Pottery Wheel Awareness Reminder

Pottery Wheel Awareness Reminder Potential Hazards ►A pottery wheel can be hazardous when improperly used. Incidents could include personal injury. Solutions ► The following general precautions should be observed by pottery wheel users:                   Do not overload the wheel head with clay or force it to stop, as this will shorten the life of the motor. Maximum clay weight should not exceed recommended weight for your wheel. Do not plug power cord into an extension cord. Plug directly into electrical wall outlet. Foot pedal must be fully depressed backwards “off” before turning wheel on. When cleaning the wheel, inspecting parts, and between periods of use, always turn off the on/off switch and confirm that the power indicator light is off. Then unplug the wheel from its power source. Take care with long hair, jewelry, and loose fitting clothing. Such items may get caught in the moving wheel head causing damage or injury. Keep tools and small parts out of reach of small children. Do not leave wheel running unattended. Repairs and modifications should be made by a qualified technician only. Stop operation of the wheel if you see or smell smoke, or if you hear unusual noises. Do not remove the control box and panel covers when the wheel is plugged into power. Doing so makes the internal parts vulnerable to damage. Do not attempt to move or hold the wheel during operation, or while the power is on as this could cause serious injury. Place the wheel on a flat, even surface away from other objects. Equipment must be lifted by two people, never attempt to lift the wheel by yourself. Never operate the wheel with the belt guard removed. Disconnect the power supply whenever conducting repair. The socket outlet must be in the vicinity of the machine and under immediate supervision of the service personnel at all times. Do not let the wheel stand in water. Plug the wheel into a grounded (3-prong) 110 or 230 volt AC outlet, depending on your wheel’s power configuration. If you do not have grounded outlets available and have to use an adaptor, make certain that you connect the green wire from the adaptor to a suitable ground.