A Bailey pottery wheel is made and sold by Bailey Pottery Equipment of Kingston, New York, a supplier that designs its own wheels, kilns, slab rollers and extruders. Bailey sells four wheels in two series. Our verdict: Bailey wheels have a strong reputation among forum potters for service and splash pan design, and the 100 lb XL models are the better buy for a home studio. Bailey's own pages publish few motor figures, though, so you will rely on dealer spec sheets and a phone call.
This review is research-based. We have not thrown on a Bailey. We compared Bailey's product pages with spec sheets from Sheffield Pottery and Tucker's Pottery Supplies, and with owner comments on the Ceramic Arts Network forum.
Not the UK "Bailey" wheel: searches for a Bailey potter's wheel also show UK listings from Potclays, Pottery Crafts and Hot Clay. Those are different wheels sold in the UK with UK plugs, and Hot Clay's listing ties its Bailey wheel to Gladstone. This review covers Bailey Pottery Equipment's US wheels only.
Bailey wheel specs compared
| Spec | Pro X | Pro XL | ST-X | ST-XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centering capacity (Bailey) | 50 lb | 100 lb | 50 lb | 100 lb |
| Motor (Sheffield) | 1/4 HP (1/2 effective) | 1/2 HP (1 effective) | 1/4 HP (1/2 effective) | 1/2 HP (1 effective) |
| Splash pan | One-piece counter pan with drain | One-piece counter pan with drain | Two-piece Splash-Trim Pan | Two-piece Splash-Trim Pan |
| Weight (Sheffield) | 102 lb | 116 lb | 103 lb | 123 lb |
| Price band, Oct 2026 | About $1,640 to $2,110 | About $1,760 to $2,140 | About $1,600 to $2,060 | About $1,770 to $2,240 |
| Check price | Check price | Check price | Check price | Check price |
All four share a T-bar frame, a 0 to 200 rpm range and a reversing switch (Sheffield), bat pins 10 in on center, a 29 x 24.5 x 20.25 in footprint (Sheffield), and the same pedal and drive. Bailey's lower prices are its own list; the higher end is Sheffield's. Bailey ships freight free and includes a free Ergo Counter, a 12 in and a 14 in Medex bat, and a tool kit with each wheel.
Source conflict: Bailey's product descriptions say each wheel has a 14 in wheelhead, but the page metadata on its ST-X and ST-XL listings says 13 in, and Sheffield Pottery and Tucker's list 13 in. Bailey's pages we could read do not publish horsepower, rpm, weight, volts, amps, plug type or warranty; those figures above come from Sheffield Pottery's spec tables, and the 10-year warranty from Sheffield and Tucker's. Confirm head size and electrical details with Bailey (800-431-6067) before you order.
Pro series vs ST series: the splash pan decides it
Motor, frame and pedal are shared, so the real choice is the pan. The Pro series has a large one-piece Counter Pan that covers the whole tabletop, with a built-in drain and tube and a side discharge panel for pushing trimmings off. Forum owners praise it: one calls the pan design "solid" and says it is why she owns three Baileys. The ST series uses a two-piece removable Splash-Trim Pan, which Bailey says holds a 9 in water bucket inside while a 14 in bat is on the head.
Pick the Pro if you want water to drain away and a big catch area for slip. Pick the ST if you want to lift the pan halves off to clean them in a sink. For general pan care, see our splash pan guide.
Bailey Pro XL
The Pro XL pairs the 100 lb drive with the drained counter pan. Sheffield lists a 1/2 HP motor rated at 1 effective HP, 0 to 200 rpm, reversing and 116 lb. Bailey offers a wheelhead extension for bats larger than 14 in, which raises the bat above the pan.
- Motor: 1/2 HP, 1 HP effective (Sheffield); not published on Bailey's page
- Centering capacity: 100 lb
- Wheelhead: 14 in (Bailey description); 13 in (Sheffield)
- Speed and direction: 0 to 200 rpm, reversing switch (Sheffield)
- Pan: one-piece counter pan with drain
- Warranty: 10 years on splash pan, motor, controller, bearing and pedal electronics (Sheffield)
Pros
- 100 lb capacity
- Drained pan catches the most slip
- Free counter, bats and tools
Cons
- Few specs on Bailey's own page
- 200 rpm top speed is lower than many rivals
- Some assembly
Who should skip it: potters who want to carry the pan to a sink; the ST-XL suits them better.
Bailey ST-XL
The ST-XL uses the same 100 lb drive with the two-piece pan. Sheffield lists it at 123 lb, the heaviest of the four. Note that Sheffield's listing said direct ship could take 6 to 8 months, while Bailey said "in stock" and to call for lead times, so ask Bailey directly.
