels that truly suit your needs are hard to come by, and should you be a hobbyist or a professional, it’s expensive to replace them every few years. That’s why it’s crucial your choice of machine is built to last.

The Speedball Boss Elite will certainly accomplish that task. The strong motor and steel body means you can batter it with heavy projects, expose it to the elements for idyllic outdoor pottery sessions, and it will keep trucking.

Should the worst happen, you still have a comfortable warranty!

Here’s a video showing the Speedball Boss Elite SQ in action.

The Negatives

Bulky

While a sizable worktable is an advantage, it can also be troublesome. If your workspace is rather small, you will need to rearrange accordingly.

If your projects are smaller, this will also make it more difficult to reach those crucial areas – especially at speed.

While it’s necessary to have this size, thanks to its heavy duty build and workload abilities, it can be annoying or off-putting for some potters.

Heavy

While this is great for the classroom, it might be a pain to get it there. And when you do get it there, it might be best to leave it there.

This machine is heavy, making it less than ideal for it to be a portable wheel.

If you plan on having this settled in a crafting room or permanent position, it won’t be too much of an issue, but if you’re hoping for something to travel with you then this wheel might be cumbersome.

Overall Verdict

Though somewhat bulky in size and shape, the Speedball Boss Elite SQ Pottery Wheel is one that most potters will be happy with.

Great for classrooms, with a good deal of customization, a very healthy warranty, and a solid build, this is a pottery wheel that will suit artists who know what they’re doing – or those who need something powerful to learn on.

Is this the best pottery wheel around? It just might be.

Where to Buy the Speedball Boss Elite SQ Pottery Wheel

Speedball isn’t new to the pottery scene. This company has a number of pottery wheels and tools in their trunk that have proven to be quality solutions to beginner and seasoned potters alike.

It’s no surprise that products like their Speedball Boss Elite SQ Pottery Wheel are easily available at crafting and specialty shops both in-store and online.

To start your search, you can check out the following online retailers.

• The Ceramic Shop (from $868)
• Sheffield Pottery (from $869)
• Soul Ceramics (from $884)

And of course, this pottery wheel is also available on Amazon.

That’s it for our Speedball Boss Elite SQ review. Are you curious to give it a try?