Penguin Pottery - Wax Resist Pens for Pottery Glaze - Set of 2 - Chisel and Round Tips - Refillable Review (2026)

Who benefits from a pen instead of a brush

This set is aimed at potters who want repeatable, controlled wax resist lines rather than the broader, less predictable coverage a dipped brush typically gives. The two tip shapes, chisel and round, cover both wider banding and finer detail lines, which suits decorative work like resist patterns, lettering, or masking specific areas before glazing. Potters doing simple full-foot waxing on a large batch of production ware may still prefer a brush and a jar of liquid wax resist, since a pen is inherently a detail and pattern tool rather than a fast bulk-coverage method. For anyone adding intentional resist designs rather than just keeping glaze off a foot ring, the pen format earns its higher per-ounce cost.

How the pens work and refill

Each pen in the set of two uses a different tip, one chisel shaped for broader resist bands and one round tip for finer lines and detail. To start the wax flowing, remove the cap and lightly depress the tip several times, similar to priming a felt-tip marker, then apply the wax resist to bisque or greenware before glazing in the areas meant to stay glaze-free. The pens are refillable using Penguin Pottery's wax resist sold separately in 16-ounce or half-gallon containers, which keeps ongoing costs down once the initial pens are empty, rather than needing to buy new pens each time. Penguin Pottery backs the pens with a lifetime warranty.

Getting clean results with wax resist

Wax resist works by leaving a barrier on the clay surface that glaze will not stick to, so when the wax burns off during firing, the area underneath stays bare clay or shows whatever layer was underneath, creating contrast against the glazed surrounding areas. Apply the wax in a single confident pass rather than going back over the same line repeatedly, since re-working a resist line can drag wax into adjacent glazed areas. Let the wax dry fully before applying glaze over or around it, since glazing over wet resist can smear the line and blur the intended contrast. Clean the tip occasionally to prevent dried wax buildup from clogging the flow.

How it compares with liquid wax resist

Against Penguin Pottery's own ceramic wax resist sold by the pint, which is meant for brushing broad areas like foot rings, these pens trade coverage speed for precision, since a brush dipped in a pint container will always cover more surface per minute than a fine pen tip. Compared with a water-based film resist like INNOVAYOU's removable option, the pen format gives more direct line control but less flexibility for masking large or irregular shapes. If your main use is protecting feet and bases from glaze, a brush and a pint of liquid resist is the more efficient buy, but for pattern work and linework, these pens are the more precise tool.

Bottom line

These pens are a smart addition for potters who want deliberate resist patterns and lines rather than simple foot-waxing, and the refillable design means the ongoing cost stays reasonable once you own the pens themselves. The chisel and round tip combination covers a useful range of line widths for most decorative resist work. Potters whose main need is quickly waxing feet on a large batch of ware should stick with a brush and bulk liquid resist, since the pens hold a limited amount and are built for control rather than speed.

Frequently asked questions