Speedball Pottery Wheel Clay Boss Review

If you’re interested in making ceramic pots frequently, whether as a business or just as an in-home hobby, it’s time to consider buying a pottery wheel.

Owning this exciting tool yourself means a larger range of options in what you can create. However, it is quite an investment, and deciding which pottery wheel is best for your needs can be daunting.

The Speedball Pottery Wheel Clay Boss is a great choice, but depending on your specific needs, it may not be right for you.

Here we break down all the good and the bad, so you can decide if it’s a dream come true – or if you should keep shopping.

Speedball Pottery Wheel Clay Boss: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 8 pounds
• Dimensions: 5 x 17.1 x 15 inches
• Wheel Head Size: 14 inches
• Centering Capacity: 100 pounds
• Warranty: 5 years

Construction

This Speedball Pottery Wheel is quite large. The frame and wheel head are made of steel, and the tabletop is made of half-inch thick polyethylene, both of which add up to just under 70 pounds of pottery wheel.

The table has adjustable feet, at its tallest standing 19.5 inches tall, and is 26 x 21 inches wide. The motor has .5 horsepower, and the 14-inch wheel head possesses a 100-pound centering capacity.

It also comes with a foot pedal for simple speed control, as well as a reversing plug to quickly change the wheel head movement from clockwise to counterclockwise and back.

There is a splash pan attached to the wheel head for simple cleanup.

Accessories

The Clay Boss comes with a kit that includes:

• Two plastic bats; one B75, which is a 7.5-inch square bat, and one B12, which is a 12-inch round bat
• Samples of Speedball’s pottery glazes
• Instructional DVD

Features

A Wide Speed Range

Using the half-horsepower motor, this pottery wheel has speeds that vary from 0 to 240 RPM.

The speed is controllable via a foot pedal that comes with the wheel, which allows for quick, smooth changes that ensure your creation is always spinning at a rate you can fully control.

Extendable Table Legs for Sitting or Standing

The extendable legs on the Speedball Clay Boss allow users to either sit or stand when using the wheel.

This means if your back is beginning to ache after several hours or minutes of throwing, there’s no need to take a break or revamp your entire work station. Simply adjust the legs and begin again.

At its tallest, the wheel is 19.5 inches, and the table can lower from there.

Secure, Yet Convenient Design

The table and wheel head of the Speedball Clay Boss are made of steel, ensuring it can take a pounding even from the most inexperienced user.

The wheel head is also additionally coated enabling it to be super strong while still being lightweight.

The tabletop is made of a durable plastic, which is more suitable for resting things on, but is strong enough not to break apart.

The extremities of the foot pedal and the wire connecting it to the wheel are easily removable, which can be helpful in ensuring the more delicate parts won’t get destroyed if you need to transport it.

Strong Motor

This Speedball Pottery Wheel has a full half horsepower motor – and while that may not sound powerful, rest assured, it’s more than enough.

At a maximum of 240 RPM, you may not even use the full capacity of your Clay Boss when you throw pots; it’s meant to encompass and exceed your needs.

Load Sensing 

The Clay Boss Pottery Wheel has included load sensing control into its design so you won’t have to worry too much when adding more clay to your wheel.

This addition senses that you’ve added more weight and adjust to maintain the speed of the wheel head even when changing loads.

Speedball Pottery Wheel Clay Boss Review

The Positives

Lengthy Warranty

Ideally, the best wheel is the wheel that never needs replacing. However, if push comes the shove, it’s nice to know that you’re covered and you won’t lose money on this investment.

Unlike some pottery wheels, the Clay Boss comes with a lengthy five-year warranty, providing you with ample time to test out its strengths and weaknesses as well as discover any manufacturing errors.

If you do notice a manufacturing defect, simply contact Speedball and they will handle your repair or replacement.

That’s peace of mind you can trust!

They also include paying for ground shipping which means less headaches for you. Though if you need your pottery wheel ASAP, you’ll be responsible for paying for a quicker delivery.

It Can Take a Fall

The bolts securing the parts together, especially the ones securing the legs to the tabletop, are industrial-quality, which ensures they’ll stay connected through significant hardship.

Even if you happen to drop it or otherwise do things that may damage a smaller wheel, the Clay Boss will handle it just fine.

Good for Beginners and Experienced Potters

The Speedball Pottery Wheel Clay Boss is fully accessible to both newcomers and those who have been throwing pots for years.

