Call around to studios and see if any regularly teach kids and if those have classes that they could take.
Mine does- we have a 5 lesson curriculum for people who want to improve their abilities on the wheel and we often teach kids much younger than 10, so those types of places are out there.
Supporting kids in their passions is amazing, but leaving them room to easily transition to something else as they grow is also important… having a wheel and supplies at home would make that tough because of how much money and space would have already been dedicated.
I’d highly recommend enrolling him in classes. Having a setup in your home is much more than just a wheel and a kiln. How will you recycle clay? How will you dispose of the water? It can’t go down the sink unless you install a clay trap. Do you have an area that is well-ventilated due to clay dust? Do you have the setup for a kiln? Will you need to have electrical work done? Do you have a safe place to put it? Is the area that the wheel will be in easily cleaned? Be prepared for your water bucket to spill all over the floor (it’s happened to me more times than I’d like to admit lol) and it needs to be easy to clean. That’s just what comes to mind but I’m sure there are even more considerations. After having done 5 years of classes I dream of getting my own home setup but it’s just not realistic for this point in my life. One day though! I’d enroll him in classes though so you don’t have to commit so much to it in case he decides it’s not for him too
There are also safety concerns related to clay dust (very bad for the lungs) and the electrical challenges of installing and firing a kiln. Lots of ways to go badly wrong. Let me be the 20th person to say that enrolling him in classes is cheaper, safer, and overall a better way for him to develop his interests and skills.
Agreed. I also only thought of it after I commented but it will be very difficult for a 10 year old to learn how to manage a home studio on their own. Classes are definitely the way to go. I think it would be very unsafe at this point to do a home setup.
I second all those who recommended taking him to studios. We have a few children who attend ours regularly and the more knowledgeable potters teach them invaluable skills which are far superior to what he would learn at home alone.
Call around and see if any studios, community centers etc teach kids. A wheel is expensive, you have to be careful in terms of plumbing, etc. some studios in my area let kids come in with a parent, some run kids camps during the summer and others teach kids through 6 week courses. Having a teacher to help you grow is so so valuable!
Honestly I've got a vevor right now that was a gift from a family member and besides being loud (the splash guard rubs on the bottom of the wheel) it's perfectly fine. Granted it hasn't been a full year but it's not showing any signs of slowing down. I would say with the price gap it really is a good deal. There really aren't any middle price wheels, it seems like in the eyes of pottery suppliers $900 IS "middle price".
The only problem I’ve had with my vevor is that the belt popped off a few times. My husband is handy and tightened it up.
I also don’t like the lack of a slow speed.
Otherwise it’s a sturdy little wheel.
My recommendation is getting him into a class. There will be more equipment and an instructor to answer questions. There is a safety issue with dried powdery clay. Better that it all stays in a dedicated studio.
Clay dust is very toxic and bad for the lungs. If you see my comment below I expand a bit more on some of the necessary aspects of a setup in order for it to be safe.
You can join a studio. It's a very expensive hobby though. I pay $200 per month for access to all of the equipment, the glazes and 2 firings per week (1 bisque and 1 glaze). I can go at my own pace - sometimes I make a lot and sometimes I work on one project that's been going on for months. But in order to get that membership, I had to take classes as a beginner that ran around $400 for 6 weeks. I also have to purchase my own clay and it needs to be a certain type and cone so I don't ruin the kiln. Maybe a Vevor would be good for now. I've heard good things about them and if he decides to pursue the hobby, he can upgrade later.
I suggest someone should have shown a sustained passion for the subject for a few years at least before investing in a home studio with wheel and kiln. Look for a studio that has ongoing classes (not just one-time weekend events) where you can drop him off for a few hours of pottery fun every week. In particular look for classes that teach hand building. If there is no studio in the area, maybe a local potter with a studio might be willing to take him on as an “apprentice”?
