A Creative Industries pottery wheel is an older American electric wheel, usually a Model MP, HP or Junior, that you will now find only on the used market. Our verdict: a working Creative Industries wheel can be a sound first wheel if the price is low and the pedal and controller behave, because owners report these wheels running for decades. Pay too much, though, and you own a wheel with no maker support, no published specs and scarce parts, when a new wheel with a 10-year warranty may cost only a few hundred dollars more.
This page is research-based. We have not thrown on or repaired one of these wheels. Because no maker page exists for them any more, we relied on owner and technician accounts on the Ceramic Arts Network forum, The Ceramic Shop's Speedball parts listings and Sheffield Pottery, and we mark every figure we could not confirm.
Is Creative Industries still making wheels?
No. A potter who bought an MP "direct from their factory" in El Cajon around 1986 wrote in 2010 that the company had been sold to Speedball, which "make the wheels now." A repair technician posting in 2011 added that Speedball bought the wheel division and dropped this line in favor of its BOSS series, which uses different controls and parts. A 2016 poster went further and said Speedball did not take the HP, MP and Junior lines at all, so the current maker does not support them.
Today, Sheffield Pottery's Creative Industries category shows only Speedball wheels and describes them as "Formerly Creative Industries." A federal trademark record lists the name ARTISTA WHEEL for motorized pottery wheels under a Creative Industries, Inc. owner, which fits the idea that today's Speedball Artista has roots in that business, but we could not confirm the link from Speedball itself. The practical point stays the same: you cannot buy a new Creative Industries wheel, and Speedball does not publish specs or a parts list for the old models.
Creative Industries models you will see for sale
Most used listings are one of three models. Owners describe the HP as the stronger wheel: a teacher who bought both for a high school says he used the HP far more and that the MP had less power and torque but "would handle most day to day pottery." The Junior (JR) is the smaller model and often comes without a splash guard.
The technician on the forum also separates two generations: older square, four-legged models whose controllers are hard to replace, and later three-legged plastic models with a wiring diagram inside the circuit board cover. Owners mention wheels from 1975, 1988 and the mid 1990s, so ask the seller for the year and look for a model label under the table.
| Spec | What is known for MP, HP and JR |
|---|---|
| Maker status | Discontinued; no current maker page |
| Motor | Not published by the maker; owners say the HP has more power than the MP |
| Centering capacity | Not published by the maker |
| Speed range | Not published by the maker |
| Reversing | Not published by the maker; check the wheel for a switch |
| Drive | Belt drive per owners, with a belt guard |
| Pedal | Owners describe a rheostat-type pedal; The Ceramic Shop says old 4-wire pedals were common on Creative Industries branded wheels |
| Splash pan | Often missing; the Speedball Clay Boss pan does not fit (The Ceramic Shop) |
| Volts, amps, plug, weight | Not published by the maker |
| Warranty | None; any original warranty has long expired |
| Manual | A short HP and MP owner's manual exists; owners share photocopies |
What these wheels do well
Long service lives. A forum poster said an MP bought new in 1988 "is still running strong," and a teacher reported classroom MP and HP wheels still running about 15 years after purchase. Another owner called his first-generation wheel trouble-free and now uses its heavy table as a work surface.
Simple layout. Owners describe a belt-driven motor, a controller and a pedal, which a local motor or appliance repair shop can often look at. That simplicity is why wheels found in barns and storerooms often still spin.
Low used prices. Because parts support is gone, many sellers price these wheels well below a branded wheel. That makes a fully working one an inexpensive way to learn the basics in our wheel throwing for beginners guide.
Weak points and common faults
Pedals and controllers. This is the most common complaint. Owners report jumpy starts, a stutter at low speed, a wheel that will not come to a full stop, pedals that stopped slowing the wheel and rusted pedal housings. A 2015 thread describes a slow-speed glitch that adjustments in the control box did not cure.
Parts are scarce. The 2011 technician said Speedball parts for these wheels are "simply not available" and that used wheels are the best parts source; a 2016 poster called many parts "unobtanium," including controllers, foot pedals and splash pans.
Noise and wobble. Owners describe whirring from a loose belt, grinding from worn bearings and, in one case, a wobbling head. These need a proper diagnosis, not guesswork.
One speed without a pedal. Some wheels are sold without the pedal and run at a single speed. A forum regular warned new potters not to buy a one-speed wheel, because it makes learning harder.
How to check a Creative Industries wheel before you buy
Test the wheel plugged in and running, not only by spinning the head by hand. Our pottery wheel for sale guide has the full used checklist; these are the checks that matter most on this brand.
- Confirm the pedal is included. Press it slowly through its full travel and watch for jumps in speed, a stutter at the start, or a head that keeps creeping at rest.
