Acid Etching and its Connection with the Hobby Cream

Acid etching glass is sometimes referred in the same way as etching cream, but they're actually very different etching processes and are even made up with completely different chemicals. Etching cream is most common today with crafts & hobby projects and is less potent than the strong acid used by glass manufacturers. Etching glass with acid dates back to the early times for creating decorative glass.

The acid etching technique contains hydrofluoric acid and it is a very dangerous chemical which is why hobby stores distribute the popular etching cream instead because it has less hazardous chemicals and is safer. You could refer the less hazardous form as acid etching cream but they are made up of different chemicals and the "cream" word clearly indicates that it is less potent because it has other materials mixed in. Overall, the hydrofluoric acid is used mainly in manufacturing environments for glass and metal products. These processes can also relate to industrial etching used for electronics and other manufacturing sectors.

One desirable trait and reason glass artisans like to use hydrofluoric acid is because it can carve deep into the glass. But today, the popular way to carve into glass is with sandcarving and sandblasting methods.

Now lets discuss a little about the dangers on using this acid. This dangerous hydrofluoric acid is know to penetrate through the human skin and etch your internal bones. Kind of scary, so be sure to wear proper equipment and become knowledgeable before using this chemical. Most people are scared to use it and will stay away form it.

Basically, this hazardous acid etches by eating away the exposed glass surface. A lot of acid etchings are done by dipping the stenciled glass into a tank of acid. The unexposed areas are protected with a stencil to create a pattern on the glass. This practice is less used today by glass artists and crafters, but I have still seen it used in a wide variety of manufacturing glass products.

More on Etching with Acid