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Speedball sits in the middle of the pottery wheel market. Its wheels cost less than a Brent or a Shimpo Whisper, but they come from a long-running American brand with real warranties: 5 years on the tabletop Artista and 10 years on the Boss floor wheels.
Most buyers end up choosing between two models: the Speedball Artista pottery wheel, a compact tabletop, and the Clay Boss, a full-size 14-inch floor wheel. This guide compares the two head to head, then covers the bigger Big Boss and Boss Elite. Our verdict up front: the Clay Boss is the better wheel for almost anyone with the floor space, and the Artista is right only when space or portability decides for you.
We didn't test these wheels. Specs come from Speedball's own product pages, checked against dealer listings and owner feedback.
Quick picks
- Speedball Clay Boss: Best Speedball overall. Best for home potters who want a full-size wheel with a 10-year warranty.
- Speedball Artista: Best tabletop Speedball. Best for small apartments and kitchen-table throwing.
- Speedball Big Boss: Most powerful Speedball. Best for large work at a mid-range price.
- Speedball Boss Elite: Best for studio organization. Best for Big Boss buyers who want a built-in tool shelf.
Where to buy: we found the Artista and the Big Boss on Amazon. The Clay Boss and Boss Elite are sold through Speedball and its dealers.
Speedball wheels compared
| Model | Type | Motor | Centering capacity | Wheel head | Speed / control | Reversing | Warranty (new) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artista | Tabletop | 1/3 HP | 25 lb | 11 in | 0–220 rpm, hand control (pedal extra) | No, choose at purchase | 5 years |
| Clay Boss | Floor | 0.5 HP industrial | 100 lb | 14 in | 0–240 rpm, foot pedal | Reversing plug | 10 years |
| Big Boss | Floor | 1.0 peak HP industrial | 175 lb | 14 in | 0–240 rpm, foot pedal | Reversing plug | 10 years |
| Boss Elite | Floor | 1.0 peak HP industrial | 175 lb | 14 in | 0–240 rpm, foot pedal | Reversing plug | 10 years |
Every new Speedball wheel comes with a 7.5-inch and a 12-inch plastic bat, according to Speedball. The Boss wheels use universal 10-inch bat pin spacing.
Pottery wheel finder
Narrow down the wheels from our guides by where the wheel will live, the clay it is rated for and how it turns. Figures are the makers' or listed retailers' own; brands do not measure capacity the same way.
14 wheels from our guides.
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Shimpo VL-Whisper
Full-size100 lb rated clay · 14 in head
- Motor
- 1/2 HP (400 W), direct drive
- Speed
- 0–250 rpm, foot pedal
- Reverses
- Yes
- Warranty
- 5 years
- Price tier
- Check current price
Shimpo warns it may be harmful to people with a pacemaker.
Read our guide -
Shimpo RK-Whisper
Compact floor100 lb rated clay · 12 in head
- Motor
- 1/2 HP (400 W), direct drive
- Speed
- 0–250 rpm, fixed pedal plus hand lever
- Reverses
- Yes
- Warranty
- 5 years
- Price tier
- Check current price
Splash pan sold separately. Same pacemaker warning as the VL-Whisper.
Read our guide -
Shimpo VL-Lite
Compact floor or bench25 lb rated clay · 12 in head
- Motor
- 100 W, belt drive
- Speed
- 0–250 rpm, foot pedal
- Reverses
- Yes
- Warranty
- 5 years
- Price tier
- Check current price
51 lb, light enough to move.
Read our guide -
Shimpo Aspire
Tabletop20 lb rated clay · 7 in head
- Motor
- 100 W DC
- Speed
- 0–230 rpm, hand lever (pedal kit available)
- Reverses
- Counterclockwise; clockwise version to order
- Warranty
- 5 years
- Price tier
- Check current price
7 in head with bat pins.
Read our guide -
Speedball Artista
Tabletop25 lb rated clay · 11 in head
- Motor
- 1/3 HP
- Speed
- 0–220 rpm, hand lever (pedal optional)
- Reverses
- No: choose right- or left-handed at purchase
- Warranty
- 5 years
- Price tier
- About $600–$1,000
Warranty per retailer listing.
