Speedball Professional Potters Stool, Adjustable 18-23 Inches (ST1) Review (2026)

Who this stool is built for

The ST1 is made by Speedball specifically for potters who spend long stretches seated at a wheel, not as a general craft or office stool. Its air cylinder adjusts seat height from 18 to 23 inches, which covers most wheel heights from a low kick wheel setup to a taller electric wheel table, and the seat swivels and tilts so you can turn toward your work table or a bat of tools without standing up. A wide, high backrest supports the lower back while leaning forward over the wheel head, which is the posture potters hold for the bulk of a throwing session. Anyone who currently throws on a plain kitchen stool or a folding chair will notice the difference in comfort and stability during a full session.

How the height and base work

Height changes on the ST1 come from a pneumatic air cylinder rather than a screw thread, so you can raise or lower the seat with a lever while seated instead of climbing off the stool to twist a mechanism, which matters when you are switching between a tall electric wheel and a lower kick wheel in the same studio session. The base uses five legs with glides for a stable footprint that resists tipping when you lean to reach clay, tools or a bucket of water beside the wheel. The padded seat is designed to reduce pressure and support circulation in the legs during long sitting stretches, and the backrest is positioned to catch your lower back rather than your whole spine, matching the forward-leaning posture of wheel throwing.

Living with it through a throwing session

Because this is a studio tool rather than a lounge chair, the seat padding is firmer than a cushioned office chair, which some potters prefer for stability while pushing down on clay and others find less forgiving across a multi-hour session. A handful of buyers on Amazon have noted that the raised seat height in practice falls a little short of the full 23 inches printed on the listing, so if you are near the top of your wheel's needed height range, check the stool in person or ask before assuming it reaches the maximum. The glide-tipped five-leg base handles studio floors well, including concrete and tile, without scratching or catching.

How it compares with other studio stools

Against a Shimpo Nidec adjustable potters stool, another purpose-built studio option, the ST1 offers a similar height-adjustable, wheel-focused design from a brand potters already know for wheels and tools, so the choice often comes down to which is in stock or matches your existing equipment. A generic heavy duty swivel hydraulic saddle stool rated for higher weight capacity can undercut the ST1 on price and offer a saddle-shaped seat some potters find more comfortable for hip position, but it is not purpose-built around a potter's forward lean and reach the way the ST1's backrest and five-leg base are.

Verdict for wheel throwers

Choose the ST1 if you throw regularly enough that stool comfort and quick height adjustment actually matter across a session, and if you want a stool designed around the forward-leaning posture of wheel work rather than a generic office or shop stool. Consider a cheaper generic hydraulic stool instead if budget is tight and you mainly need something to sit on rather than a piece built specifically for a wheel, or a saddle stool if hip comfort during long sessions is your priority over Speedball's padded flat seat. For a home studio that will see years of use, the adjustable range and stable base make the ST1 a reasonable investment.

Frequently asked questions