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Mirror Etching

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Eric Robert Posted in Blog Content 8 Comments

If you have heard some of the possibilities etching glass that I always talk about, here is one other idea for you.  You can etch glass mirrors as I have done in a example here, and it can be frosted from the front side or the backside.  Both solutions have a slightly different look.

I should also mention, that you can frost the glass on both sides by only using the sandblasting process.  If you chose to use creme, then you can only etch it from the front-side because it isn’t strong enough to eat through the silver backing of the mirror.  Some mirrors have a tough silver back, while others can be scratched very easily.  But either way, they will not dissolve with the diluted craft acid cream.

Below is an mirror with a single stage etching from the front side of the glass.  It was for a friend’s home basement bar of a Jagermeister logo.

Etching of a Jagermeister mirror glass.

You can also etch the mirror from the front and back at the same time to give it a unique contrasting effect.  I offered to paint the frosted glass areas with a color to make it pop out a bit more, but he wanted to keep the frosted white look.

Update: I made a post about removing the silver backing from a mirror here.


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Related posts:

Muriatic acid used to remove silver backing from mirror glass.Removing Silver Backing from Glass Mirror Birth Announcement Sandblasted Mirror and Painted Sandcarving Backside of Mirror & Framed Etching Framed mirror engraving with pictureMirror Backing Engraved LED Signs & Personalized Frames
« Sandblast Techniques on Glass
Review of the Information Manual »

8 thoughts on “Mirror Etching”

  1. Debe says:
    October 17, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    So what product(s) will remove the silver backing? I used to do it in ceramics but have forgotten the product we used to remove the backing and want to do a project now.

  2. Eric Robert says:
    October 18, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    Debe, there is multiple coatings in addition to the silver backing. Use a paint stripper for the back coatings and toliet cleaner for the silver.

  3. jim says:
    January 3, 2016 at 3:49 pm

    I have stencil made wood like to remove silver off the back of the mirror frame it and light. The last one I had blasted cost me $42,00 I think for a little more I can buy the blaster and do it myself. glass bead, sand, soda? I have a 5hp air compressor what will not remove the decal

  4. Jeremy says:
    June 13, 2017 at 5:30 pm

    This is interesting, I want to etch the back side of a mirror I have by hand and stencils. I’m sure it will take forever. Question if anyone can help, If I etch the backside “Silver Backing” could I just paint the back with whatever color I choose and call it a day?

    Every search I do, I cannot find this style? only front side etchings witch is just way too common in my opinion.

  5. Eric Robert says:
    June 13, 2017 at 10:41 pm

    @Jeremy, you certainly can. I have a few posts that do it this way.

  6. Eric says:
    June 22, 2019 at 7:14 pm

    I’m interested in blasting the back side of the mirror. I’ve done the fronts, but the etching gets reflected and obscures the image a bit. I’m worried that the silver backing will peel up when I remove the vinyl masking. Any tips?

  7. Eric Robert says:
    June 25, 2019 at 1:58 am

    @Eric, I usually just leave the vinyl in place since it is on the back and not usually seen. Plus this gives the backing a little extra protection to prevent scratches.

  8. Terri says:
    March 20, 2021 at 4:04 am

    I etch the backside freehand using a dremel with chainsaw sharpening stones so it removes the backing but leaves the glass etched like its frosted. And yes you can paint this and it will show thru to the front. I will post some of the mirrors done this way.

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