The Lockerbie pottery wheel most people mean is the Lockerbie Model K, a sit-down kick wheel made by Laguna Clay Co. and sold in schools and colleges since the mid 1960s. Our verdict: as a machine it is simple and long-lived, with a heavy concrete flywheel, a tapered roller bearing and a welded steel frame. As a purchase it is harder to recommend new, because it costs as much as a good electric wheel before freight. A well-kept used Lockerbie at a fair price is where it makes the most sense.
This review is research-based. We have not thrown on a Lockerbie. We compared Laguna's equipment listing and its Lockerbie care and maintenance sheet with The Ceramic Shop's listing and owner threads on the Ceramic Arts Network forum. For kick wheels in general, including how they work and how they compare with electric wheels, see our pottery kick wheel guide.
Lockerbie Model K specs
- Power: foot, no motor
- Flywheel: reinforced concrete, 27.5 in, 89 lb, textured for traction, edge shielded by heavy steel bands
- Wheelhead: 13 in
- Frame: steel pipe and angle iron welded into a tripod, light gray enamel
- Seat: red oak, adjustable
- Work table: heavy gauge aluminum, reinforced to hold up to 200 lb
- Bearing: tapered roller bearing under the flywheel with a 3 in shield (The Ceramic Shop)
- Included: splash pan and bat pins
- Size: 36 x 42 x 30 in overall; crate 40 x 48 x 36 in
- Shipping weight: 272 lb
- Warranty: 5-year limited
- Price band: about $1,700 to $1,800 at Laguna in October 2026, plus a crating fee and freight quote; check the live price
Pros
- No motor or electronics to fail
- Silent
- Seat, table and pan built in
- Parts of the design unchanged for decades
Cons
- 272 lb crate and freight add cost and effort
- Slower to reach speed than an electric wheel
- Mostly sold through dealers and Laguna
Who should skip it: anyone without ground-floor access and helpers for delivery, and anyone whose knees, hips or back object to repeated kicking.
Who makes Lockerbie wheels, and are they still sold?
Laguna Clay makes the Lockerbie today. The Ceramic Shop's listing says "made by Laguna", and Laguna's own care sheet lists Lockerbie kick wheels as manufactured by the Laguna Clay Company. Laguna's equipment page lists the Model K at about $1,700 to $1,800, with a $90 crating fee per kick wheel and a freight quote for orders of 150 lb or more.
One caution: when we searched Laguna's main online store in October 2026, it returned no Lockerbie results, even though the Pacifica wheels appear there. The Ceramic Shop also listed the wheel without a price or stock status. We treat the Model K as current, but call Laguna or a dealer to confirm availability and lead time before you plan around a new one.
What the Model K does well
Momentum. An 89 lb flywheel stores a lot of energy, so a few kicks carry the head through a good stretch of throwing. Forum potters describe Lockerbies as smooth, and one says the gradual slowdown taught her to match the wheel's speed to her hand movements.
Durability. With no motor, controller or pedal electronics, very little can fail. A forum member calls well-built kick wheels "a tank" that "will last forever", which matches the number of 1970s Lockerbies still in use.
Built-in work station. The seat, an aluminum table rated to 200 lb and a splash pan mean you do not need a separate stool or side table. If you are setting up a room around it, our home pottery studio setup guide covers layout.
Weak points
Weight and delivery. A 272 lb crate needs a pallet jack or several helpers, and a ground-floor room. Forum members call the Lockerbie "a nightmare to move" and say it takes a lot of space.
Speed during pulls. A forum potter notes the wheel slows as soon as you touch the clay, so speed changes during a pull and large pieces are harder. Others say kick wheels are too slow for production work.
Bearing access on older wheels. In one forum thread an owner could not reach the lower bearings of a used Lockerbie, and another member noted that on older wheels the head may be fixed to the shaft so both come out as a unit.
Price new. At about $1,700 to $1,800 before crating and freight, a new Model K costs more than a Speedball Clay Boss.
Caring for a Lockerbie: Laguna's schedule
Laguna's care sheet keeps maintenance to lubrication and seat adjustment. Follow the sheet that comes with your wheel; this is a summary of the version we read.
- Set your interval: lubricate yearly for normal use, every 6 months for heavy use such as schools and production, and every 4 months for wheels kept outdoors.
- Top bearing: apply multi-purpose grease with a grease gun that has a nipple fitting. Laguna names Lubrimatic #70614 or an equivalent.