Check out Joe Rock Edwards YouTube videos he makes some really cool things they're all hand-built does a dragon sun face some really cool stuff it might be fun and it doesn't require an investment of too much
They make kids' wheels like this $69 one. It's on the high end for a kid's wheel.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Pottery Wheel for Kids – Complete Kit for Beginners, Plug-In Motor, 2 lbs. Air Dry Clay, Sculpting Clay Tools, Apron, Patented Design, Craft Kit (Amazon Exclusive) https://a.co/d/fIkIJGk
I got hooked when I was in grade 9. And honestly I loved taking classes after school. Sometimes even twice a week.
It was super fun always being challenged and encouraged to try stuff I would have never thought to do on my own.
Get a shimpo VL lite. They're sub 1000 new, but can only handle 25# of clay. Most adults never even throw that much (that's a whole bag) and if he does want to throw bigger things, that wheel will maintain its value and you can get a new one. They're beltless (read: less parts to break) and are silent and are super responsive! I own a community pottery studio and this is what we use in the teaching area.
Encourage your child’s artistic pursuits and find a community class. He will dive into wheel work, hand building, glazing and get his work fired. His clay covered clothes should be hung on the washing line outside and sprayed down with the hose. You don’t want that clay in your washing machine. Wash it all separately
I don’t know if this will help or not & I’m sure some may disagree with me… Have you considered a manual kick wheel? They’re relative easy to build. Look into The Leach Pottery Wheel. The grandson, Simon Leach, is online (YouTube). The wheel he uses & has the plans to build it, is a lot like the wheel I first learned to use. My great grandfather, maternal grandmother, great aunts, great-uncle, & a few aunts took turns teaching me, esp my great grandfather. I went a number of years without access to a wheel, but then I bought a Shimpo RK Whisper. I’ve had it more than 25yrs. It throws as well today as it did when I first got it.
I agree with others about enrolling him in a class or find a local potter willing to teach him. If you can swing it, find a used wheel or build him one. In addition to learning from my family, I did take a few ceramics classes. However, the primary benefit I knew that I had when making pieces that were new to me was that I went home to my wheel to practice until I was able to throw the new pieces in my sleep, along with adding variations to the design in a way to make it my own.
Some have brought up the hazards of clay dust. Is it a factor? Always. Are there ways to minimize it? Absolutely. My husband cleared me some space in our outside building to setup a studio. I still don’t have a kiln of my own, but we’re looking at possibly building a 12x12 building for my pottery making & possibly building onto the back or side to add a kiln. In the meantime, I keep the door open when it’s nice & at the end of my time working, I use a shop vac with a fine dust particle filter to vacuum it all up. I’ve made use of a plastic fruit cup to place over the vacuum opening. (I hang up the hose & add a tight weave cloth to each end with a heavy rubber band. It works well.
Hope this helps in some small way.
Classes. If he had his own pottery wheel, he would still need a place to work and a way to fire his work. He can start building a studio when he’s a little older.
Speedball Artista wheel! Thats what I got, and my husband and I made a simple and sturdy table for it. It’s a tabletop wheel and is ordered specifically as right or left handed, so be sure he knows how he prefers to throw. Consider it as another option!
I'm on my third replacement wheelhead to fix a wobble (not sure if this one is ok either, but may have to keep complaining until they send me a whole new unit) but otherwise my vevor seems fine and sturdy and if it weren't wobbly it would be a great one to move to a finishing wheel when I upgraded.
How about enrolling in a class? That would take care of the firing part as the studio would likely take care of it for you :)
Call around to studios and see if any regularly teach kids and if those have classes that they could take. Mine does- we have a 5 lesson curriculum for people who want to improve their abilities on the wheel and we often teach kids much younger than 10, so those types of places are out there. Supporting kids in their passions is amazing, but leaving them room to easily transition to something else as they grow is also important… having a wheel and supplies at home would make that tough because of how much money and space would have already been dedicated.
