Based on previous reviews I had low expectations, but my son really wanted it for Christmas. Actually works well, exactly as advertised. If you hold to much pressure on the clay or don’t have enough water on your hands it creates friction and you can hear the motor “working too hard,” and I would stop and correct what you are doing wrong to avoid wearing out the motor. For this reason I helped my 8yo get started, with getting his clay centered and teaching him to listen for the sound of “unhappy” motor and helping him adjust. He quickly got the hang of it and was able to make one by himself. Suggest laying paper down around wheel and on floor for bits of flinging wet clay.
December 06, 2019
– LIVERPOOL
Invest in a local art class instead!
My 10-year-old daughter received this wheel as a gift last year. She has over a year of experience with a real pottery wheel at our local Y and was looking forward to making her own art at home. This wheel was a total disappointment. The wheel is not powerful enough to make quality pottery. We tried a few different times to create bowls and finally gave up due to frustration. I would invest the money in a local art class where your child can make quality pieces. This was a waste of money.
Disliked:
Quality,Value,Educational
MindWare
February 21, 2020
Staff
We're so sorry you were disappointed! We want you to be completely satisfied with every purchase and when you're not, we can help find something that you’ll like better. Please contact our Customer Service team directly at 1-800-999-0398 if you would like to exchange this for another item.
mm
February 08, 2019
moldy clay
I'm not rating for the pottery wheel itself because we never even got to try it. The clay was moldy and we were promised free clay over a month ago and it was never sent.
Gma17
January 03, 2018
Great beginner pottery wheel
I purchased this for my 6 year old granddaughter for Christmas. She enjoyed working with the clay a bit more than using the wheel. I’m hoping she’ll eventually enjoy it too. The instructions were excellent! As a pottery student myself, I wish I had those instructions to help me learn. The wheel did slow while shaping the clay for me but not when she was using it.
The clay dried to a white color in about 24 hours and the paints that were included, dried with a shine like glazes I use. It’s a great beginners pottery set overall.
MessMom8
March 15, 2018
Noisy!
My 8 year old was able to use it and make small pots right away, but this device is incredibly noisy. She is wearing earmuffs while using it. I would expect some noise, but it sounds as though the parts inside are grinding against each other. I would return it, but so many reviewers said their’s never even would turn on.
Jamie334432
November 24, 2017
My children had so much fun using this!
My 3 kids had so much fun using this and my youngest child which is 5 made her own bowl and my oldest which is 7 made a bowl and four cups. My children’s ages are 5,6,and 7 and all made at least 1 bowl and 3 cups. I bought 20 more pottery wheels plus 50 pounds of clay and my 7 year old is starting to do it on his own because of this great product and I bought all my children 5 more pottery wheels for Christmas and another 5 for New Years. And on Easter I bought another 6 pottery wheels cause they are amazing and easy to do. My children still love this after a year. My one con is that one out of all the others I bought didn’t come with twelve paints it came with 11. I bought 300 ponds when it was the day after Easter it came the next day other people say they wish to buy another one but I bought more than 20. Thank you mind ware for the pottery wheel and today I bought 3 new ones for my children for Christmas.
Lexie
January 03, 2017
– Boston, MA
Frustrating painting experience
My daughter was very interested in this product and could not stop talking about it, so we ordered it for her for Christmas. It was the first thing she worked on the day after Christmas. We were able to successfully make a small pot together, however, when the pot was dry and she worked on painting it, it was an extremely frustrating experience for her as the paint would literally pull off the spot she painted as the paint brush picked up more and more dry clay. She could not get an even coat of paint on it and became very discouraged. We even tried letting the initial bits of paint dry, and then smoothing the unpainted parts of the pot with a paper towel, but still it would not work. The dry clay somehow gunks up the paintbrush and you can not successfully paint the pottery. She is very discouraged.
Sadchristmas
December 25, 2016
– upstate new york
Did not work
My 8 year old only wanted a pottery wheel for Christmas. We purchased this and lo and behold it never turned on and will not work. Very disappointing and frustrating. I do not recommend this at all.
Mamoumudbug
January 06, 2017
– Montgomery, TX
My daughter's pottery wheel will not turn on.
My daughter received the pottery wheel for Christmas. We decided to give it a try tonight. We have it all set up, and no matter where we plug it, it will not turn on. I have one very disappointed little girl on my hands.
Dlarhoads
December 26, 2015
– Pennsylvania, USA
IT DOES NOT EVEN TURN ON
FIRST IT GOT LOST IN THE MAIL AND THEN THE REPLACEMENT THAT SHOWED UP IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY WITH THE HELP OF SOMEONE AT MINDWARE WHICH I STILL THINK WAS REALLY NICE BUT IT DID NOT WORK WHIEN WE TRIED IT OUT THE NEXT DAY. WON'T EVEN TURN ON. IT SEEMS A LITTLE CHEAP FOR THE MONEY AND RATHER FRAGILE
Barbara
February 08, 2019
Our 8-year-old granddaughter was thrilled!
Our 8-year-old granddaughter is very creative. Last year we gave her a set of real paints and blank canvases. This year, we bought the Pottery Wheel for Beginners. She was thrilled! She has used up all her clay already. Time for more!
December 04, 2024
Absurdly noisy
Absurdly noisy. Really have to raise voice to have discussion with child while they are operating.
