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burnish vs. polish

updated sat 30 nov 96

 

Vince Pitelka on fri 22 nov 96

Just as I was deleting a post dealing with POTASSIUM DICHROMATE in the
subject line, I thought I saw my name. I rescued it from the trash file,
and lo-and-behold, it was questioning the difference between burnishing and
polishing.

Folks, if a discussion thread gets that far off the subject at the top,
please change the subject line, O.K.? Otherwise many of us will delete it
before reading it.

Regarding the use of these two terms, an earlier post of mine attempted to
clarify my own interpretation of burnishing and polishing. Burnishing is
the process of getting a satin gloss finish on a hard-leather-hard clay
object by rubbing with a hard smooth tool, like metal spoon, a jewelry
burnisher, or the traditional tool, a polished stone. Be sure to use a
stone which is VERY hard - quartz, obsidian, etc. - no alabaster eggs.
Polishing is the process of creating a satin gloss, usually on terra
sigillata, by rubbing with a very soft cloth (T-shirt, cloth diaper,
flannel, etc.), or with a very soft brush, like an old-fashioned
shoe-polishing brush.
These are the traditional definitions, as I see them. HOWEVER, there are
lots of hybrid polishing/burnishing techniques in use today which are hard
to classify. Some people get the best final shine by rubbing with a piece
of plastic wrap stretched over the fingertip - this was suggested by someone
on Clayart (sorry I can't remember who), and it works great. I burnish WITH
terra sigallata. It works far better than any other slip I have tried to
burnish. After initial rough burnishing I smear on a very thin coat of
lard, and continue burnishing. I do final polishing by rubbing with my
fingertip, and I get a glassy finish. I would consider this to be a final
polishing of a burnished surface.

I feel I have learned much about burnishing and polishing over the last few
years, mostly due to periodically having Darrol Schillingburg (from Elephant
Butte, NM) as a workshop student. Credit where credit is due.
- Vince

Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@Dekalb.Net
Phone - home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801
Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville TN 37166