I have been using a Thomas Stuart with the removable large pan, which I really like, puts my water bucket close to me,for about a year now, and I'm thinking it is too large for me to comfortably throw smaller things that require me to work at the center of the wheel, like mugs. I am having back trouble when I make smaller things, but not when I throw over 4 lbs and work closer to my body. Would you please measure your wheel from center to outside edge of pan or base? I may need to change wheels. Even when I put the chair slap against the base of the front of the wheel, I'm really stretching to reach the center.