How to Burnish Pottery

Burnishing your pottery will add a luster to the piece that lends an air of sophistication and polish. The high-gloss finish provided by burnishing pottery creates the final touch that will set your work apart from others.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Burnishing tool
• Spoon
• Corn oil

1. Create your pottery piece and allow to dry for some time. The amount of time depends upon the size of the piece as well as the thickness of the medium used. You want the clay to be firm enough to not accept marks from the burnishing tool or spoon, yet pliable enough so it doesn't scratch during the burnishing process.

2. Use your burnishing tool or the back of a spoon and gently buff the pottery piece in small, circular motions. Don't press too firmly or you'll cause indentations or scratches to occur. You should see a high gloss appear in the areas you've been working.

3. Allow the pottery piece to dry slightly more, but not completely. The sheen created by the initial burnishing should dim as the piece dries.

4. Repeat the burnishing process. You will again see the luster return to the pottery piece. Allow the pottery to dry completely.

5. Coat the entire surface of the pottery piece with corn oil and allow it to dry. The burnish will completely disappear during this stage. Don't worry though: it will return with the final burnishing.

6. Burnish a final time and then rub the pot with your hands to buff. This will create the full, deep sheen that can be accomplished only through the burnishing process.

[Claydancer]

on 9/18/2008 Make note that burnished work shouldn't be fired past cone 08 or your burnished sheen will disappear.

[MaggieB]

on 9/5/2008 Do you fire the piece as usual after the burnishing process?