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Shimpo vs Kiln Crafts: Pottery Wheels Compared

Comparing Shimpo?

Shimpo or Kiln Crafts? Here's the honest difference.

Shimpo is one of the best-known names in pottery wheels, and they're good wheels. We design our own, the Poppy, Daisy and Thistle, for people starting out at home. Below you can line them up against each other on UK prices, specs and what actually comes in the box.

UK prices checked 13 October 2026Every figure linked to its sourceKiln Crafts isn't connected to Shimpo

Pick the wheels you want to compare

Kiln Crafts wheels

Shimpo wheels

Side by side

On a phone? Swipe the table sideways to see every wheel.

How much clay can it centre?

The most clay the maker or UK retailer says the wheel can centre in one go.

What that means in real life: a mug takes roughly half a kilo of clay, and a big serving bowl 2–3kg. A whole 12.5kg bag in one go is a very large pot. Most people throwing at home never come close to the limit of any wheel here, so big numbers matter far less than they look.

Price, and what comes with it

The wheel price, and whether batts, tools and a stool are in the box.

If a wheel doesn't include batts, tools or a stool, you'll need to add them. Delivery isn't included for any wheel.

Will it fit?

Each wheel's floor space, drawn to scale next to a dining chair. Change the wheels above and this updates.

Footprints are the maker's or UK retailer's published dimensions. Leave room around the wheel to sit and move.

The honest bit

Where Shimpo comes out ahead

  • The RK-3D and RK-3E centre up to 45kg. The Thistle centres 25kg. If you're throwing big pieces every week, that headroom matters.
  • Shimpo's direct-drive Whispers are known for being quiet, and Shimpo quotes 30 decibels for the Whisper-T.
  • Widely available from UK pottery retailers.

Where ours are different

  • The Daisy arrives with a batt system, tools and a stool. None of the Shimpo floor wheels include batts, tools or a stool.
  • Every Kiln Crafts wheel has a 3-year warranty: we fix it or replace it. UK retailers quote Shimpo warranties of 2 years, or 5 years with parts only after year one.
  • Hall-effect foot pedals on all three of our wheels, and USB-A and USB-C charging built in for your phone or tutorial.
  • We pick up the phone, and you get 30 days at home to change your mind.

Not sure? Three questions.

Tell us what you want to make and we'll point you to a wheel. Sometimes that won't be one of ours.

What do you want to make?

Where will the wheel live?

Roughly what's your budget?

Questions people ask

Is the Thistle a Shimpo Whisper?

No. The Thistle is our own design and isn't connected to Shimpo. Both are direct-drive wheels. The RK-3E centres more clay (45kg vs 25kg); the Thistle has the bigger motor (800W vs 400W) and costs less (£1,699 vs £1,869 at Potclays and Bath Potters).

Which is closest to the Shimpo RK-55 (VL Lite)?

The Daisy. Both are belt-driven wheels around the £1,000–£1,350 mark. The Daisy has a bigger motor (300W vs 100W) and a bigger wheelhead (32cm vs 30cm), and comes with batts, tools and a stool. The RK-55 is lighter (23kg vs 40kg) and costs less.

Where do your Shimpo figures come from?

Shimpo's UK website and the UK retailers listed at the bottom of this page, checked on the date shown. Where sources disagree, we say so.

What does the 30-day home trial mean?

Set the wheel up at home and throw on it. If it isn't right for you within 30 days of it arriving, send it back for a full refund. It applies to our own wheels: Poppy, Daisy and Thistle.

Ready to have a look?

Every Kiln Crafts wheel has a 3-year warranty and 30 days at home to decide. And if you'd rather talk it through, we pick up the phone.

See the PoppySee the DaisySee the ThistleGet in touch

Keep making.

Crafted with passion, delivered with care.

KILN CRAFTS

Shimpo is a trademark of Nidec-Shimpo Corporation. Product names belong to their owners and are used here only to compare. Prices are those shown by the named UK retailer on 13 October 2026 and may have changed since. Specs come from the maker's website or the named retailer; where sources disagree, we say so. Kiln Crafts prices are live from this site. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll correct it.

Sources