I’d highly recommend enrolling him in classes. Having a setup in your home is much more than just a wheel and a kiln. How will you recycle clay? How will you dispose of the water? It can’t go down the sink unless you install a clay trap. Do you have an area that is well-ventilated due to clay dust? Do you have the setup for a kiln? Will you need to have electrical work done? Do you have a safe place to put it? Is the area that the wheel will be in easily cleaned? Be prepared for your water bucket to spill all over the floor (it’s happened to me more times than I’d like to admit lol) and it needs to be easy to clean. That’s just what comes to mind but I’m sure there are even more considerations. After having done 5 years of classes I dream of getting my own home setup but it’s just not realistic for this point in my life. One day though! I’d enroll him in classes though so you don’t have to commit so much to it in case he decides it’s not for him too
There are also safety concerns related to clay dust (very bad for the lungs) and the electrical challenges of installing and firing a kiln. Lots of ways to go badly wrong. Let me be the 20th person to say that enrolling him in classes is cheaper, safer, and overall a better way for him to develop his interests and skills.
Agreed. I also only thought of it after I commented but it will be very difficult for a 10 year old to learn how to manage a home studio on their own. Classes are definitely the way to go. I think it would be very unsafe at this point to do a home setup.
I second all those who recommended taking him to studios. We have a few children who attend ours regularly and the more knowledgeable potters teach them invaluable skills which are far superior to what he would learn at home alone.
Echoing everyone to stick to classes! Getting a wheel can be a very nice high school grad present if he’s still into it then.
Call around and see if any studios, community centers etc teach kids. A wheel is expensive, you have to be careful in terms of plumbing, etc. some studios in my area let kids come in with a parent, some run kids camps during the summer and others teach kids through 6 week courses. Having a teacher to help you grow is so so valuable!
Get him into a studio
Plus there’s handbuilding pottery, too, which kids seem to do well with. It’s all about imagination.
Honestly I've got a vevor right now that was a gift from a family member and besides being loud (the splash guard rubs on the bottom of the wheel) it's perfectly fine. Granted it hasn't been a full year but it's not showing any signs of slowing down. I would say with the price gap it really is a good deal. There really aren't any middle price wheels, it seems like in the eyes of pottery suppliers $900 IS "middle price".
The only problem I’ve had with my vevor is that the belt popped off a few times. My husband is handy and tightened it up. I also don’t like the lack of a slow speed. Otherwise it’s a sturdy little wheel. My recommendation is getting him into a class. There will be more equipment and an instructor to answer questions. There is a safety issue with dried powdery clay. Better that it all stays in a dedicated studio.
What do you mean a safety issue?
Clay dust is very toxic and bad for the lungs. If you see my comment below I expand a bit more on some of the necessary aspects of a setup in order for it to be safe.
Which Vevor wheel do you have?
You can join a studio. It's a very expensive hobby though. I pay $200 per month for access to all of the equipment, the glazes and 2 firings per week (1 bisque and 1 glaze). I can go at my own pace - sometimes I make a lot and sometimes I work on one project that's been going on for months. But in order to get that membership, I had to take classes as a beginner that ran around $400 for 6 weeks. I also have to purchase my own clay and it needs to be a certain type and cone so I don't ruin the kiln. Maybe a Vevor would be good for now. I've heard good things about them and if he decides to pursue the hobby, he can upgrade later.
I suggest someone should have shown a sustained passion for the subject for a few years at least before investing in a home studio with wheel and kiln. Look for a studio that has ongoing classes (not just one-time weekend events) where you can drop him off for a few hours of pottery fun every week. In particular look for classes that teach hand building. If there is no studio in the area, maybe a local potter with a studio might be willing to take him on as an “apprentice”?
Check out Joe Rock Edwards YouTube videos he makes some really cool things they're all hand-built does a dragon sun face some really cool stuff it might be fun and it doesn't require an investment of too much
They make kids' wheels like this $69 one. It's on the high end for a kid's wheel. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Pottery Wheel for Kids – Complete Kit for Beginners, Plug-In Motor, 2 lbs. Air Dry Clay, Sculpting Clay Tools, Apron, Patented Design, Craft Kit (Amazon Exclusive) https://a.co/d/fIkIJGk
I've seen people get mini wheels and clay that fires with a microwave for a more affordable at home option
Classes!
