A method of making a piston for an opposed-piston engine comprises providing a piston. The piston comprises a substantially cylindrical portion including a sidewall and a piston crown located at an end of the piston. The piston crown comprises an end surface structured to form a combustion chamber when disposed within a cylinder bore in cooperation with an end surface of a cooperating opposing piston. A bonding layer including a bonding material is deposited on the end surface of the piston crown using a high velocity oxy-fuel spray process. At least one thermal barrier layer comprising ceramic material is deposited above the bonding layer.