Pottery and Ceramics Tools
Building a Kick Wheel
Tools for Pottery
Tips & Techniques for Pottery and Ceramics
Clay Pottery Craft Projects
Clay Pottery Articles of Interest
Old Time Pottery History
Pottery and Ceramics
Featured Potters Gallery
Pottery and Ceramics Definitions
All About The Clay
All About Pottery Glazes
|
Pottery & Ceramic Tools Pottery Wheel All About Kilns Detailing Tools Creating Your Own Pottery Tools Lost Pottery Tools Building a Kick Wheel Plaster Bats Caring for your Brushes |
A kick style pottery wheel can be very simple and relatively cheap, probably under $60.00 to build.
All you'll need is:
WoodSaw
Sanding Materials
Bolts
Screws
Steel Stock
Bearings
Fittings
Cement
Building Materials
One 30 foot 2 x 4One 14 foot 4 x 4
Two 1 inch x 12 inch x 30 inch plywood
One 1 inch x 24 inch x 24 inch plywood
Four 12 inch x 5/8 inch dowel rod
Two 5 inch x 3/8 inch bolts
Thirty Two 6 inch x 1/2 inch bolts
Eight 7 inch x 1/2 inch bolts
Four 9 inch x 1/2 inch bolts
Four 5 inch x 1/2 inch bolts
Four 3/8 inch x 2 inch lag bolts
Four 1/4 inch x 4 inch lag bolts
Sixteen medium weight 2 inch wood screws
One 1 inch x 36 inch steel stock shaft
One 1 inch pillow block bearing
One 1 inch flange bearing
Two pulley wheels
Four 2 inch "U" bolts
90 lbs. cement
This is about what the kickwheel will look like when it is finished.
Building the Frame
Begin by cutting the 2 x 4's and 4 x 4's into 30 inch pieces.
Create the bottom frame by making a square from four 30 inch 2 x 4's.
Next four 4 x 4 pieces are attached upright in the corners, using the 6 inch bolts.
One 4 x 4 is placed longwise in the center of the bottom frame and secured by four small blocks using more 6 inch bolts.
Next cut three 28 ¾ inch 2 x 4's.
These will be cross supports with the front left open and should be placed at a level for resting the feet of the individual who will be using the wheel.
Attach with 6 x 1/2 bolts.
Take four 30 inch 2 x 4's and attach them with 7 inch x 1/2 inch bolts to the top of both sides of the front and back uprights.
This will support the seat and work table.
Attach one 12 inch x 30 inch piece of plywood to these supports using the eight wood screws.
Next, you will secure the flange bearing in the center of the bottom crosspiece using 3/8 inch lag bolts.
Make a support for the pillow block bearing using 2 x 4's.
Then find the center of the work top and center the bearing structure here, dropping the plum-bob to the center of the bottom bearing.
Next you will insert the shaft through the bearings.
Use the 9 inch x 1/2 inch bolts to secure.
To cast the flywheel you will want to find the center of the 24 inch x 24 inch piece of plywood and make a 23 inch circle using a compass.
Cut this out and drill a 1inch hole in the center.
Next, attach the pulley 2 inches from the bottom of the steel shaft with an arc welder or epoxy glue.
Use to "U" bolts to secure the plywood circle to the shaft.
Drill four 5/8 inch holes in the plywood.
Cut tar paper to make a seven inch high mold around the plywood circle.
Put the dowel rods into the holes.
Mix the cement and pour 5 inches into the mold.
Pull the rods up and down as the cement hardens to keep them loose.
When nearly set, replace with 5 inch x 1/2 inch bolts.
It may take up to two days for the cement to fully dry and harden, but after that you kick wheel should be ready for a test drive!!
Pictured above is two store bought kickwheels, you can also buy electric potters wheels.
The store boughten wheels are pretty spendy though!!
You can also purchase ready to assemble kits for making your own potter's wheel, but they are right around $250.00 I think.
There are a number of online resources about pottery and wheelmaking.
Your local craft store or pottery studio will also be able to offer help as you learn the art of pottery.
| Be to his virtues very kind and to his faults a little blind. |
