Polishing VS. Burnishing

[Brad_S.]

Is there a difference between polishing and burnishing? I have a copper double boiler I want to clean up. I have a polisher and rouge and brass lacquer, but anything I use this combo on looks too new when I'm done. I've seen pieces that are said to be burnished which are less shiny and still have some patina to them. What's the procedure?

[Texas Ranger]

A guess from other fields.  Burnishing is polishing without use of an abrasive.  We used to burnish metal by application of a smooth steel to the surface.  All this does is remove the loose oxides.

[Burlkraft]

Burnishing is what you get when your blades are really dull..........I love the smell of burnishing ;D