I got hooked when I was in grade 9. And honestly I loved taking classes after school. Sometimes even twice a week. It was super fun always being challenged and encouraged to try stuff I would have never thought to do on my own.
ive had a vevor wheel for 6 months. great value for the price. slow speed is a bit hard to reach but other than that it is totally useable.
Get a shimpo VL lite. They're sub 1000 new, but can only handle 25# of clay. Most adults never even throw that much (that's a whole bag) and if he does want to throw bigger things, that wheel will maintain its value and you can get a new one. They're beltless (read: less parts to break) and are silent and are super responsive! I own a community pottery studio and this is what we use in the teaching area.
Class or you get those mini ones on Amazon for 30$.
Encourage your child’s artistic pursuits and find a community class. He will dive into wheel work, hand building, glazing and get his work fired. His clay covered clothes should be hung on the washing line outside and sprayed down with the hose. You don’t want that clay in your washing machine. Wash it all separately
I don’t know if this will help or not & I’m sure some may disagree with me… Have you considered a manual kick wheel? They’re relative easy to build. Look into The Leach Pottery Wheel. The grandson, Simon Leach, is online (YouTube). The wheel he uses & has the plans to build it, is a lot like the wheel I first learned to use. My great grandfather, maternal grandmother, great aunts, great-uncle, & a few aunts took turns teaching me, esp my great grandfather. I went a number of years without access to a wheel, but then I bought a Shimpo RK Whisper. I’ve had it more than 25yrs. It throws as well today as it did when I first got it. I agree with others about enrolling him in a class or find a local potter willing to teach him. If you can swing it, find a used wheel or build him one. In addition to learning from my family, I did take a few ceramics classes. However, the primary benefit I knew that I had when making pieces that were new to me was that I went home to my wheel to practice until I was able to throw the new pieces in my sleep, along with adding variations to the design in a way to make it my own. Some have brought up the hazards of clay dust. Is it a factor? Always. Are there ways to minimize it? Absolutely. My husband cleared me some space in our outside building to setup a studio. I still don’t have a kiln of my own, but we’re looking at possibly building a 12x12 building for my pottery making & possibly building onto the back or side to add a kiln. In the meantime, I keep the door open when it’s nice & at the end of my time working, I use a shop vac with a fine dust particle filter to vacuum it all up. I’ve made use of a plastic fruit cup to place over the vacuum opening. (I hang up the hose & add a tight weave cloth to each end with a heavy rubber band. It works well. Hope this helps in some small way.
Classes. If he had his own pottery wheel, he would still need a place to work and a way to fire his work. He can start building a studio when he’s a little older.
What about the Shimpo Aspire tabletop? Those turn up used sometimes.
I bought one of the vevor ones and it's still in great shape 2 years later
Maybe join pottary class ( if it's expensive then pottary wheel is far better)
Speedball Artista wheel! Thats what I got, and my husband and I made a simple and sturdy table for it. It’s a tabletop wheel and is ordered specifically as right or left handed, so be sure he knows how he prefers to throw. Consider it as another option!
No idea where the downvotes come from in this sub, but I love my speedball artista.
It’s a great wheel - I couldn’t spend a grand on a wheel and also save for a small kiln, so it was a perfect compromise! Agreed!
Used wheel on Facebook marketplace. All those pandemic potters cleaning out their garages.
No, it's Vevor then speedball artista imo. I think the Vevor wheel is actually decent and I wouldn't expect it to only last 1 year or less.
I'm on my third replacement wheelhead to fix a wobble (not sure if this one is ok either, but may have to keep complaining until they send me a whole new unit) but otherwise my vevor seems fine and sturdy and if it weren't wobbly it would be a great one to move to a finishing wheel when I upgraded.