Search the Community

Hi, Would anyone know what the correct outside length is for the belt on the Brent model B? I live in England and getting branded parts is difficult and exorbitantly expensive. To be honest, I am also pretty cheap... I saw that the very badly deteriorated old belt had a code (430j 4), used that code to buy a cheap ($7 equivalent) belt. The grooves were correct but it was too long. Wrongly assumed the code covers the length. I could try and measure the very old shabby one I have, but I'm not sure if it's stretched or how good my measuring is. If anyone know the specified length it would be a great help Many thanks, Laurence

I was bequeathed an old Brent pottery wheel that has not been used for some time . I would like help in determining the model so that I can order parts, etc. where needed. Although I was expecting it not to be in working condition, I was surprised upon plugging it in and turning it on that the motor and wheel head ran quite smoothly. However, I suspect because of its evident age and use (or abuse) that parts will need to be repaired or replaced. This is the problem, I cannot find or determine the model number or approx date of manufacture (there are no model/serial number plates attached). There are some clues to its age and model, however (see pics): it has a yellow gold-color plastic deck (not steel) with perimeter ridge; the 12-inch wheel head (with bat pins 10-inch apart) has a flange beneath it to house a splash pan; the belt drive has a 4-ridge-3-groove belt; not sure of the motor HP but could be 1/2 HP; the motor housing is a blue-gray color; the foot pedal looks really old and instead of having "brent wheels" written on it, it is marked "robert brent" in the same script; the controller has no markings (perhaps worn/scraped off) and is in very dodgy condition. I am assuming that at a minimum the controller and foot pedal should be replaced and probably the belt too. The wheel head seems in reasonably good condition and there was not any unusual or aberrant noise when it ran. The top speed seemed a bit slower than I would like but I assume that this could be the fault of the pedal. I think the bearings are still OK. Would appreciate any info on age and model. Pete D

I have acquired two wheels however 1 foot pedal doesn't work and the other did not come with one. I am looking for a foot pedal for a Soldner wheel made by Bluebird. And one for a Brent wheel. I have heard that it's possible to get a pedal from another manufacturer to hook up to the Soldner since they are so pricey, but I need suggestions and help with that, please.

Looking for pottery wheels The new Chatham Clay Studio opening soon in Pittsboro is looking for 5 pottery wheels for our community classes to replace those destroyed by the flooding of Hurricane Florence. If you have a wheel that you're no longer using, please consider donating it to us this month, or point us in the direction of cheap used wheels. We will be happy to fetch your wheel(s) most anywhere in North Carolina with our trusty Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. Please email pictures, age of the wheel and cost to: ranchopark@gmail.com And please share this email with friends who may be interested in this project. Many thanks in advance for your support of this community effort. Stan Cheren Chatham Clay Studio 919.259.2665 -----------------------------------------------

Hi ceramics community - looking for your thoughts and guidance here. I just started in ceramics in January this year and love it. I took about (3) months of classes and have been in the community studio 9+ hours a week since I started. Where has this been all my life!? My question: I have set up my home studio on a budget to put more hours in and the last thing I'm missing is a wheel. I've been looking for the past few months and found someone selling a BRENT Model A that - based on research - I've gotten down to a reasonable price. Any suggestions on what I should look/listen for when I go to check it out for purchase this Saturday July 7th? I have attached a picture of the wheel and would really appreciate any beginner buyers guidance for an older wheel. Wheel Specs: 1/3 HP - 3 Amps - 110 Volt Thank you all in advance! -Kyle

Hello, I'm new to wheel repair and have a question that most likely has a very obvious answer that I'm just missing! Haha! I have recently acquired a Brent Model 15 wheel. I just replaced the orange belt, and everything went well with that, but when I started it up and it still wouldn't spin I took another look and realised that I must be missing another belt-type part. The issue is that spinning cone is unable to make contact with the gear. Is appears that there is a ring or something of the sort missing on the gear that would usually allow the cone to grip and spin it. Would anyone be able to tell me what that part may be called, and suggest a place to buy one? Thanks!

I have these 2 wheels which I bought used. the brent st-50 does this more where it wont stop after the peddle has been pressed down. the motor stops but it spins like a fly wheel. the shimpoo is a master series M-1. anyway if anyone knows how to fix this thanks.

I need to buy a new wheel. I’ve been throwing for about a year and a half. I’m also in the UK, which limits my options and jacks prices up. I need a wheel that: Has excellent control, so speed changes are precise and subtle. Can go very slowly. Will not speed up when I release my hands Has a pedal that stays in a fixed position (so I can step off it while the wheel runs) Right now I’m using a Shimpo Aspire. My wheel has speed and control problems. It judders or stops at very slow speeds. I’m throwing about 2kg/5lb of clay at a time. When centering or even pulling, the wheel can slow down. It then speeds up when I release my hands or ease up on pressure. This feels like a loss of control. I also tend to throw thin walls, so this herky-jerky isn’t a good combination. I’ll want to throw larger pieces in the future with more clay. I don’t want to have to speed up the wheel to counter its weakness. My tutor uses a Wenger Super 70 which I think is a .5 horsepower wheel. I like its power. Right now I’m looking at a Brent B. I think Hsienchuen Lin uses a Brent. Shame it’s noisy. I like the idea of a Whisper because it’s quiet and I've seen videos where it's turning *very* slowly, but I have questions about the build quality and power. It’s also 30% more than the Brent. I think Matt Horne uses a Shimpo. There some shops here selling Rodervelds and Skutt Prodigies, but I don’t know about the shops or the wheels. Any recommendations?

