How Much Does A Kick Wheel Weigh
Perhaps you are thinking of buying a Kick Wheel instead of an electric wheel. You have heard that they weigh more than an electric wheel, and it made you wonder how much they weigh.
The average weight of a Kick wheel can go anywhere from 200 pounds to 350 pounds, and they take up more space than electric wheels. They weigh more because once you get the wheel rotating, the weight from the flywheel provides momentum to keep it turning.
If you’d like to learn more about the weight of a Kick Wheel, keep reading because we will cover everything that you need to know.
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Rarely Sold Online
Because of the massive weight of a Kick Wheel, you don’t see many of them sold online. To paint a picture, it costs $55 to ship a 110-pound item from FedEx. That means that if you wanted to ship a 300-pound kick wheel based on that average, it would cost around $165 for the shipping alone. You’d have to add that cost to whatever you paid for the kick wheel because of its heavier weight. While you don’t see them sold online as much, you can still buy them online, but expect to pay an outrageous shipping fee.
Another more concrete example is the AMACO Brent Model J ships for $195, almost $200 for oversize shipping as of 2021.
Where Can You Buy a Kick Wheel?
With that said, you may wonder where you can buy a kick wheel without the higher shipping costs. You can find them at bigger ceramics stores and craft stores. Because many potters favor the Electric Wheel you don’t find them in abundance. They don’t sell as much. You may have to search a bit, or you could make a kick wheel through the DIY method.
Why Do Kick Wheels Weigh So Much?
Kick wheels weigh a lot because the flywheel is made of concrete, steel, or another material that can weigh over 135 pounds alone. The weight of the flywheel is what gives it momentum for the rotation of the wheel. A heavier flywheel will spin longer, and you don’t have to kick it as much. For that reason, you may want to choose the heavier 300-pound kick wheel because it holds the momentum longer.
If you live on the 5th floor of an apartment building without an elevator, you may find an Electric Wheel more agreeable to your circumstances.
Kick wheels also weigh more because of their bulkier size. They take up more space than an electric wheel. If you wanted to put a wheel in a small studio apartment, the kick wheel may take up more space than what you want.
Kick Wheel Brands and What They Weigh
Let’s have a look at the kick wheel brands and how much each brand weighs. This can help you to pick out a brand that suits your needs. You can find kick wheels on the lower weight scale, but they won’t have as much momentum:
- Lockerbie—250 to 300 pounds
- Amaco—230 to 300 pounds
- Thomas Stuart—210 to 250 pounds
- Randall—200 to 275 pounds
Kick Wheels—Issues with Flooring?
Especially older Kick Wheels weigh more and can feel heavy to move. That raises the question, “Will it hurt your floor?” As long as you have a good working kick wheel, it shouldn’t hurt your flooring. Think about it: The biggest kick wheel can weigh up to 350 pounds.
Unless the flooring has begun to rot, it won’t pose a threat. You have even had multiple people sitting on a couch or sofa and walking on the same flooring without it collapsing. The kick wheel shouldn’t hurt the flooring. Unless the floor needs repairs, you should be fine.
Based on International Residential Code, non-sleeping rooms must support 40 pounds per square foot. That adds up to an estimated 3,000 pounds that the floor can hold.
Adding a Motor to a Kick Wheel – Heavier Weight
Most modern kick wheels include a motor attachment so that you don’t have to kick the wheel to put it up to speed. However, adding a motor can add an extra 30 to 40 pounds of weight to the wheel, and when you want as little weight as possible, you may not find it beneficial to add the extra weight. If you want the lowest weight possible without sacrificing momentum, pick a kick wheel without a motor.
Buying motor attachments for a kick wheel also costs more than what it’s worth to add to the wheel. If it comes with it already, no problem. However, you might pay anywhere from $250 to $500 for a motor attachment. For that price, you might as well buy an Electric Wheel in case you get tired of using the kick wheel.
Why Would Someone Choose a Kick Wheel?
Talking about the kick wheel, it may make you wonder why someone would choose the extra weight and added inconvenience of it over an electric wheel. You do still have some attractive advantages of a kick wheel over the electric wheel.
Some of the advantages of a kick wheel include:
- Easily choose the clockwise or counterclockwise direction
- Kick wheels last a lifetime, unlike electric, which lasts 10 to 30 or more years depending on use and maintenance
- Kick wheels don’t make as much noise (hardly any)
- They have greater resistance to water than an electric wheel
- You don’t need electricity
- No risk of the wheel short-circuiting
- Kick wheels have a quaint appeal and serve as a great conversation starter
Conclusion
To sum it up, a Kick Wheel weighs anywhere from 200 to 350 pounds, and they aren’t as convenient as the electric wheel. However, someone who buys a kick wheel isn’t concerned with convenience. You buy them for the classic appeal. This makes a poor choice for someone who lives on the 5th floor. But for someone who wants to throw the old-fashioned way, the kick wheel is the way to go. Keep in mind; it can be harder to learn how to throw with a kick wheel because you have to coordinate your feet with your hands, much like when learning percussion.