FAQ

This section is for anyone to post a question in the comment section for those who ordered the glass etching instruction book or for those just looking for more information about etching glass.  But hold on, this isn’t limited to glass, its also for a discussion about sandcarving  other items as well such as wood, metal, stones or large rock, or whatever you personalizing.  With the sandblasting processes that I showed and explained to you, there is nearly unlimited objects that you can work with.

So to help many people, then they can ask questions here.  This way everyone can see the questions and answers in one place, because some people may have the same questions.

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17 comments so far

  1. Jackie Carey

    April 7th, 2010 at 12:26 pm

    Hi Eric

    I grabbed your manual as I wish to buy a low-cost yet effective glass sandblasting set-up.

    I am in the UK, so your Harbor Freight recommendations don’t apply to me.

    I was wondering, if you have a moment, could you take a look at these bits, please? Just to see whether you think they would do the trick:

    I’m looking at this pressure pot:

    http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-cpsb100pressurised-sandblaster

    with this cabinet:

    http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/heavy-duty-blast-cabinet

    and this compressor:
    http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/airmaster-tiger-14-60-air-compressor/path/airmaster-2

    The specs seem to agree with each other as far as I can see, though my main area of concern is the compressor. It is the largest of the ‘DIY’ compressors available, and after this the spec jumps to an ‘industrial’ compressor and the price leaps from $428 up to $820.

    Here is the next one up, the $820 one:

    http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/se15c150-ol-air-compressor/path/professionalindustrial-air-compressors-elect

    It looks much more the part, but sadly I can’t afford it.

    Do you think the cheaper one might keep me going, perhaps for a while until I can get something better?

    Cheers for the manual, there is some very useful advice in there.

    Jackie

  2. Eric Robert

    April 7th, 2010 at 4:11 pm

    Great questions Jackie. The first link to the pressure pot is a decent size and I heard it is basically the same thing as the harbor freight one that I suggested. If you have abrasive flow problems, be sure to check the exclusive bonuses that I give you. It will help alot.

    The cabinet looks good to start with, but the bigger, the better. The more space you have inside, not only allows for larger glass, but also doesn’t cloud up as quick. If you have little space, a small sandstorm will be clouding up the cabinet, making it hard to see. Either way its a great place to start and should probablly be used with a vaccum filter.

    Now compressors can be complicated because it depends on stuff like the hose & nozzle size and the air pressure. Bigger is always better, but if the air compressor meets the requirements of the sandblaster then you should be good. A bigger one will usually last longer since it won’t be running as much.

    Another suggestion is to buy a smaller sandblaster hose if you aren’t blasting/ sandcarving large items like outdoor rocks. A decent size would be about 1/4″ ID (Inner Diameter) for typical glass etchings.

    If you have anymore questions, be sure to place them here. I hope this helps.

  3. Jackie Carey

    April 12th, 2010 at 7:02 pm

    Thanks, Eric for the advice. I thought a bit more about the compressor. Due to the space, I am limited to a 50 litre tank, so as it could be going quite a lot I decided to go for a belt drive which should run cooler and last longer. I am also limited by the power supply, which is basic 13 amp domestic – it would be difficult and expensive to run a dedicated 30amp supply to my workshop. So in the end, my choices where whittled down to the only 3HP compressor that will run on 13amp: this one:

    http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Compressor-50ltr-Belt-Drive-3-0hp-with-Alloy-Cylinders-Sealey-SA1050-3

    Got a good deal on ebay on one which had been used for instore demos, which still has the full guarantee on it.

    Not planning to blast any rocks, so I will keep your hose tip in mind, as the cabinet says it needs 10 cfm and the compressor has a 9.9 cfm free air delivery. I envisage using the pressure pot more than the cabinet’s siphon system, so figure that slight difference won’t affect me too much.

    I’ve ordered it all today so in a week or so, will know if it all works together! The pressure pot mod looks useful, I will talk to my engineer son about that little job…

    Wish me luck!

  4. Eric Robert

    April 12th, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    Great, I hope it all works out Jackie and be sure to ask any questions if you get stuck on anything. And yeah the power supply can be a problem for people.

    The pressure pot should use less air and using a smaller hose will help.

    Feel free to keep in touch.
    -Eric

  5. Barry Moffatt

    April 13th, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    I am having a bit of a vacuume problem, not keeping my cabinet as clear as I’d like.
    Probably to small so was wondering what would be better.
    I like to keep the exhaust or tailpipe if you like in a filter also so I can see how much I’m keeping inside the vacuume and not entering my workroom.
    If you can email me to the above address that would be great.
    Thanks loads.