Have a 1995 Brent CXC that I'm the sole owner...and the wheel turns on and spins strong and it can be switch to spin reverse no problem but the pedal will not adjust the speed from stop to fast...thought it was module in pedal, but I just replaced it and the same, just spins at one speed....... What should I check?

Hello! My fellow potters in the local studio and I are looking for images of the Brent SR20 slab roller. Ours recently broke, we purchased cables, nuts and bolts from a local hardware store but we cannot figure out how to get it back to rolling the correct way. The cables broke in several parts and were all messed up when we took it apart therefore we were unable to get a good idea of how it was together in the first place. We're hoping for some pictures of the pulley system. We appreciate any help/pictures provided. Have a great day!

Hi Guys, I'm new to the forum and considering buying my first potters wheel this year. I already own a kiln (a Comet ECO P59240-E from Pottery Craft) and have been hand building for a little while. I'm just coming to the end of a 10 week throwing course and feel that a wheel is the right step for my little online shop. I went to view a 2nd hand wheel this week but quickly realised it was big and noisy, because of this I'm leaning towards a Shimpo Whisper but I've also read great things about Brent wheels. I'm used to throwing on wheels with bigger splash pans - because of the smaller size does it normaly get quite messy? Can anyone reccomend models of Brents to look at? Are they noisy machines? As these wheels don't tend to come up 2nd hand I'm thinking of buying new - my shop has around £1200 to spend but could spend more if the right wheel came along - is this a healthy budget? I found when I was buying my kiln there were lots of little bits that I didn't think about buying which all added up! Should I be expecting this with the wheel also? Thanks in advance and any info/tips/recommendations (for any wheels!) would be useful! Emma

Hello! I bought a used Brent C wheel months ago and it runs but it's just a slower than what I'm used to and doesn't stop right when I release pressure on the pedal. I figured I got it at a good price and I had asked someone and they said to get this item: http://www.theceramicshop.com/store/product/2740/Foot-Pedal-Assembly%2C-Brent/and it would apparently fix my problem... but really it made little to know difference. In summary the issue is that the wheel runs slow, and doesn't stop as immediately as I would wish. Any suggestions? Thank you

Hi y'all, just wanted to do a survey of opinions on wheels! I've been reading a lot of reviews, but everyone has different tastes so I'm still feeling a bit lost. People say good things about the Brent CXC, but I'm still not sure if it is the best investment for me. I've only ever used Brent wheels and kickwheels, so I'm open to suggestions. I want to buy a wheel before graduation so that I can keep up production right out of school. I will be buying new because the school awarded me a scholarship. Ideally, this wheel will last a very long time and be adaptive to my growth as a potter and as I throw increasingly larger forms. Most of the work I make now is 15 pounds max, and I usually just throw section by section if I make anything bigger. I also might build my own splash pan set up or just forgo one in general because they always seem to be getting in the way. Pedal precision is very important. I've had problems with some of the Brent Bs at my school and at a studio I worked at because the pedals are finicky and the speed change is awkward, which has ruined many a trimming experience. Is this a common issue with Brents? I know the ones I've encountered have been used by students for many years, so I don't want to judge them solely on past experience. Thanks much! Chloe

Hi Everyone, I found a Brent C pottery wheel that is about 20 years old for $500. I was told it was only used about 20 times. Can anyone tell me the upgrades Brent has done to their wheels since then? Are the newer Brent wheels better made? Is this a good deal? Thanks in Advance!

Do you Remember? I was a little surprised when a Google search for 'Brent Wheel Kit' delivered options for both the metal parts and the pre-cut plywood components for a Do-it Yourself assembled throwing wheel (see image below). My very first experience with wheel-throwing was on one of these kits. Wayyy back in the late 1960's and early 1970's I probably built a dozen of these things for different people, cutting out my own plywood from the drawings provided by Brent. I wonder just how many of the old-timers here have similar experiences? The Rest of the Story: By the time summer rolled around at the end of my sophomore year in college, I had a whopping 2 courses in ceramics under my belt and was off to a summer camp staff job where I hoped to share my newly acquired 'expertise' (insert laughter here). I did not get the craft instructor job, but I convinced the camp's director that a wheel would be a good addition to the craft shed and a cool idea to entertain families as they delivered their boys on registration day. He forked over the cash to order the metal parts from Brent, and I proceeded to do the woodworking part of the project. Proudly finished and nicely painted, the monster was ready for demonstrations just after lunch on opening day. It was at the point of doing a demonstration with a small crowd of campers and parents circling me, my clay, and the wheel that I realized that the exercise of kicking, raising feet, and compressing abdominal muscles (right after lunch, remember) was not included in the safety warning label for the wheel kit. To my complete embarrassment and undoubtedly the discomfort and juvenile snickering that resulted from my ensuing flatulence, the Cheno-Wheel ,as it as christened, gained a car license plate on the seat back that read "Gas Powered Wheel - maintain a safe distance, avoid flames". This is what the completed Cheno-Wheel looked like (unpainted):