Read our guide -
Speedball Clay Boss
Full-size100 lb rated clay · 14 in head
- Motor
- 1/2 HP
- Speed
- 0–240 rpm, foot pedal
- Reverses
- Yes, reversing plug
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Price tier
- About $1,000–$1,500
-
Speedball Big Boss
Full-size175 lb rated clay · 14 in head
- Motor
- 1.0 peak HP
- Speed
- 0–240 rpm, foot pedal
- Reverses
- Yes, reversing plug
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Price tier
- Check current price
-
Laguna Pacifica GT400
Full-size80 lb rated clay · 13 in head
- Motor
- 1/2 HP
- Speed
- Foot pedal
- Reverses
- Yes, 3-position switch (retailer listing)
- Warranty
- 5 years
- Price tier
- Check current price
Warranty per retailer listing.
Read our guide -
Brent Model B
Full-size150 lb continuous rated clay · 14 in head
- Motor
- 1/2 HP, 5 A
- Speed
- 0–240 rpm, foot pedal
- Reverses
- Yes, forward/reverse switch
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Price tier
- High $2,000s
Splash pan and a 14 in bat included.
Read our guide -
Brent Model C
Full-size225 lb continuous rated clay · 14 in head
- Motor
- 3/4 HP, 7 A
- Speed
- 0–240 rpm, foot pedal
- Reverses
- Yes, forward/reverse switch
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Price tier
- High $2,000s
Splash pan and a 14 in bat included.
Read our guide -
Brent Model CXC
Full-size300 lb continuous rated clay · 14 in head
- Motor
- 1 HP, 10 A
- Speed
- 0–240 rpm, foot pedal
- Reverses
- Yes, forward/reverse switch
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Price tier
- High $2,000s
Splash pan and a 14 in bat included.
Read our guide -
VEVOR 11in 450W
Tabletop11 lb rated clay · 11 in head
- Motor
- 450 W (as listed)
- Speed
- 30–300 rpm, Hall-effect foot pedal
- Reverses
- Not listed
- Warranty
- Not specified
- Price tier
- About $100–$300
No bat pins listed.
Read our guide -
VEVOR 11in 350W Kit
Tabletop11 lb rated clay · 11 in head
- Motor
- 350 W brushless
- Speed
- 60–300 rpm, hand control and pedal
- Reverses
- Yes (listing)
- Warranty
- Not specified
- Price tier
- About $100–$300
No bat pins listed.
Read our guide -
VEVOR 14in Height-Adjustable
Tabletop18 lb (per listing) rated clay · 14 in head
- Motor
- 280 W in bullets (450 W in title)
- Speed
- 60–300 rpm, foot pedal
- Reverses
- Yes, reversible pedal
- Warranty
- Not specified
- Price tier
- Check current price
Listing contradicts itself on wattage.
Read our guide
No wheel in our guides matches all of that. Try a lower capacity or drop the direct-drive filter.
Specs: manufacturer pages and the retailer listings named in our wheel reviews. Price tiers: our pottery wheel price guide, broad 2026 US ranges, not quotes.
Artista vs Clay Boss: the differences that matter
Size and where it lives
The Artista is a tabletop wheel. Speedball calls it lightweight and compact but doesn't publish its weight or dimensions. You can add static or folding legs, sold separately, if you want it at stool height.
The Clay Boss is a floor wheel. Speedball lists it at 68 lb, with dimensions of 29.75 x 24.5 x 17.25 inches. That's light for a full-size wheel, roughly half the weight of a Shimpo VL-Whisper, but it still needs a permanent spot.
Motor and capacity
The Artista's 1/3 HP motor is rated for 25 lb of centering. The Clay Boss's 0.5 HP motor is rated for 100 lb, and Speedball adds a load-sensing control that holds head speed as you push into the clay. For 1 to 3 lb practice pieces, both are fine. Once you move to 5 lb bowls and taller cylinders, the Clay Boss pulls ahead.
Head size
The Artista has an 11-inch head, the Clay Boss a 14-inch head. A bigger head is more stable under wide bowls and plates, and it fits the full range of standard bats.
Speed control
This is the biggest day-to-day difference. The Artista comes with a variable-speed hand control running 0–220 rpm. A foot pedal is a separate purchase. The Clay Boss has a foot pedal running 0–240 rpm. Throwing with a pedal keeps both hands on the clay, which is how you'll be taught in any class. If you buy an Artista, we'd add the pedal.
Direction
Speedball sells the Artista as either a right-handed or a left-handed model, and says the direction can't be changed later. The Clay Boss reverses with a reversing plug. Speedball's FAQ describes the process for the Boss wheels: unplug, rotate the motor cord connector 180 degrees and plug back in. It's slower than a switch, but it works. Reversing matters for left-handed potters and for some trimming techniques.
