throw pottery on a car wheel and tire~by Hillar Bergman

Here's a very basic potter's wheel that can be assembled in minutes from a junkyard car wheel assembly. I used a 15" rear wheel assembly from a 2000 Montana. I got lucky with that as the 4-bolt holes on the wheel spindle line up almost perfectly with the 4 holes on a 2" cast iron floor flange. Almost any other wheel will work too, though the holes may or may not line up as conveniently. I also like the ring of holes in the Montana wheel which make it easy to insert a stick to propel the wheel. With a bit of extra engineering you could easily add a friction drive motor.
The first wheel I put together 30 years ago is still in use. Same type of bolts. The cast iron flange I used then was slightly thicker than the new one I bought recently (thinner and made in China). I used the front wheel assembly from an American Motors car as many older vehicles were rear-wheel drive back then. Only 3 of the 4 bolt-holes in the flange lined up, but it still felt sturdy enough to me. I gave the wheel to a friend who uses it as a rotating platform when working on large hand-built pieces. He just puts a piece of plywood on top of the tire for a flat work surface. My first wheel has a welded triangle-shaped stand that is very heavy. The way that stand was built I estimate it would hold 500 lbs. or more. We used to have fun sitting on the tire and spinning around really fast! (becoming self-centered??)

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[Underpalace]

holy wowow. amazing. one question: did you have to cut the pipe to size and thread one end, or can one be found this length pre-threaded?

[catinnahat]

@Underpalace the pipe is readily available pre-threaded on BOTH ends, and in various lengths to suit whatever type of base you use. Almost any hardware store or home improvement center has it, along with the flanges.

[LakemaryDeuce]

My question is, what are the bearings mounted in? 

[catinnahat]

the bearings are already mounted and contained in the car wheel. The auto industry has already taken care of that bit of engineering for you.

[newearthclaypottery]

Very cool

Over the years I have pointed others to that pic in SP as how low tech one can make pots.

Nice to sorta meet the man who made it.

I can imagine a motor driven rubber drive wheel which engages the inside of the rim to speed up as one needs.

I like the pipe fitting idea; will use this to make banding wheel.

Thanks.

Bill

[catinnahat]

Glad to be able to share the idea on YouTube and it's interesting to hear that you saw the picture in SP years ago. I never received any feedback about that picture until now. Thanks!

:-)

[jlstarman]

I thought this very very ingenius. Thanks for the idea.

[Hrothulf19]

Thanks very much for posting this video, a great solution for me!

[mothernature63]

Sure wish you had an idea for a pug mill..so expensive and so much to re-wedge. Let me know if you see a used one for sale mothernature63@yahoo.com

[xstarlettheoryx]

Too COOL!

[Lester284L]

is it possible to make one without the center? all the wheels I find are just the rubber piece

[Zirboman]

I love the bird in the background... I wanna live where u live