  6. Roy

    April 18th, 2010 at 9:39 pm

    Hi Eric, I know that you said that the creation brand is a better deal , is there another brand that is ok or are most of the rest of the low end vinyl cutters not worth the investment? Thanks

  7. Eric Robert

    April 19th, 2010 at 7:26 pm

    Roy, there are a few other inexpensive brands out there that might be decent but haven’t tried them. I have done some research and found that some of the others had minor problems every once in awhile.

    One inexpensive one is Redsail, but I heard it had problems after awhile.

    I am not sure about the others on ebay in canada, but I would look at how often your going to use it. If you are going to use it often, then you might want to look into name brands like Roland or Graphtec.

    But either way, I think any inexpensive one will pay it off with the revenue received from those jobs.

    You can also look at small craft cutters if your aren’t doing deeper sandcarving work.

  8. John A James

    June 11th, 2010 at 11:58 pm

    Shortley after I got my glass etching instruction book and was looking at some other things abought sand blasting, I saw something abought blasting Pipes and making (smoking pipes) I have looked and looked but can’t seem to be able to locate any info;;;
    would you please help me in this matter or was I dreaming LOL LOL

    John

  9. Eric Robert

    June 12th, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    John, Im not too sure what you mean or trying to achieve. Can you give me more details about it?
    Thanks
    -Eric

  10. tony

    June 28th, 2010 at 9:33 am

    Hi Eric,
    I recall you were going to do a DIY build of the PAB gun but I cannot find it on your website.
    Have you managed to do it yet please?

  11. Eric Robert

    July 2nd, 2010 at 4:51 pm

    Tony, you should have got my email about it and is shown in the video: http://www.glassetchingsecrets.com/blog/techniques-for-etched-glass/

    I have made this awhile back and only costed me around $15 total (I think) with the hose. I wrote out a guide with plans that I sold before and am still trying to make the DIY blaster better. I’ll be sure to let everyone know about it.

  12. Ron Dean

    July 5th, 2010 at 1:38 am

    Hello Eric, I am still working on my setup. Finally got my compressor wired up. A Kobalt 60 gal. 3.7 hp SCFM 11.5 @ 90 psi. I can say I know more about breaker panels and my crash course in wiring electrical things. Nobody got hurt and my house won’t burn down with the wrong load. Glad I asked enough questions with the right people. Have the the 20 pd. pressure pot from harbor freights. Just need to put it together now. I live in the panhandle of Florida where water can be a big problem. The compressed air devises that take the moisture out of the air can be priced pretty high. I am thinking about coiling copper tubing and cooling it with air to get it to reach its dew point and have a water trap. I may just have to spend the bucks to get the water out. It’s not bad airbrushing t-shirts you can just blow it out and keep going, but from what I understand the moisture can clog me up. Do you have any ideals getting rid of my unwanted moisture? Yes moisture is my next problem to over come. Maybe a combination of things might solve it. Thanks Ron and again great book Glass Etching
    Secrets. I would still be in the dark ages. Hope to be sandblasting big time soon.

  13. Ron Dean

    July 5th, 2010 at 3:29 am

    Wow, I just seen a u tube thing with a PAB gun. I now know what I am going to do with the pressure pot I got from Harbor Freights that I found out about in that e-book I got awhile back Glass etching secrets. With the things I am learning and what I can hip myself to. When I airbrushed back before the days of the stencil plotting machines we had the trusty ole stencil burners ( make sure you ventilate and don’t breath the fumes)just draw, print, paste or trace your design. I like using Mylar I’m makin me a PAB gun after I get the pressure pot. Guess I’ll call it Mean Dean’s Sandblasting Machine I like learning new things. Its fun and you can turn your idea’s in to real things

  14. Eric Robert

    July 5th, 2010 at 10:26 am

    Ron,
    Its great to hear your making some progress getting a system setup. And yes, humidity is a problem and can clog up the sandblaster. I have seen people use the coil setup and heard it works great. What you do is bend the coil tubing around in a bucket and place ice in it. Then have your filter/separator hooked up after the air goes through it.

    Let us know how your Mean Dean sandblaster goes. All the best

  15. Rockie Gaddie

    July 11th, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    What do you think about the Paasche Air Eraser? I know it can etch glass, but can it do deeper (second stage) glass etching or stone etching as well? Your comments appreciated.

    Rockie

  16. Eric Robert

    July 11th, 2010 at 10:50 pm

    Hi Rockie, the Paasche Air Eraser is only a siphon sandblaster with very low pressures so it couldn’t be used for stone carving or two stage glass etching.

    You might be able to use the Paasche Air Eraser for carvings but it would take all day to get it done. You need a pressure pot to do things like this. You can find a pressure pot which only costs a little more than this, except you might need a larger compressor.

  17. Rockie Gaddie

    July 11th, 2010 at 11:52 pm

    Thanks!

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