- Bottom bearing: remove the access bolt just above the concrete flywheel with a wrench, add about one ounce of general lubricating oil with a hose-nozzle oil can, and refit the bolt only until snug. Laguna warns the bolt strips if forced.
- Seat: loosen the L bolts to slide the seat forward or back, remove the two short bolts to raise or lower it, and use the tilt bolts to level or angle the seat. Laguna suggests a penetrating lubricant on a stuck seat joint.
Keep slip off the bearings and shaft, wipe the flywheel and frame after each session, and clean the floor with a damp mop rather than a broom, because dried clay dust contains silica. See clay dust safety for more.
Buying a used Lockerbie: what to check
Lockerbies are among the most common used kick wheels in the US, because schools and colleges bought them for decades. Our pottery wheel for sale guide has the general used-wheel checklist; these checks are specific to the Model K.
- Spin and listen: kick it up to speed and listen for squeaks, grinding or vibration as it slows. A forum owner's squeak turned into strong vibration that greasing did not fix.
- Grease fitting and oil bolt: check that the top grease nipple and the lower oil access bolt are present and not stripped.
- Head and shaft play: rock the wheelhead by hand. Any wobble points to bearing wear.
- Flywheel: look for cracks in the concrete and loose or rusted steel bands at the edge.
- Frame and seat: check welds for cracks, and make sure the seat bolts move so you can adjust it.
- Motor add-on: some used Lockerbies have a motor that pushes a drive wheel against the flywheel. Forum owners say it mainly helps with centering and offers little speed control. If one is fitted, have a qualified technician inspect the wiring before use; our kick wheel guide covers motor attachments.
- Transport: plan the move before you pay. You need a truck, a dolly and two or three people.
Never wire or repair a motor drive on a kick wheel yourself. A heavy spinning flywheel near water and clay is a real injury and shock risk. Use a qualified technician, and have a licensed electrician check any outlet the wheel will use.
New vs used Lockerbie: the real cost
A new Model K costs about $1,700 to $1,800 at Laguna, plus a $90 crating fee and a freight quote for a 272 lb crate, and you still need a way to get it off the truck. In return you get a 5-year limited warranty and fresh bearings. A used Lockerbie has none of those costs, but you take on any bearing work and the move itself.
Forum potters who have priced used Lockerbies suggest paying only a few hundred dollars, and note that kick wheels can be slow to sell, which works in a buyer's favor. Their figures are opinions from older threads, not a price guide, so compare a local listing with the new price plus freight, then subtract the cost of any repairs. Our guide to pottery wheel prices covers wider used pricing.
Who should buy a Lockerbie
- Buy one if you want a silent, motor-free wheel, have a ground-floor studio, and can find a sound used Lockerbie nearby at a fair price.
- Buy new if you want the 5-year warranty and you have budgeted for crating and freight.
- Skip it if you are new to throwing and want the easiest start, need to move the wheel, or throw large pieces often.
Lockerbie alternatives
| Wheel | Power | Head | Weight | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockerbie Model K | Foot, 89 lb flywheel | 13 in | 272 lb shipped | 5 years limited | Check price |
| Speedball Clay Boss | 0.5 HP | 14 in | 68 lb | 10 years | Check price |
| Shimpo VL-Whisper | 1/2 HP (400 W) direct drive | 14 in | 120 lb | 5 years | Check price |
| Shimpo RK-Whisper | 1/2 HP (400 W) direct drive | 12 in | 116 lb | 5 years | Check price |
If you want a Lockerbie for its silence, the Shimpo VL-Whisper is a quiet direct-drive electric wheel at less than half the shipping weight. If you want durability on a budget, the Clay Boss costs less than a new Model K and carries a 10-year warranty. For more choices, see our best pottery wheels guide.
Sources: Laguna Clay potter's wheels equipment page (Lockerbie Model K, price and crating fee); Laguna Lockerbie Kick Wheel care and maintenance sheet; Laguna online store search (no Lockerbie result, October 2026); The Ceramic Shop Lockerbie kick wheel listing; Ceramic Arts Network forum threads "Clay Boss or Lockerbie", "Used Lockerbie opinions", "Old Lockerbie, can't get to bearings" and "Advice for restoring an old Lockerbie kick wheel"; Shimpo and Speedball spec pages for alternatives. Specs checked October 2026.