Video 2: Different Types of Etching Techniques & Examples

I hope this gave you a good overview of all the different etching types and techniques that you can do. The opportunities are endless when you not only mix different techniques into the same etching, but to also mix them into all the different types of glass that I talked about before.

Please:

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2. Leave a comment about what you’re interested in.

Thank you everyone. You have all been awesome. Video 3 will be posted soon!

101 replies on “Video 2: Different Types of Etching Techniques & Examples”

As Eric points out, a pressure pot can vault you ahead in the game of glass etch and carving. However, one can still etch and even carve with a siphon system. It just takes longer. If you’ve a big project, it can be a lot longer, but when you’re just getting in to something, just being able to do it can help you determine how far and which way you want to go.

Thanks for the comment. I heard some universities’ that have glass art classes will have equipment that you can use for a fee. Other than that, you could rent it from tool rental shops. But you could probably get started with inexpensive stuff for under $200: Small pressure pot & used air compressor in the classifieds

I love all the videos. The work is great. I do surface sand blasting with a pencil sand blaster. I would love to be able to go a little deeper into the glass to do some carving, but I don’t know what kind of equipment to get. I also don’t want to spend a whole lot of money.

I am interested in rotary engraving and I have several tools including a dremel but I want to learn new techniques but I can’t find anyone that shows step by step engraving or teach different techniques. I would like to find a resource that provides instruction for rotary engraving.

Some of Lesley Pykes videos show pretty good details of what different bits can do. I rotary etch/engrave glass myself, and it’s helped me out some.

Loved the second video – You guys are my heroes – I want to be you when I grow up. Right now, I am stuck using stencils to etch on my Redneck Wine Glasses Find it hard to keep up at times, but it brings in the extra $$$ needed to suppliment my SS. Someday, I want to expand my horizen and try my hand at the beautiful works of art you’ve shown us – keep up the good work – it is appreciated…

I am new to sandblasting there is so much I want to learn. I really enjoy your your websight and i look forward to your videos. Keep up the good work. you have helped me realize a dream I have had for years. thank you for helping inspire people like me.

Eric this is so awesome, i wish i was living in the US where i can come and pay you for some classes. this is great, i am interested in learning to do colour coating. it is beauuuuuutiful. keep up the great work Eric.

Just atarted playing around with etching, but want to learm more. Watched the video 1 + 2 and glad to become a member. Plan on learning a lot. Have done some dremel ecthing turned out ok but not great. Trouble with deciding on what kind of material needed to place on back of etchings I framed to hang on walls. If you have any suggestion, please write me back. The sandblasting etching is lovely and interested in the lessons, but like dremel etching as well. I would like to take a picture of my husband and his dog together and crave it on glass. Could I send this to you and you cut a stencil out for me, or are you going to have a lesson on how to do this and I could make it myself.

Thanks Vic S.

I use black poster board or a dark color such as blue to make them stand out. I even saw them at the local grocery store the other day. Was a large sheet for under a dollar.

For dremel engraving, I don’t usually make stencils. Typically I use the computer software to design the pattern and print it out. Send me the picture and let me see what I can do. Thanks

A herd of years ago, I etched a 1/2″ thick mirror from the mirrored side. I really laid into it. In the end, it looked just like any other kind of silhouette – pretty one dimensional. When I put it on the wall, I really noted how ugly my wall paper was. I got a floral print unicorn, which just didn’t work for me. In desperation, I sprayed the back with silver paint. The effect was instant – all the curves of the unicorn’s muscles came into view.

Hmmm

I checked around about having the mirror re-plated, wondering what effect the smoother silver plate might have. The company said they could do it, but I might not like it because the curves might cause different tones. And that would be bad how?????

I never got around to finishing the experiment, but if someone wanted to play, it could be a whole new ball game. Mean while, standard paint in your color choice can work fine in many applications.