- Run the wheel at low and high speed for several minutes and press down with your hands to load it. Listen for whirring, grinding or speed drop.
- Turn the head by hand with the power off. Grinding or roughness points to bearings.
- Check the head for wobble and the bat pins for wear.
- Look for a model label and ask for the year, the manual and any splash pan, because replacements are hard to find.
- Ask whether the wheel has a reversing switch. Do not accept a seller's offer to rewire the motor for reverse.
Do not open the controller or pedal. A repair technician on the forum warns that a large capacitor inside can hold a charge after the wheel is unplugged. Leave electrical repairs to a qualified technician or a motor repair shop, and have a licensed electrician check the outlet if you plan to run the wheel in a garage or basement. No maker publishes the voltage, amp draw or plug type for these wheels, so read the label on the motor and ask a technician if anything looks altered.
Parts, manuals and support today
Start with the manual: owners on the forum have shared photocopies and a PDF of the two-page HP and MP manual, which covers basic belt and bearing care. For mechanical wear, belts and bearings are generic parts a repair shop can often match, and our pottery wheel maintenance guide explains the routine care these older wheels need.
For the pedal and controller, call Speedball with your model and photos and ask whether any current part fits. The Ceramic Shop sells Speedball's Clay Boss control update (part 2W375), which replaces the control box and pedal together and mentions the old 4-wire pedal used on Creative Industries branded wheels; neither Speedball nor the dealer says it fits an MP, HP or Junior, so get confirmation before you buy it. For splash pans, The Ceramic Shop states the Speedball Clay Boss pan does not fit these wheels, and owners have made their own from plastic tubs. Our splash pan guide covers other options.
What to pay for a used one
Forum posters in 2016 saw MP wheels asked at $300 to $400 and felt even that was high given the lack of parts, while another said good, working wheels with bats rarely sold below $400. Treat those as dated reference points, not a market price. Our guide to how much a pottery wheel costs covers used prices across brands. As a rule, if the asking price is close to a new Speedball Clay Boss, buy the new wheel and its warranty.
Who should buy one, and who should skip it
- Buy one if it comes with a working pedal, runs smoothly under load, and costs well under a new entry wheel.
- Buy one if you are comfortable paying a repair shop for belts or bearings later.
- Skip it if the pedal is missing, the speed is jumpy, or the seller wants close to new-wheel money.
- Skip it if you want a warranty, published specs or factory parts support.
Speedball Clay Boss: the closest new replacement
If you were drawn to a Creative Industries wheel for its simple, sturdy layout, the Speedball Clay Boss is the natural new choice. Speedball lists a 0.5 HP motor, a 14 in head, 100 lb centering, 0 to 240 rpm, reversing by plug, a foot pedal and a 10-year warranty, and parts and splash pans are sold for it today. Our Speedball Clay Boss review covers it in full.
Pros
- Current maker support
- 10-year warranty
- 14 in head and 100 lb capacity
Cons
- Costs more than most used Creative Industries wheels
- Direction change by plug, not a switch
Who should skip it: buyers who have found a fully working used wheel at a very low price and only want to try throwing.
Other current wheels to compare
| Wheel | Motor | Head | Capacity | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTH Sirius BP02 | 500 W belt drive | 12 in | 88 lb | 5 years | Check price |
| Shimpo VL-Whisper | 1/2 HP (400 W) direct drive | 14 in | 100 lb | 5 years | Check price |
| Speedball Artista | 1/3 HP | 11 in | 25 lb | 5 years | Check price |
| VEVOR 14 in 450 W | 450 W brushless | 14 in | Not published | Not stated | Check price |
The BTH Sirius is the lowest-priced wheel here with published capacity and a 5-year warranty, the VL-Whisper is the quiet pick, and the Artista suits tabletop use. The VEVOR is the budget option, with unpublished capacity and warranty. For a ranked list, see our best pottery wheels guide, and for new and used sources, our pottery wheel for sale page.
Sources: Ceramic Arts Network forum threads "Anyone have a really old Creative Industries Model MP wheel" (2010 to 2021), "Creative Industries pottery wheels" (2022 to 2023), "Wheel durability" (2016), "Creative Industries Model MP controller" (2015 to 2019) and "New to pottery, any good used models" (2021); The Ceramic Shop listings for the Speedball Clay Boss splash pan and Clay Boss control update (2W375); Sheffield Pottery Creative Industries category; Justia trademark record for Creative Industries, Inc.; maker spec data for Speedball, BTH, Shimpo and VEVOR alternatives from our product table. No current maker specifications exist for Creative Industries wheels. Specs checked October 2026.