Wax resist is a liquid wax emulsion brushed onto bisque or onto a glazed surface. Glaze will not stick where the wax is, and the wax burns away cleanly in the firing. It is the standard way to keep a foot ring clean and one of the most useful decorating techniques in the studio.
Keeping the foot clean
Every pot needs bare clay where it stands, or the glaze welds it to the shelf. Waxing the foot ring before dipping is quicker, tidier and more reliable than wiping glaze off afterwards, particularly on a batch. A single coat is enough, and it should be allowed to dry properly before the pot goes near the bucket.
Layering glazes with wax
Wax over a first glaze lets a second be applied only where the wax is not, which is how banded and patterned glaze surfaces are made. Because the wax sits on the raw glaze it must be brushed gently, and the piece handled carefully afterwards, since raw glaze is fragile. This is where wax resist stops being housekeeping and becomes decoration.
Brushes and wax do not mix well
Wax emulsion ruins brushes if it dries in them, so keep one cheap brush for wax alone and wash it immediately in warm water after every use. Wax in a glaze bucket is a serious contamination that causes crawling on everything dipped afterwards, so wax brushes and glaze brushes never share water.
Correcting a mistake
Wax on the wrong place cannot be washed off. The practical fix is to fire the piece and reglaze, or to scrub the area with a stiff brush and hot water and accept an imperfect result. That is why wax goes on carefully and after a moment's thought, rather than as the first step in a hurry.
Questions people ask about wax resist
What is wax resist used for?
Keeping glaze off the foot of a pot, and decorating by masking areas so a second glaze cannot reach them.
Does the wax burn off?
Yes, cleanly, early in the firing. It leaves the surface it protected bare.
Can I remove wax if I put it in the wrong place?
Not easily. Scrubbing with hot water helps a little; usually the piece is fired and reglazed.