Hi Eric thanx for the vids & support I will be purchasing the eBook manual shortly I was once an industrial sandblaster we had a bit of experiance in glass etching (rego no’s on windshield/ windows sect what I’m interested in is 2D/3D sand carving I currently own mini sand blast air eraser &currently in the progress of buying a medium/high pressure portable sandblast unit & would like to know what would the minimum size pot I could get away with as I’m on a lean budget than for the help & hope to hear from you soon Karl

Thank for putting these videos together very informative cant wait for the next one. I mainly do corporate stuff might look into flat artistic glass work. Thanks again

Interested in learning more 3D sandcarving technics.
Also can you suggest a good siphon feed sandblasting gun?
Thanks for your efforts to share in the fun of sandblasting.

Your videos are so informative and clear. Appreciate your tips and suggestions on the different types of etchings. Would like to get involved with sand etching as it may lend itself to a more professional look. Looking for additional info on this method. Again, many thanks!

That would be awesome. I know how hard it can be making a video, especially if you’re doing it independently like I have been doing. If you need any assistance with it, let me know.

Having finally watched this video, using the holidays to catch up with my emails, I want to thank Eric for keeping us in the engraving loop. Completely inspired by Dave and Kyle’s work. 2013 is definitely time to be more brave with sandblasting and go for layered sandcarving!

My question is: What grit of sand do you use for sand carving? I already know how to sandblast glass from when I did it in High School. But didn’t think of asking the teacher at the time of what kind or grit of abrasive used. So now, I’ve looked all over the web just trying to find this info out. That’s how I came across YOU! Please help…been wanting to get back into doing this for 10 years now..
Thx!

It depends on each person’s preference, but typically a grit of 100 – 220 is used. I personally like 150 grit because it is in the middle of the pack (not too fine or too course). A person using photoresist stencils with fine detail might use 180 grit or finer. Aluminum oxide or silicon carbide abrasive is ideal.

thanks to the artists and eric for sharing. just getting started but interested in sand etching and use of colors. going to go slow and steady to gain experience and knowledge. thanks for your video inputs.

So much I want to know……..I want to learn more of the 3 dimensional sandblasting. I stay in South Africa and I can get no one who can help me. So please help!!!! Thanks

I start my etching business in near about 6 years. when I start my business my all job done by chemical base but now I single, two, multistage all in sand blusting and deeping process by chemical. But I want to know without chemical deeping and transperent deep curving style. I show your video it is amazing for new man.thank you. God bless you.

Great video! since I’m new to glass etching I really appreciate this information especially what equipment most suitable for sandblasting, this would definetely be very helpful. Great artist, both gentleman are quite gifted.

Interested in all that I can learn and get better at. I’ve done cream etching as well as the rotary (dremel). Tried to start a business at it some years ago. Contracted some good projects (I’d send you some pics but they are forever lost) just couldn’t get enough going to support a family of 5. Now I’m a few years away from retirement and would really like to get this going again and be a profitable addition to relaxed retirement.

I’m new here and I have learned very much in the short week I have been on here. Great videos and info. I use a sisiphon system. I do mostly beer mugs, wine glasses, and add names to the Redneck wine glasses. I even started making my own Redneck wine glasses. I blast on the back side of mirrors to give it a smooth looking finish. I blast designs on wine bottles and add Christmas lights to the inside to give it a colorful look. Keep the info coming.

Thanks Rick! There really is so much you can do with this and I’ve been creating more tutorials in the members area as I move forward. Feel free to request anything.

The most frustrating thing about this is finding stencils I can use. I engrave/carve on knives and to find stencils small enough to use is difficult. Any source you can provide would be much appreciated. Thanks

Manty thanks to the experts that broadened my knowledge about etching. I am new at this hobby and am doing paste etching. I would like to know how to inmrove my quality. It is pretty tough seeing some of the paste etchings I have done!

Thanks
Jon

This video was awesome! I didn’t realize that there was so many facets to etching and I am more intrigued now more than ever! I am looking forward to your sharing knowledge of how to perform these different ways in an economical way. I am so interested but could quickly get discouraged due to pricing. Good work Eric!

It really can be expensive buying equipment. I provide a lot of ways to get around this in my ebook and membership. You can get started for much less if you wanted to.

it really depends on the pattern, but usually the vinyl cutter and photoresist is the easiest.

