Finding decent pottery wheel reviews can be difficult, but if you’re looking for information on the Shimpo VL-Whisper wheel, you’ve come to the right place.
The Shimpo Whisper line of pottery wheels is known for its extremely quiet operation. The VL model is one of the most popular pottery wheels among all manufacturers, not just Shimpo wheels.
One thing to remember when you’re buying a pottery wheel is that you want to buy a wheel that is going to grow with you as your skills improve. Look at a pottery wheel as an investment. If you buy a quality wheel that accommodates more than basic pots, it will bring years of satisfaction.
Since the Shimpo VL-Whisper has a larger wheel head, can adjust to high speeds, and can center up to 100 pounds of clay, it won’t hold you back in your efforts to master your craft.
Versatility
If you’re one of those people who loses track of time when you’re on the wheel, you know how uncomfortable it can be when you’re sitting in the same position for an extended period of time (and unfortunately, this will likely get worse as you get older).
The Shimpo VL-Whisper helps ease that pain. The legs are adjustable so you can place the wheel at just the right height. The foot pedal is remote, so you can use your left or right foot and move the pedal around to the perfect spot.
Responsiveness
The 14-inch wheelhead is very responsive – it smoothly starts, stops, speeds up, and slows down when you want it to. This helps you avoid accidentally marring the shape of your piece.
Other Great Features
Some other great features of the Shimpo VL-Whisper are as follows:
1. It’s easy to store away if you’re short on space. Just remove the detachable legs and set the wheel on its side.
2. Because the motor is direct drive, you don’t need to replace belts.
3. The wheel accommodates bats and it also freewheels, so it’s great for trimming and banding.
4. The Shimpo VL has an ample work area for your tools and buckets, helping to keep everything within reach.
5. The tripod design keeps the wheel stable so you can easily work with stiffer clays.
6. The wheel comes with a 2-piece splash pan, which makes clean up a breeze. It’s also big enough to hold a considerable amount of trimmings.
Downsides
What are the downsides of the VL-Whisper?
Certainly, it doesn’t come cheap. But potters around the world who’ve purchased this wheel are loudly enthusiastic about what a great wheel it is.
It’s also not very portable, so it’s not something you can easily toss into the trunk and take to a show or other event.
Shimpo is a great company that stands behind its products. The wheel comes with a warranty and Shimpo is backed by a top-notch customer service team. If you’re considering a new wheel, you can’t go wrong with the Shimpo VL-Whisper.
