BTH pottery wheels come from Jingdezhen BaiTaoHui Ceramic Equipment Co., Ltd., a maker in China's porcelain city, and the Sirius BP02 is the model most US dealers carry. Our verdict: the Sirius gives a lot of published spec for the money (88 lb centering, reversing, 0 to 300 rpm and a 5-year warranty) at roughly the price of a branded tabletop wheel. The trade-offs are a 12 in head, a short US track record and dealer listings that do not agree on every figure.
This review is research-based. We have not thrown on a Sirius. We compared BaiTaoHui's own BP02 page with listings from Sheffield Pottery, The Ceramic Shop, New Mexico Clay, Bailey Pottery, Rocky Mountain Clay and The Pottery Supply House in Canada.
BTH Sirius BP02 pottery wheel specs
- Motor: 500 W brushless DC (maker); dealers add 0.8 HP
- Drive: belt drive (maker says "Whisper-Quiet Belt Drive")
- Wheelhead: 12 in aluminum, bat pins 10 in on center (maker); Sheffield and New Mexico Clay list 12.4 in (315 mm)
- Centering capacity: 88 lb
- Speed: 0 to 300 rpm, starting from 5 rpm
- Reversing: forward and reverse
- Splash pan: magnetic, two-part, removable
- Pedal: remote, detachable, waterproof, Hall effect sensor
- Power: single-phase AC 110V plus or minus 10%, 60 Hz (maker); amps and plug not published by the maker
- Weight: not published by the maker; Sheffield lists 66 lb net and 86 lb shipped
- Legs: adjustable, for seated or tabletop use
- Warranty: 5 years
- Price band: about $850 to $1,060 at US dealers in October 2026; check the live price
Pros
- 88 lb capacity and full reversing at a price near many tabletop wheels
- Low 5 rpm start helps trimming
- Magnetic pan and detachable pedal
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- 12 in head is smaller than the 14 in standard
- Brand has little US service history
- Specs vary between dealers
- The maker does not publish weight or plug type
Who should skip it: potters who want a long-established US service network, a 14 in head for large bats, or a 10-year warranty.
Who makes BTH wheels
BTH stands for BaiTaoHui. The maker's site names the company as Jingdezhen BaiTaoHui Ceramic Equipment Co., Ltd., and Bailey Pottery's BTH brand page says it has specialized in ceramic equipment since 2009. BTH is a separate company from Brent, Bailey or Laguna; US clay suppliers resell it. The Ceramic Shop sells the same wheel as the "BTH B2 Sirius", while Sheffield Pottery and New Mexico Clay call it the BP02, and the maker's page also uses BP02NA.
In the US we found the Sirius at Sheffield Pottery (in stock, with free freight to the lower 48 states), Bailey Pottery (in stock), The Ceramic Shop and New Mexico Clay. Rocky Mountain Clay and The Pottery Supply House in Canada showed it sold out. It is newer to US dealers than Brent, Shimpo or Skutt, so our best pottery wheels guide does not rank it yet.
Where the dealer listings disagree
Source conflict: BaiTaoHui lists a 500 W motor, 88 lb capacity and a 12 in head. Sheffield Pottery and New Mexico Clay agree on 500 W and 88 lb but list a 12.4 in (315 mm) head. The Pottery Supply House in Canada lists a 400 W motor, 80 lb capacity and 69 lb weight. New Mexico Clay's page title says "Direct Drive" while its own spec list and the maker say belt drive. Sheffield gives a noise figure of 46 dB or less; Bailey Pottery says 50 dB or less. We use the maker's figures where it publishes them.
None of these gaps changes what the wheel is for, but they show why you should ask the seller which version is in the box, especially the motor rating and head size.
What the Sirius does well
Capacity for the price. An 88 lb rating sits close to the 100 lb of the Speedball Clay Boss and far above the 25 lb typical of tabletop wheels in the same price band. For home pots that is more than enough.
Low-speed control. The maker says the wheel starts from 5 rpm and runs to 300 rpm. A slow, steady start helps when trimming and decorating, and 300 rpm is a little above the 240 to 250 rpm top speed of many US wheels.
Practical details. A magnetic two-part pan comes off for cleaning without clips, the pedal is detachable and waterproof, and Sheffield lists an automatic power-off if the wheel is left unattended. The legs adjust for seated throwing or tabletop height.
Light to move. At about 66 to 69 lb according to dealers, it is easier to carry than heavier floor wheels.
Sirius vs Andromeda: which BTH wheel?
