By Juni Margrie
At Pottery Supplies, we are proud to be associated with a strong Australian family company such as Venco and have chosen to stock their pottery wheels exclusively for our valuable customers.
Many people might not realise this but Venco have been making quality potters wheels since 1972 in Western Australia. They have since become renowned internationally for their quality workmanship and reliability.
Venco pottery wheels are perfect for beginners or those who manage a professional studio. Before you make your purchase we thought we could help you with choosing a pottery wheel by pointing out the differences in the current pottery wheel models on offer:
Tell me about the Cone Drive No 3 MKII wheel
This wheel’s a classic workhorse. Attached to the wheel is a foot pedal located on the right hand side. The wheel head rotates counter-clockwise when you press the pedal down, and slows to a stop when you remove your foot. The wheel head is also free wheeling so you can use it as a sort of banding wheel. The 370w motor is definitely powerful enough for throwing large sized pots. The motor hums quite audibly and some ceramic artists have learned to judge the speed of their wheel by the sound of the humming motor.
This model of wheel is fairly standard with few features, but that also means few issues. They are also extremely durable. Keep it clean in between use and it will last you a long time. We still service Venco cone drive wheels that were built in the 1980s! They might just need a few replacement parts or a new motor and they’re good to go again!
Tell me about the Direct Drive wheel
A 400w permanent magnet powers the Direct Drive. To quote Venco, “no belts or pulleys (nothing to tension, no belt thump). Brushless design (maintenance free).” The foot pedal has a long lead, allowing you to move it to a comfortable position, making it a more ergonomic choice. The wheel head turns when you depress the pedal, but the pedal remains in position when you remove your foot, which allows the potter flexibility to move around as they work on their pot. You could even stand up and work without worrying about keeping your foot on the pedal. It’s like ceramics cruise control!
An easy clean touch pad control is located on the side of the wheel with a forward and reverse button for the wheel head (ie. counter-clockwise and clockwise). Being able to change the direction of the wheel is particularly useful for left-handed ceramicists! The intelligent micro-processer based control system ensures smooth, precise control and is whisper quiet. This wheel is energy-efficient, consumes less power, and is 5kg lighter than the cone drive model, making it more portable.
Pins or no pins?
Pins are metal and screwed into the wheelhead. You need to order your Venco wheel with or without them when you make your purchase. The pins secure a bat onto the wheelhead. You can use bats made from various materials like plastic, timber, or plaster, and throw your clay pot directly onto the bat. After finishing your piece, you can remove the entire bat and set it aside to dry. This prevents damaging or warping your piece by avoiding the need to remove it while the clay is still wet and soft. Bats and pins are great for potters who want to make a larger volume of work, or for making bigger or wider pieces.
You don’t necessarily need to have pins on your wheelhead to use bats. Bats can also be secured using clay or a wet chamois (often called a bat mate). But pins are definitely easier and the most secure way to hold a bat in place, especially when trying to centre and pull up large amounts of clay.
What else do I need to know?
As mentioned, Venco Pottery Wheels are renown for their durability and quality craftsmanship. Whether you choose the Cone Drive No 3 or Direct Drive model, here are the other benefits you can expect:
- The wheel head is 330mm (13 inch) diameter and made from machined marine grade alloy casting. The aluminium tray is tough as nails and easy to wipe down and clean. The steel frame and body are zinc plated and powder coated. All the metal components are extremely corrosion resistant.
- Generous warranty of 36 months against defective parts or faulty workmanship.
- Both wheel models both have the same dimensions and you can set up on a level floor. You don’t need to do any special setup, and both models come in a beautiful teal blue that will pop in your studio space!
- Both wheels have the capacity (ie. power and speed) to help the user throw heavy or smaller pots all day, every day.
- You can add these optional extras to your wish list: a comfy padded seat specifically designed to attach to your wheel (in the same fetching teal color!), side work tables (for the left or right side) that conveniently and securely attach to the tray, and a marine-grade ply stand that fits your wheel.
I’m sold! How do I buy one?
We have wheels available in our Pottery Supplies store located at 51 Castlemaine Street, Milton QLD (right next to Suncorp Stadium), but they are in high demand and tend to move quickly. Feel free to contact our staff for advice as most of them are potters themselves. We can recommend a variety of clay and tools to you get started based on your budget. Alternatively, you can place an order online and we will provide you with a freight quote. We offer delivery across Australia and internationally.