- Motor: 1/2 HP, 1 HP effective (Sheffield)
- Centering capacity: 100 lb
- Wheelhead: 14 in (Bailey description); 13 in (Bailey metadata, Sheffield)
- Speed and direction: 0 to 200 rpm, reversing switch (Sheffield)
- Pan: two-piece Splash-Trim Pan with room for a 9 in bucket
- Warranty: 10 years (Sheffield)
Pros
- 100 lb capacity
- Pan halves lift off for cleaning
- Bucket fits inside the pan
Cons
- Heaviest Bailey
- Lead time unclear
- One forum owner found top speed slow until adjusted
Who should skip it: buyers who need a wheel quickly.
Bailey Pro X and ST-X: the 50 lb models
The X models center 50 lb and, per Sheffield, use a 1/4 HP motor rated at 1/2 effective HP. That is plenty for mugs, bowls and vases. Because the XL models cost only about $115 to $170 more at Bailey's list price, most buyers get better long-term value from an XL.
Bailey ST-X
The ST-X carries Bailey's lowest list price and the two-piece Splash-Trim Pan. Tucker's in Canada showed it out of stock but still taking orders, first come, first served.
Bailey Pro X
The Pro X costs a little more than the ST-X for the drained one-piece counter pan, and Bailey offers the same optional wheelhead extension as on the Pro XL.
- Motor: 1/4 HP, 1/2 HP effective (Sheffield)
- Centering capacity: 50 lb
- Weight: 102 lb (Pro X), 103 lb (ST-X), per Sheffield
- Warranty: 10 years (Sheffield, Tucker's)
Pros
- Same frame, pedal and pans as the XL models
- Enough for most functional pottery
Cons
- Half the capacity of the XL for a small saving
Who should skip it: anyone planning large jars, platters or teaching.
What Bailey wheels do well
Service. This is the theme across forum threads. Owners describe quick diagnosis by phone, inexpensive replacement parts and easy dealings, and one says she has replaced only belts and a pedal pad on three wheels in 10 years.
Pan design. Both pan styles are built around catching water and trimmings, which keeps slip off the floor.
Extras. Free freight, a counter, two bats and a tool kit reduce the add-on cost of setting up. Our pottery bats guide explains how bats fit 10 in pins.
Weak points
Spec transparency. Bailey's product pages lean on descriptions such as "whisper quiet motor" and leave out horsepower, speed, weight and electrical data. Buyers comparing with Brent or Shimpo have to call.
Top speed. Sheffield lists 0 to 200 rpm, below the 240 to 250 rpm of Brent and Shimpo wheels. A forum owner found her ST-XL slower than her old Shimpo until a simple adjustment.
Mostly direct sales. A forum member notes Bailey makes and sells its own wheels, so you rarely see them in other shops to try first.
Ordering and setting up a Bailey
Bailey sells mostly direct from Kingston, New York, by phone and online, and ships wheels freight free. Each listing says some assembly is required, so plan an hour or two and a helper; at 102 to 123 lb (Sheffield's weights) the wheel is a two-person lift. Bailey asks buyers to call for current lead times, and those vary: Bailey showed all four models in stock, while Sheffield quoted months for direct-ship ST-XL orders.
Options include leg extensions for a higher throwing position, a wheelhead extension that lifts a bat larger than 14 in above the Pro series pan, and Bailey's counter system. Ask which options suit your seat height before ordering; our pottery stool guide covers seat height at the wheel.
Buying a used Bailey
Older Bailey wheels turn up from schools and studios, often under earlier names such as the ST, ST-XL, Pro and Pro XL. Because Bailey still sells parts and answers the phone, a used Bailey is easier to support than many orphaned brands. Ask the seller for the model and serial number, run it at low and high speed in both directions, check the pan for cracks, and call Bailey to confirm parts availability. Our pottery wheel for sale guide has the full used checklist.
Power and safety
Bailey's pages we could read do not publish volts, amps or plug type for these wheels. Ask Bailey before delivery, plug the wheel into a suitable grounded outlet, and follow the manual that ships with it.
Have a licensed electrician check the outlet and circuit, particularly near water. Do not open the controller or attempt electrical repairs; call Bailey's service line. Clean slip with a damp sponge or mop rather than dry sweeping, because dried clay dust contains silica.
Bailey wheel alternatives
Bailey also resells other brands, including the BTH Sirius, a lower-priced belt-drive wheel with 88 lb capacity and published speed figures. For a 14 in head and a 10-year warranty from a widely stocked brand, compare Brent wheels and the Speedball Clay Boss. For the quietest home wheel, see the Shimpo range. Our best pottery wheels guide ranks the main options.
Sources: Bailey Pottery product pages for the Pro X (M-600-002), Pro XL (M-600-001), ST-X (M-600-018) and ST-XL (M-600-019), and its BTH B2 and BTH brand pages; Kingston MAD business listing for Bailey Pottery Equipment; Sheffield Pottery Bailey collection and Pro X, Pro XL, ST-X and ST-XL spec listings; Tucker's Pottery Supplies Bailey ST-X listing; Hot Clay Gladstone Bailey listing (UK); Ceramic Arts Network forum threads "Bailey vs Shimpo VL Whisper", "Looking for advice in a wheel purchase" and "Used pottery wheels: the good and the bad". Specs checked October 2026.