Placing stencils on wine glasses is tricky. I would say photoresist because a lot of them are re-positionable. I don’t sell any stencil equipment at this time. Thanks

The videos are great Eric, my question is about a mobile or a portable system for sandblasting. Is there one that you can buy to use for jobs that you go to the site for. For example a client wants a etching of say a company logo on the front glass door. How would you do it? Another example a company or store wants to engrave a name on wine bottles to be given out to clients. What kind of equipment would one put together to do the job? Thanks Von

Well I do sandblasting I do basic sports mugs cartoon mirrors and cups I would like to lern how to put photos of people on glass but I dont have money for the software so thats whut I would like to do and lern some cheap ways to save mone like the software you been talking about but each time I watch your videos I lern something new so I would like to lern more ways to make and save money also this is a hobby I enjoy I love making one of a kind items for my customers that are involved in ther gift and It pays off in the end when I here how much that person loves that gift after giving to there loved one so thanks for your advice it relly helps

This video is awesome. I am interested in doing 2,3, and multi stage glass etching. Already have many pieces of glass to include mirrors table tops, vases, wine glasses. I am also interested in finding out how to get the color lighting effects on displayed pieces
Thank you Eric for all you do. Would also like to know how to make a micro blaster inexpensively. Thanks again. John. Excited in the Carolina’s.

Eric,
I am really interested in the sand etching and cream etching. I make candles in glassware and I think it would really help my small business. I am looking forward to your next class. Thank you very much.

Hi, I started sandblasting in January. I have a sandblasting cabinet,pressure pot,compressor, photo imager…I started sandblasting on stone but really prefer glass.I’m doing surface sandblasting now but I’d like to be able to learn how to do multistage carving. Is there anywhere in Canada that I could take a course in this ? I’d also like to know what thickness of glass I should be using. Thanks for the great videos !

Nice art work… I’m really interested in sand carving… I have some very basic thing finished.. I would really like to learn the multi-stage etching…if it is glass I like etching it… looking forward to more…

Thanks for the video Eric, I am busy making plans to buy your book to get met started as I do not have a big budget, at best I have a small compressor as a starting point. I trust that your book will help me from this point on as I am interested in sand carving in all its stages and will hopefully find ways to do work, make some money and buy better equipment. Thanks again will chat to you later on.

Thank you for providing inspirational and instructive videos. I have never etched anything. After watching your video I picked up a silhouette cameo and some heap vinyl and etched 3 sets of glasses for birthday gifts. They were the bit of the night. I didn’t have the heart to say they only cost a buck a glass. But you are correct in saying cream etchings are hard to see. I look forward into hearing how you can enhance the etching. But really. I can’t wait to try the sand blasting. Looking forward for product tips

Again. Great job

Loved the video, I never realized there were so many different ways to work with glass. Can’t wait for the one where you tell me how to build my own equipment.
Thank You for your hard word and time.

I would love to learn all I can about glass etching I know after a couple time’s around it look’s wonderful .everyone seems to be pushing sand etching,but I cant afford the equipment . Thank You

Interesting site. Looks like it’s mostly a beginner site, which is fine. I’ve been sandetching/carving for 2 1/2 years. I started out with a harbor freight cabinet and a shop vac for filtration. The more detailed work I started doing, the more I wanted a unit with proper filtration and safety, so I did upgrade to an expensive unit about 3 months ago. Less ruined pieces, more refined detail, and much easier to do multi stage items and photographs on glass and crystal.

It’s interesting to see and hear people’s questions as they begin their journey. I wish I had known about this type of site when I jumped in to the deep end by volunteering to vinyl cut and etch 200 Steins for a fundraiser for down’s Syndrome.

I have been doing minor etching by both cream and sand blasting. I am impressed with the video’s I have seen todate and am looking forward to discovering better means of making stencils as most of mine I have to hand cut. I am very impressed with what I have seen. I have further confirmed that I have only scratched the surface of learning this amazing art.

