Threw $400 down the drain on a pottery wheel I never used

Back in 2021 I got it in my head that I was gonna take up pottery as a side hustle. Spent $400 on a used kick wheel from some guy on Facebook Marketplace who swore it just needed a new belt. I drove 2 hours to pick it up with my buddy's truck. Got it home, set it up in the garage, and realized I had zero clue how to even center clay. Took one online class and my pots looked like lumpy ashtrays. That wheel has been sitting in the corner collecting dust for 3 years now. I keep telling myself I'll try again but honestly I think I just wanted the idea of being a potter more than the actual work. Has anyone else bought into a hobby that turned out way harder than you expected?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_alice1mo ago

I bought a full set of welding equipment once. Spent about $500 on a used welder, helmet, gloves, the whole deal. My first project was supposed to be a fire pit, but I ended up burning through the metal and gluing my glove to the workbench. That was four years ago and now the welder lives behind my lawnmower like some kind of expensive garage decoration. I swear half the fun is just buying the gear and imagining you'll become an expert overnight.

paige3311mo ago

Blame @the_alice for single-handedly keeping the used welder market alive and well.

wesley_jones1mo ago

My welder's been a dust collector for three years now after one torch too many.