BTH sells two wheels through US dealers. The Sirius BP02 is the belt-drive model covered here. The Andromeda DD03 is a direct-drive wheel: New Mexico Clay lists a 14 in head, about 130 lb centering, 0 to 300 rpm, reversing and about 81 lb, and Rocky Mountain Clay describes it as magnetically driven. Its price band is roughly $1,340 to $1,680 at those dealers, so it costs about half again as much as the Sirius.
For a home potter the Sirius is the better value. The Andromeda makes sense only if you want a 14 in head or direct drive, and at that price it competes with the Speedball Clay Boss and the lower end of the Shimpo range, which have longer US track records.
Sirius vs Speedball Clay Boss
This is the comparison most buyers will make, because the two sit close in capacity. The Clay Boss has a 0.5 HP motor, a 14 in head, 100 lb centering, 0 to 240 rpm and a 10-year warranty, and its reversing works through a plug rather than a switch. The Sirius answers with a higher 300 rpm top speed, a 5 rpm start, a reversing switch, a magnetic pan and adjustable legs, for a lower price band.
Choose the Clay Boss if a US brand, a 14 in head and a 10-year warranty matter most. Choose the Sirius if you want the lower price and the adjustable legs, and you accept a younger brand. Either one is a real throwing wheel, not a toy.
Weak points
12 in head. Most full-size US wheels use a 14 in head. You can still use bats on 10 in pin spacing (the maker lists it), but very large bats overhang more. Our pottery bats guide explains pin spacing and sizes.
Thin service record. Brent, Shimpo, Skutt and Speedball have decades of US parts and repair support. BTH's US history is short, so ask your dealer who handles warranty claims and how parts are shipped before you buy.
Missing maker data. The maker publishes voltage and frequency but not amps, plug type, weight or dimensions. Sheffield fills some gaps (66 lb net, roughly 68 x 64 x 48 to 58 cm), but those are dealer figures.
Is it a fit for a beginner's home studio?
For most first-time wheel owners the Sirius checks the important boxes: a real pedal, reversing, enough capacity and a removable pan. A 12 in head makes no difference for mugs and bowls. The risk is support, not performance. If you are the sort of buyer who wants a local dealer to fix the wheel, a Speedball or Skutt bought from a US dealer is the safer path. Our beginner pottery wheel guide compares the main first-wheel options, and wheel throwing for beginners covers your first sessions.
Setup and safety
The maker lists single-phase 110V at 60 Hz and says the wheel must be grounded before use. Plug it into a grounded outlet, follow the wheel's manual, and do not open the controller.
Have a licensed electrician check the outlet and circuit if you are unsure about grounding or a GFCI near water. Never use an ungrounded adapter, and stop using the wheel if you see smoke or smell burning. Contact the dealer or BTH for repairs.
Keep the pan and floor clean with a damp sponge or mop. Dried clay dust contains silica, so avoid dry sweeping, and see our clay dust safety guide for studio habits.
Who should buy and who should skip
- Buy it if you want a full-size, reversing wheel with a pedal and published speed and capacity figures, and your budget sits near tabletop prices.
- Buy it if you are comfortable dealing with a dealer by phone and email for any warranty claim.
- Skip it if you want a 14 in head, a 10-year warranty or a long US repair record.
- Skip it if you need a wheel for heavy production or classroom abuse; established brands have more evidence behind them.
BTH Sirius alternatives
| Wheel | Motor | Head | Capacity | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTH Sirius BP02 | 500 W belt | 12 in | 88 lb | 5 years | Check price |
| Speedball Clay Boss | 0.5 HP | 14 in | 100 lb | 10 years | Check price |
| Shimpo VL-Lite | 100 W | 12 in | 25 lb | 5 years | Check price |
| Skutt Prodigy | 1/3 HP | 12 in | Not published | 10 years | Check price |
| VEVOR 14 in 450 W | 450 W | 14 in | Not published | Not stated | Check price |
The Clay Boss costs more but adds a 14 in head and a 10-year warranty from a US brand. The Shimpo VL-Lite is lighter but centers far less clay. The Skutt Prodigy is the entry wheel from a US maker, and the VEVOR is much cheaper but publishes no centering capacity. BTH also sells the Andromeda DD03, a direct-drive model that New Mexico Clay lists with a 14 in head and about 130 lb capacity, at a higher price band than the Sirius.
Sources: Jingdezhen BaiTaoHui Ceramic Equipment Co. BP02 product page; Sheffield Pottery BTH Sirius BP02 listing and BTH collection page; The Ceramic Shop BTH B2 Sirius listing; New Mexico Clay BP02 and DD03 listings; Bailey Pottery BTH B2 and BTH brand pages; Rocky Mountain Clay BTH collection; The Pottery Supply House (Canada) Sirius listing; Potclays (UK) BTH Sirius listing. Specs checked October 2026.