If you’ve spent any time in a pottery studio, or watched pottery on TV or online, there’s a good chance you’ve seen a Shimpo wheel.
In the UK they are extremely common, and for good reason. Shimpo wheels have built a reputation for being quiet, reliable, and built to last. The engineering comes from Japan, and many studios have wheels that have been running for years with very little maintenance.
Because of that reputation, Shimpo wheels do tend to sit slightly higher in price than other wheels with similar specifications.
One thing we often hear from customers who are researching Shimpo wheels is that the different model names can be confusing. The product names are a mix of letters and numbers that are quite similar to one another, and it’s not always obvious how the models differ.
To make things slightly more complicated, there has also been a branding shift over time from Nidec to Shimpo, along with some different naming conventions between the UK and US markets.
In this guide, we’ll break down the main Shimpo pottery wheel models and explain the key differences between them so you can understand which one is right for your studio.
Is Shimpo the same as Nidec?
Yes. Shimpo is part of the Nidec group, a large Japanese manufacturer of electric motors and precision engineering equipment.
For many years pottery wheels were branded Nidec Shimpo, and you’ll still see this name on older wheels, manuals, and product listings. More recently, the branding has been simplified and most wheels are now labelled simply Shimpo.
Because of this transition, you may see both names used when researching pottery wheels. In practice they refer to the same manufacturer and the same product range.
So whether a wheel is labelled Nidec Shimpo or just Shimpo, it is essentially the same brand.
Shimpo Models and Alternative Names:
Below is a table showing you the names of the Shimpo pottery wheels and the other names that they are sold under.
| Model | Other Names |
| RK-3E | VL Whisper, RK-3E/VL |
| RK-3D | RK Whisper |
| Whisper-T | |
| RK-55 | VL Lite |
| RK-5T | Aspire, RK-5T |
Comparison of Shimpo Pottery Wheels
Switching between product pages and websites, seraching through specification sections can be such a headache. Here, we have gathered all the information for you and put it into one convenient comparison table.
Sorry if this table is a bit small/detail heavy. It's a lot of information to fit on one table. Therefore, we have created a Shimpo Pottery Wheel Comparison Tool. (Scroll Down!)
Who Each Shimpo Wheel Is Best For
RK-3E + RK-3D - (£1850 + £1650)
Best for serious home potters and professional studios. The RK-3E is powerful, extremely quiet, and built to handle large amounts of clay, making it a very popular all-round studio wheel. The main difference being the RK-3D does not have adjustable legs.
Whisper-T (£1400)
Premium choice for home studios, teaching spaces, and potters who need a quieter wheel. Its compact design and adjustable height make it well suited to smaller workspaces.
RK-55 - (£1090)
Solid choice for home studios and teaching environments.
RK-5T (Aspire)- (£764)
Best for smaller budgets or smaller spaces. This tabletop wheel is compact and portable, making it a good option where space is limited.
Bonus Note: A Similar Alternative to the RK-55 (£899)
If you're looking at wheels in the same category as the RK-55, another option to consider is the Home Studio Wheel (TPPHSW).
It’s positioned in a very similar space: a solid, reliable workhorse wheel for home studios and hobby potters. However, it does include a few practical upgrades, such as adjustable legs, a slightly stronger motor, and (we think!) improved ergonomics for longer throwing sessions.
With a 32 cm wheelhead, it aims to offer the feel of a full studio wheel while remaining accessible and well suited to home studio setups.