It’s easy to control and has speeds that are great for small or large projects, depending on ability.

In addition, it has an easily-accessible reversing plug, making it available to left-handed and right-handed potters alike with no need for a custom order.

The Clay Boss pottery wheel even comes with an instructional DVD guide including a guide on how to throw your first pot as an extra bonus for newbies.

So if you’re new to the craft or hope to teach the kiddos one day, don’t worry – this is the right wheel for the job.

Easy to Use

For anyone worried about starting a new hobby with this pottery wheel, you can relax. The Clay Boss pottery wheel is designed to be easy to set-up and use without frustration.

As mentioned, the pottery wheel comes with an informative guide but the electric components like the reversing plug, and foot pedal makes the pottery life a little more simplistic.

The included foot pedal also has a “cruise control” option so you can comfortably create your masterpieces without constantly having to adjust the speed. And without the cruising option, you will just have more control over your project.

For more customization options, this foot pedal is removable if it doesn’t suit your style or needs.

The “easy-clean” top also ensures that cleaning up is just as easy as crafting with the Clay Boss pottery wheel.

Here’s a video showing what the Speedball Clay Boss Pottery Wheel looks like out of its packaging.

Smooth Operator

Its great to know the Clay Boss pottery wheel has an abundance of power and durability but what about its performance?

No need to worry about any jumping or skipping with this wheel as the Clay Boss runs smooth so you can get your crafting complete without any faults made by the wheel itself.

The Clay Boss won’t be causing a disturbance as it not only runs smoothly, but quietly. This pottery wheel model includes a “Quiet Brush” motor into its design and is said to be the quietest wheel operation in this price range.

This means you won’t have to worry about disrupting your roommate’s evening if you feel like doing some craftwork.

The Negatives

Maximum Centering Capability May Not Work for Everyone

The Pottery Wheel Clay Boss advertises a 100-pound centring capability, which is incredibly heavy for clay.

However, contrary to this claim, you may experience difficulty when using more than 15 pounds, and the maximum RPM may go down if you’re throwing incredibly large pots.

Most people who are interested in a pottery wheel with a 14-inch wheel head won’t be throwing anywhere near that amount, so it’s unlikely that you’ll have to worry, but it’s still important to keep in mind.

Very Heavy and Not Easily Transportable

Due to its considerable weight, if you’re planning to transport the wheel frequently, or move it from a higher surface to a lower one and back, it will take a lot of effort and may be frustrating.

This wheel is more suited toward those who will put it in one place and then use it at that place for a long time.

If you need your wheel to be portable, this is not the best pottery wheel for you.

Fixed Splash Pan

In order to increase durability, the splash pan on the Speedball Clay Boss is permanently fixed to the tabletop.

While it does increase durability, it can also be frustrating to people who need a larger pan, whether they’re making many pots at once or are simply making large pots.

There’s no room for customizing your experience here, which is a significant downside. However, if you’re charmed by the rest of it and are only making large pots occasionally, it may still be your ideal pottery wheel – with some clean-up.

Overall Verdict

The Speedball Pottery Wheel Clay Boss is definitely the best pottery wheel for beginners.

Though the durable build and five-year warranty protect against potential manufacturing issues, the frustration potentially associated with the splash pan may be too much if you’re in this craft professionally.

In addition, if you need to move your wheel often, shifting a 70-pound wheel over and over again can become tiresome.

However, if you’re making smaller pots, need a wheel that can take a beating, and aren’t using pottery as your main source of income, this is an excellent choice.

Amateurs will be hard pressed to damage the wheel, your bank can rest easy with the five-year warranty making this purchase a one-time event, and its strength allows you to test out your skills without needing prior experience.

Where to Buy the Speedball Pottery Wheel Clay Boss

The Speedball Pottery Wheel Clay Boss has become a popular item in the crafting world making it a little easier to find in your local retail stores or online.

Specialty shops are more likely to have this item in stock if you can’t find this pottery wheel at your usual crafting store.

Check out the following online retailers to start.

• Axner Pottery Supply (from $682)
• Clay-King (from $598)
• Sheffield Pottery (from $599)

But of course, it’s also available for purchase on Amazon.

That’s it for our review on the Speedball Pottery Wheel Clay Boss. Curious to give it a try?