How to Maintain a Pottery Wheel

You've spent hours and hours throwing pots on your pottery wheel, focusing on centering the clay, keeping the walls of your pot even and adding just the right amount of water. Maybe it has finally dawned on you that you are taking your wheel for granted. If it's time to give a little TLC to your pottery wheel, there are a few key steps you can take to maintain it and keep it in top form.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Clean up well, after every session, as clay gets everywhere. Clay is easiest to clean up while still wet, so try to make wheel cleaning a part of your normal maintenance routine. Pay special attention to the small space between your wheel mount and the spinning tray.

2. Wipe excess clay from the pedal of your pottery wheel when you notice that it is building up. A dirty pedal can be difficult to control and can lead to the destruction of your projects.

3. Listen to the motor of your pottery wheel; it should be almost silent. If you begin to hear humming noises, it's time for a good cleaning and oiling. Clay dust can build up inside the motor after a long period of use. Your local pottery supply shop should be able to tune up and maintain your motor for a reasonable price.

4. Cover your pottery wheel with a sheet or drop cloth, if you won't be using it for awhile. During prolonged periods of inactivity, you should plug in the wheel and work the pedal a bit, every month or so, to keep the motor maintained.

5. Unplug your pottery wheel, or turn it off if you have an on/off switch, when it is not being used.