Warranty
New Artista wheels carry a 5-year warranty. New Clay Boss wheels carry 10 years, the same length as a Brent.
Choose the Artista if…
- You have no room for a floor wheel, or need to pack the wheel away.
- You throw small pieces: cups, small bowls, bud vases.
- You want a brand-name wheel with a real warranty in the smallest footprint.
Choose the Clay Boss if…
- You have a corner you can dedicate to a wheel.
- You want room to grow into larger bowls and vases.
- You want a foot pedal, reversing and a 10-year warranty without paying Brent prices.
The Speedball wheels, reviewed
Speedball Clay Boss: best Speedball overall
Who it's for: home potters who have outgrown a tabletop wheel, or committed beginners who want to buy once.
Speedball lists a 0.5 HP industrial motor, a 100 lb centering capacity, a 14-inch head and a 0–240 rpm foot pedal. The load-sensing control maintains head speed as the load changes. The polyethylene tabletop and two-part splash pan are easy to clean, and the wheel weighs 68 lb. New wheels carry a 10-year warranty and come with a 7.5-inch and a 12-inch plastic bat.
What you give up compared with a Brent is mainly the reversing switch and the higher-rated motor. For most home throwing, neither matters much. That's why the Clay Boss is the full-size wheel we recommend most often when budget matters.
Pros
- 10-year warranty at a mid-range price
- Load-sensing control holds speed under pressure
- 68 lb, light for a floor wheel
- Two bats and a two-part splash pan included
Cons
- Reversing by plug, not a switch
- Lower capacity rating than the Big Boss or a Brent
- Less resale demand than Brent
Where to buy: we found the Speedball Big Boss and Artista on Amazon, but not the Clay Boss, which you buy from Speedball or its dealers. Amazon-available alternative: the Speedball Big Boss. It keeps the 14-inch head, 0–240 rpm pedal, two-part splash pan, reversing plug and 10-year warranty, and steps up to a 1.0 peak HP motor rated for 175 lb, per Speedball.
Speedball Artista: best tabletop Speedball
Who it's for: apartment potters and anyone who throws at a table and stores the wheel between sessions.
The Artista has a 1/3 HP motor that Speedball says runs smoothly with very little noise, a 25 lb centering capacity and an 11-inch head. Speed comes from a hand control (0–220 rpm), with a foot pedal and legs available separately. A two-part splash pan and two plastic bats are included. New wheels have a 5-year warranty.
The fixed direction is the detail to get right. Order the left-handed model if you throw clockwise. Compared with Shimpo's VL-Lite, the Artista has a slightly smaller head and the same 25 lb rating, but it sits on a table instead of the floor. See our mini pottery wheel guide for other tabletop options.
Pros
- Compact tabletop with an 11-inch head
- Two-part splash pan and two bats included
- Optional legs turn it into a stool-height wheel
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Foot pedal costs extra
- Direction can't be changed after purchase
- 25 lb rating limits large work
Speedball Artista
by Speedball
Speedball Big Boss: most powerful Speedball
Who it's for: potters who throw large pieces and want more motor than the Clay Boss without paying for a Brent C.
Speedball lists a 1.0 peak HP industrial motor that handles up to 175 lb of clay, a 14-inch head and 0–240 rpm. The two-part splash pan, foot pedal and reversing plug carry over from the Clay Boss, and adjustable glide feet let you change the height slightly or level the wheel on an uneven floor. New wheels have a 10-year warranty. Speedball doesn't list the weight or dimensions on its product page.
One caution: some retailers list the Big Boss at 150 lb of centering. We've used Speedball's own 175 lb figure. Note too that "peak" horsepower isn't the same as a continuous rating, so don't compare it one-to-one with a Brent's 1 HP CXC.
Pros
- Most motor in the Speedball line
- 10-year warranty
- Adjustable glide feet for leveling
- Two bats and splash pan included
Cons
- Peak HP rating is hard to compare across brands
- Weight and dimensions not published by Speedball
- Reversing by plug
Speedball Big Boss
by Speedball
Speedball Boss Elite: best for studio organization
Who it's for: Big Boss buyers who want a tidier workstation.
Speedball describes the Boss Elite as the same throwing experience as the Big Boss, with the same 1.0 peak HP motor, 175 lb capacity, 14-inch head, 0–240 rpm, adjustable glide feet and 10-year warranty. The difference is a space-saving utility shelf for tools. If you work in a small space where a side table isn't practical, that shelf earns its keep. If not, the Big Boss gives you the same wheel for less.
