wayver138 Posted March 14, 2013 Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 I have had the inkling to build my own kick wheel for home use. I use an electric wheel at school but I have been drawn to kick wheels for quite some time. I was wondering if any one has a building plan or can point me in the right direction to one. I have seen several online but am not quite sure if one is better than another or how to tell for that matter. I have seen the Brent kick wheel kits, is that worth it? My guess is that it would ensure a strong structure? Any help is greatly appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronzelightning Posted March 14, 2013 Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 http://www.instructables.com/id/Country-Pottery-Kickwheel/step16/Measured-drawings/ these plans are fairly comprehensive, and are at least a very good place to start. using bricks to add weight to the flywheel seems not to be the best way of doing it, as once they're glued down, they aren't coming off. what may work better is cutting a few holes on the bottom of the flywheel and sealing the two boards together by their outer edge with some space in between, and filling the space in between with some sand, covering the holes in the bottom afterwards. that way, the weight of the wheel is adjustable, and can be removed if the wheel ever needed to be moved. also, the weight is pushed to the outside of the flywheel as it spins, which increases the rotational inertia which means the wheel will spin longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted March 14, 2013 Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 My first wheel was similar except it had pea gravel in the pie shaped pockets. It could be moved easily after removing the gravel. 2x4 was used for separating the sections rather than paving bricks. Weigh the gravel so your wheel is evenly balanced. It was a good wheel, quiet, and soothing. That wheel traveled with me from Boston, Upstate NY, to Carbondale, Ill Philadelphia, and to Montana. It was easy to take apart and put back together. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicAxe Posted March 14, 2013 Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 Making your own kickwheel is a fun project, just keep in mind material cost. In pillow mounts, shafts, fly wheel mounts and wheel head alone you could run a material bill upto about 200 bucks, easily. If you're doing it for a cheap wheel, make sure you try to reclaim materials for it to lower the cost, and expect much cursing. And when you do make your flywheel mount and wheel head shaft ... get good quality bearings, everything else can be cheap ... those must last a while especially if they get dirty. Check locally for a used kickwheel, you can sometimes find them for about $100-300 and you don't have to tweak and modify to get a perfectly level flywheel. One thing to consider if you want something a little more heavy duty and spins a lot longer and easier ... use a car tire bearing. ... the wheel is easier on the feet (rubber) and it is easier to get centered. especially if you can salvage out the pieces for next to nothing. ... and if you need a heavier flywheel ... you can fill the rubber tire with concrete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicAxe Posted March 14, 2013 Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 Oh and if you are looking for some variations on the same wheel ... http://theaestheticelevator.com/2008/08/19/im-not-a-potter-but-i-built-a-kickwheel/# http://www.motherearthnews.com/do-it-yourself/pottery-kick-wheel-plans-zmaz70ndzgoe.aspx www.bigceramicstore.com/information/WheelDesignSuggestions.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayver138 Posted March 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2013 Thanks everyone! I like the idea of pea gravel as the weight because I will probably have to move it a couple of times so that should make it a bit easier. I am going to go through the rest of these links, it doesn't seem like too daunting of a project. :)src="http://ceramicartsdaily.org/community/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif"> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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