Hi Eric, I am just starting out in the etching/engraving business and i use a sandblaster to now do this where as before i was using a laser machine, and sandblasting is way a much better way to do things. my question is i use rapidmask for my stencils but do find it hard to place it to curve glassware do you have any tips on how this can be easier to apply and to stop blowouts because film hasn’t applied properly..

Can you get me a list of what I need to put a solid system together to do sand carving? I currently will be getting a cabinet and a pressure pot. Where do I get the ultraviolet stencil equipment, and pencil nozzle and other needed components. I am new and putting a system together for my retirement supplement, and something to do.

Thanks Eric,
I would like to learn more about the different carving methods. I just got a silhouette cameo 2. Amazing software. Still on the learning curve. Was able to set up and had my first stencils created and cut with in half an hour of completing it’s installation. Looking forward to learning more about techniques in creating 3d images. Thanks again. Carl

awesome videos, i am new to this and have started with cream etching,will be very interested in your members area when it`s up and running ,once i`ve mastered cream etching i will definitely move on to sand blasting

Great video, I am new again. I did quite a bit of sandblasting a number of years ago and looking to get back into it. Since it has been awhile these are a great refesher. Thanks.

Great information, great inspiration! Tried a few things using air eraser, worked nice with vinyl stencil.The cost through major firms is astronomical. Buying low priced and putting it together is the way to go. Your satisfaction of accomplishment soars when you create the tools and the art.

You are God sent to some of us who suddenly realize the potential God deposited in us, please kindly share more video on single, double and multi stage sand engraving.
Stay blessed.

Hi Eric, I am completely new to glass etching, and would like to learn all the different techniques, to see which technique I prefer. I am a total beginner and also don’t want to spend a fortune.

I am looking to start a small business with glass edging with saying carving both the multistage and etc. as my hobby my passion
I’ve never aged or sandblasted before though it seems to be quite intriguing and something I can do
I sincerely look forward to all your information about systems and how to get myself started
I have some serious potential customers that I think I could do really well with
I’ve reached the point of being ready to start and him seem to lose my enthusiasm for lack of knowledge
Mostly getting started on limited money
Again I sincerely appreciate all you sure and the artwork is awesome of yours and your friends I am so Envious

Hi folks, just a tip…..in my early days (wet behind the ears) If a customer wanted to see something other than a drawing or computer generated, I would design and laser print from local library on paper, hand cut design, LIGHTLY spray with fine mist of water, just to hold paper in place on the glass. Let it dry completely. After dry spray image/design with hair spray, lightly or coat lots…don’t over do it….the paper mask will come off easily, leaving you a frosted image of your design..If customer or your self like it do it again with cream or blast, IF NOT HAPPY, WASH HAIR SPRAY OFF WITH WARM WATER AND MILD SOAP. I first came up with this over 25 years ago when making my own 35 ml camera filters….had glass cut to filter holder size, put a dime in center and light coat of hair spray…voila…soft spot filter…clear in center, fog around it, at the time cost me approx 1.50. I still use this technique on powder room mirror, when wife wants to change up, wash old off, new design on vinyl, hair spray again…till next change up

eric,im thinking of making my own stencil pattern out of something that can handle multiple sand blasts.be reusable.whats the best material,rubber,plastic,thin sheet ?also where’s a good place to order the sand.

Your videos are great. I am interested in three-dimensional glass sand blasting. You mentioned acid is dangerous. What about the other techniques? If you are doing one of the other techniques don’t you have to be careful about glass shards and the residue that results?

Having a yr under my belt I can say I never THINK I know enough as your videos make mention of things I laid aside and forget at times…Making/forming a template is always something that changes everytime I cut it…Sand and Abrasive is what I started with and continue today…My heart goes toward 2nd and 3rd levels of texturing for a feathered impression…Keep your videos coming, look forward to seeing more.

Interesting video and informative. I am personally use rotary and hand engraving but sometimes also etching cream. However my real “love” is the copper wheel.

Thanks Eric
I’m already doing sandblasting , I have all the equipment, I am interest in learning the three multiple stage. I have done one already, I mostly blast on glass jars and mirrors and rocks. Very nice work Dave and Kyle.
Thanks again Eric.

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