I saw your video and website regarding glass sand blasting.
It doesn’t look like your info is exactly what I need but maybe you could help me out.
I want to go full time RVing and would like to have a way to make a little extra cash. I thought I could offer the campers their family name of maybe pet photo sand blasted on a smooth grant tile. I looked at the SCM System equipment and you are right about them being expensive. Making lettering might be possible with your info but it didn’t look like you addressed photos. The SCM System has a photo imaging process that looks like it would work.
How much equipment and cost do you think it would take for what I want to do? Space in a fifth wheel trailer is also very limited.
— Wayne
Hi Wayne,
You are right, my information doesn’t currently address the photo etching process (also known as halftone etching). But I am working on material for that which will be released in the future.
The most significant part to photo etching is the stenciling process. You have to use a process known as photoresist stenciling. You have to use computer software to edit the photo and expose it onto a photo resist stencil material.
If you already have an adequate air compressor, you could probably get started for about $250. It will probably be about a hundred for the sandblasting equipment if you go the cheap route and a hundred or two for the stenciling and other miscellaneous supplies.
Kyle Asks: What is the best kind of media to use on glass, and what type of air pressure do you use. and is higher pressure or higher volume better. thanks K
My Response:
Hi Kyle,
Sorry for the late response. The best sandblasting media to use on glass is silicon carbide or aluminum oxide. It cuts the glass fast because it is hard and can be reused multiple times.
Air pressure depends on if you want to do sandcarving or light surface etching.
20-30 psi of pressure is adequate for surface/light etching while about 40-70 psi is usually good for sandcarving glass.
Yes, higher pressure and higher volume will etch the glass quicker.
I hope that helps.
See the more customer questions about etching post. Or visit the FAQ page and ask some questions about this exciting glass art.
Visitor Asks: Can the etching cream be tinted to make the design have some color?
Hi,
No you can’t change the etched glass color because the white is a result from the glass being eaten away. There really isn’t any type of additive to the glass with the cream so it doesn’t give color.
But you can use glass paint after you have the glass etched. After you wash off the cream, you can leave the stencil in place and paint over it.
I always recommend transparent paints. You can dilute some of them to.
Thanks
Some of the posts maybe helpful for you also:
Hi, I am a first time hobby glass etcher(?) trying to make some custom mugs for a etched gift for Christmas. I have bought etching cream. I think that perhaps i have bitten off more than I can chew. I want to use old english lettering on my glasses, but the letter stencils I have found are way too expensive and only contain one of each letter. So I decided to try to cut my own.
I bought Armour blank “Over and Over” self stick stencil vinyl but I haven’t had much success. It may be the intricacy, and small size of my font, but I just can’t get it to cut easily. I have tried many times to make it work, using transfer paper to print the font on to the vinyl, I tried putting the stencil into my printer but the ink wouldn’t stick.
I also bought printer paper that is designed to make labels because it is sticky and the vinyl is really thin and I thought it would be easier to cut. It hasn’t worked well. I have a sharp exacto knife and I also bought one that swivels that is supposed to make it easier to cut rounded edges.
I am tenacious, but it’s still not working! Do you have any advice for someone trying to make intricate stencils, yet who lacks experience? Anything you could recommend would be much appreciated. Thanks! Alison
My Response that may be helpful to someone:
Hi Alison,
Yes for extremely intricate designs, I usually use my sign cutter or a photoresist stencil process.
Are you cutting the stencil out after you place it on the glass? If not, that is the best way.
I usually place the stencil sheet on the glass with a squeegee. Then sketch the design on the stencil. I actually use tracing and graphite paper to mark the links.
Then cut it out with the exacto knife.
I hope that helps. Some people will cut it out first and then lay it on the glass which is a lot harder.
Some one sent me an email stating: I am being asked to etch tempered glass, can this be done? So I decided to post my response here because a lot of people ask this or just visit the past write up about in the above link.
I also talk about this in my glass etching book for download. Read more about etching tempered glass below:
Hi, tempered glass can be etched but it shouldn’t be etched vary deep or it could shatter.
Some people claim to sandcarve tempered glass but I think it’s a bad idea even if you could- especially if it’s a large sheet of glass.
It’s best not to etch more than the surface.
On the other hand, its not a problem at all to etch tempered glass with the etching chemical cream. Hope that helps.
-Eric