Pros
- Built-in utility shelf
- Same motor and capacity as the Big Boss
- 10-year warranty
- Two bats included
Cons
- Costs more than the Big Boss for a shelf
- Weight and dimensions not published by Speedball
- Reversing by plug
Where to buy: we didn't find the Boss Elite on Amazon. Buy it from Speedball or its dealers. Amazon-available alternative: the Speedball Big Boss reviewed above. Speedball describes it as the same wheel without the utility shelf.
Speedball strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Warranty for the money. A 10-year warranty on every Boss floor wheel is rare at this price.
- Bats in the box. Two plastic bats with every new wheel, and universal 10-inch pin spacing on the Boss models. Speedball's own plastic bats also come in a 9-inch spacing version, marked by a single dot on the edge, so check which one you're ordering. Our pottery wheel bats guide explains how to match bats to your wheel and when plaster or Medex bats are worth adding.
- Factory-inspected used wheels. Speedball sells inspected used wheels directly, with a 1-year limited warranty. That's a safer route than a classified ad. Our used pottery wheel guide explains the trade-offs.
Weaknesses
- Reversing by plug on the Boss wheels, and no reversing at all on the Artista.
- Fewer published specs for the Big Boss and Boss Elite (no weight or dimensions on Speedball's pages).
- Lower resale demand than Brent.
Alternatives to Speedball
Shimpo VL-Lite. The closest rival to the Artista, but floor-standing. Shimpo lists a 100 W motor, 12-inch head, 25 lb rating, remote foot pedal, reversing and a weight of 51 lb. Compare them in our Shimpo pottery wheel review.
Brent Model B. The step up from the Clay Boss: 1/2 HP, 150 lb continuous, a reversing switch and a 10-year warranty. See our Brent pottery wheel review.
Shimpo VL-Whisper. For a quiet, beltless wheel with a 100 lb rating, at a higher price than the Clay Boss.
If you're still deciding between tabletop and floor wheels, our pottery wheel for beginners guide walks through it.
How we chose
We didn't test these wheels in person. Every spec comes from Speedball's own product pages and FAQ, cross-checked against dealer listings (Utrecht, Clay-King, The Ceramic Shop). Where retailers disagree with Speedball, as with the Big Boss capacity, we used Speedball's figure and noted the difference.
FAQ
What is the difference between the Speedball Artista and Clay Boss?
The Artista is a tabletop wheel with a 1/3 HP motor, an 11-inch head, a 25 lb centering capacity, 0 to 220 rpm from a hand control and a 5-year warranty. The Clay Boss is a full-size floor wheel with a 1/2 HP motor, a 14-inch head, a 100 lb capacity, 0 to 240 rpm from a foot pedal and a 10-year warranty. The Clay Boss can reverse direction; the Artista's direction is set when you buy it.
Does the Speedball Artista come with a foot pedal?
No. Speedball's Artista ships with a variable-speed hand control. The foot pedal is a separate accessory, as are the static and folding legs. If you plan to take classes on studio wheels, adding the pedal makes the switch easier.
Can the Speedball Artista reverse direction?
No. Speedball sells the Artista as a right-handed or a left-handed model and says the direction cannot be changed after purchase. The Clay Boss, Big Boss and Boss Elite reverse with a reversing plug.
Is the Speedball Clay Boss a good pottery wheel?
For most home potters, yes. Speedball lists a 1/2 HP motor, 100 lb centering capacity, 14-inch head, 0 to 240 rpm pedal, load-sensing speed control, two-part splash pan and a 10-year warranty for new wheels. It is usually priced well below a Brent or Shimpo VL-Whisper.
What is the difference between the Big Boss and the Boss Elite?
Speedball gives both a 1.0 peak HP motor, a 175 lb capacity, a 14-inch head, 0 to 240 rpm and a 10-year warranty. The Boss Elite adds a space-saving utility shelf for tools, and it costs more.
Verdict
The Speedball Clay Boss is the Speedball to buy if you have floor space: a 14-inch head, a foot pedal, 100 lb capacity and a 10-year warranty at a mid-range price. The Speedball Artista pottery wheel makes sense only when a tabletop is all you can fit. Add the pedal, and order the right direction. Step up to the Big Boss for large work, and to the Boss Elite only if you want the shelf.