US Art Supply Large 12" Sculpting Wheel Rated
- Ease of Use
- Construction Quality
- Versatility
- Value for Money
- Smoothness of Rotation
Craft Schmaft Verdict
This is an excellent sculpting wheel, that rotates smoothly and is well made.
It’s not motorized, so definitely bear that in mind before you buy, but it’s easy to use and represents great value for money.
Finding the best pottery wheel can be one of the most difficult things about starting to make pottery at home.
The US Art Supply Large 12″ Diameter Sculpting Wheel is one of the most popular on the market — this review should clue you in on whether it’s right for you too.
Are weighted rims worth waiting around? Will you square your shoulders at the centering circles? Should you give the non-skid rubber boot the boot? Is the wheel head size good enough to put a spin on your expectations?
Making art is difficult enough without worrying about if you can rely on your sculpting wheel.
That’s why we’re here to answer any questions you may have, along with the most important question of all.
Will the US Art Supply large sculpting wheel be the best invention since — well, the wheel — or should you look elsewhere?
Let’s take it away…
Contents
US Art Supply Large 12” Sculpting Wheel: the Details
Specs
- Weight: 10.7 lbs
- Dimensions: 12.3 x 12.3 x 5.2 inches
- Wheel Head Size: 12 inch diameter
- Centering Capacity: Holds maximum 50 lbs
Construction
This 12” pottery wheel consists of three parts: first is the wheel head, which is made with heavy duty metal.
Then there’s the plastic base with a non-skid rubber boot to fasten this product to a surface.
Finally, there’s the ball bearing joint that’s also made of metal, which connects all the parts and helps the wheel head spin faster.
The shaft is about 2 inches tall, meaning this wheel ought to be used while sitting. However, this product can support up to 50 pounds, so it also allows for fairly hands-on approaches with your art pieces, regardless of their size.
Accessories
Upon delivery, the US Art Supply Large 12″ Sculpting Wheel includes:
- A 30-centimeter diameter spinning wheel
- Ball bearings
- Non-skid rubber boot base
Features
Wheel Head Size
This cheap sculpting wheel has a 12-inch (or 30-centimeter) diameter head that can cater to small and medium sized projects.
It’s worth noting this wheel supports up to 50lbs at a time, which is pretty impressive given its size and price.
Centering Circles
The wheel head has three circles of different diameters that help you to place your projects in the center.
Although it’s not necessary to always keep your art in the middle of the wheel, the centering circles assist with balance.
For all you painters and sculptors, you might consider using these rings while spinning the wheel for consistent line work.
Weighted Rims
This has to do with inertia and a few other scientific laws that we’re not particularly clued in on, but basically: when the rims are built with added weight, the wheel head spins faster.
A good thing!
Made of Heavy Cast Metal
This cheap pottery wheel’s head is made of heavy duty plastic to prevent excessive sticking when sculpting and to facilitate cleaning.
Non-Skid Rubber Boot
The base of this sculpting wheel has a non-skid rubber boot to ensure this product won’t fall or move at undesirable times — i.e. just as you perfect that intricate line work.
It’s also worth noting this wheel can easily be transferred to different studios as opposed to wheels that need to drilled or otherwise reinforced into workspaces.
US Art Supply Sculpting Wheel Review
The Positives
A Fast Spinning Head
Despite the fact that the US Art Supply Sculpting Wheel isn’t motorized (don’t worry… we’ll be covering that soon), the weighted rims are an ingenious add-on to ensure that it spins fast regardless.
This one’s for those of you with a fondness for sculpting larger pieces such as bowls, vases, and cups. Sometimes, you need a fast spinning head to mold your art or to create consistent line work.
You also know what you don’t need: a slow, creaking, easily rusting, and uncontrollable sculpting wheel spinning head for your art.
That’s why US Art Supply added weight to their metal rims so the sculpting wheel will spin faster and longer.
Now you don’t have to stress about slow spinning and instead concentrate on crafting.
It’s Cheap
We love making pottery at home, but it’s definitely not the cheapest craft to take on — don’t even get us started on the cost of kilns!
This large sculpting wheel, however, is available for a great price and we think it’s a great buy for beginners and those wanting to start slowly.
Easy to Use
There’s little worse than starting an art project in mind only for it to fall off the spinning wheel or become uneven because it wasn’t centered enough.
There’s also the ongoing problem of having a centering guide only to find out your project’s too large to follow it.
This US Art Supply sculpting wheel gets it, which is why it offers three different sizes of centering circles to help you align your work.
Art is hard enough without spinning heads disappointing you and making your head spin thanks to these centering circles, but thanks to these centering circles, the only thing that will be spinning is your art.
Plus, the non-skid rubber boot is a god send too.
There’s little worse than working on a small detail for your project then the sculpting wheel moves unexpectedly and your piece is destroyed. It happens: it’s frustrating and oftentimes the only way to solve the problem is to get out your toolbox.
Luckily, this sculpting wheel comes with a non-skid rubber boot so once you choose where you want your wheel, it will actually stay put.
No more involuntary movements or abolished art; just balance so you can spend less time stressing and more time sculpting.
Excellent Construction
Few people will admit it, but one of the first things to look for when buying a sculpting wheel is whether or not it’ll be easy to clean.
There are so many horror stories of wasting wheels solely because they weren’t made of strong enough material.
Thanks to this wheel’s heavy duty metal design, the spinning head can easily be cleaned in between sessions to help with long-term use.
This way, you can spend less money on buying replacement wheels and more money on the projects and pieces you want to make.
Good Height
Like it or not, most people have a specific ways they like to do their art.
Some people paint left-handed, others don’t like using sculpting tools, and some people have to spin sculpting wheels with their hand underneath the device.
You can imagine how annoying it would be to train yourself to turn the table using the top of spinning head — especially if it’s wet from cleaning.
Thankfully, this wheel has about 2 inches of space below the wheel for your spinning convenience — because the only thing you should think about with your pottery wheel is the art you’re making.
The Negatives
It’s Not Motorized
There’s no point avoiding it: this wheel doesn’t use a motor.
Any spinning must be done manually, which may be alarming for those of you who prefer to sculpt symmetrical pieces like vases and bowls.
Of course, for those of you who plan on painting or sculpting other pieces, you might not require a motor whatsoever.
We suggest considering what projects you want to make with this wheel before purchasing.
Weird Initial Smell
This isn’t necessarily a major negative, but this pottery wheel definitely turned up with an odd odor when it first arrived in the mail.
This is likely due to poor ventilation during its delivery process.
It’s important to understand this smell isn’t permanent — it took a few days to totally wear off for us — but those of you who plan to buy in bulk for a class might want to consider this odor during your preparations.
We recommend opening a window, using a fan, cleaning the sculpting wheel, or spraying another scent to mask the smell.
Overall Verdict
The US Art Supply Large 12 inch Sculpting Wheel turned our heads and our art in its favor.
Sure, there might be a noticeable scent upon delivery and this model doesn’t use a motor, but the positives far outweigh any negatives for us, especially considering its low price.
Its weighted rims that allow for faster spinning, multiple centering circles, easy cleaning, space to place your hand underneath, and the non-skid rubber boot all call for celebration.
Highly recommended!
Where to Buy the US Art Supply 12″ Sculpting Wheel
As you might guess with its low price and beginner friendly attitude, this large sculpting wheel is a popular wheel indeed.
You can find in a variety of stores online, including the following:
And, of course, it’s available on Amazon.
Have you used the US Art Supply Large 12″ Diameter Sculpting Wheel?
