By Eric RobertIf you don’t know about glass etching, it is a fairly easy-to-do craft that allows you to personalize glass surfaces. At the simplest level, all you need to do is cut out a pattern, place it on the glass surface, and apply the etching substance...
Read all Eric's glass etching tips.
Visit master etcher and author, Eric Robert, and see some of his work at his website, Glass Etching Secrets.
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Interesting that you mentioned masking tape. I was just wondering about packing tape...it would be more difficult to peel off the discards, but you could probably get pretty good detail.
ReplyDeleteHi Cyndi, you could actually try a few different types of tape. Some might work better than others, this is just a cheap suggestion.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing about packing tape is its kinda brittle. Masking tape is also thicker. As long as you have a sharp exacto knife, you should be fine for either one. But I still recommend that you use contact paper or vinyl. I hope that helps :)
-Eric
Yes, thanks! You're right...there is a big difference between different brands of what are called packing tape. Some are cellophane, and very brittle, while others are a thicker material (perhaps vinyl).
ReplyDeleteI think it's fun to experiment and see :-)
I really like this idea of etching on a wine bottle. What a wonderful idea. I haven't been brave enough to attempt glass etching yet, but there are some very good tips on here.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of glasses for a wedding...or, what about etching the corner of glass in a frame..imagine all of the gift possibilities!
ReplyDeleteCherie, it's really very easy. If you try it on an empty wine bottle and it doesn't work out, you haven't lost any money on the glass.
ReplyDeleteThe etching cream and stencils are quite inexpensive too.
June, that's a splendid idea! The gift possibilities - a framed wedding photo, special anniversary, vacation ...
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be beautiful on small panes of glass in a french door? mmmm.... the possibilities are endless, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteI've never tried glass etching, but I've been thinking about giving it a try. Now I'm excited with all the possibilities!
ReplyDeleteLately I've been getting a filmy residue That won't wash off in the areas where my stencil does not cover. Has anyone else had this happen? Is there a way to prevent it?
ReplyDeleteAngela, what kind of tape or adhesive are you using to secure the stencil against the glass?
ReplyDeleteIf the residue is from the glue, I would try a citric-based cleaner like Goo-Gone to remove it.
I just started etching glass again after learning in high school (I'm in college now), and I have trouble getting crisp clear lines, as well as getting some smaller details. I use contact paper on the glass and cut out the shapes with an exacto knife, but the lines still look smudged. Plus, the smaller details just won't stick to the glass when I cut it out (ex. the white of the eyes if I cut out the eye outline and pupil). Any tips?
ReplyDeleteHi Dana, I know what you mean. One suggestion is to make sure you use glass cleaner first to remove any residue. If that doesn't help, I would just suggest looking for vinyl with a stronger adhesive.
ReplyDeleteCutting out small details is tough to do using your hands. That's why I use a vinyl cutter or a photoresist stencil method.
Quick question! I just started etching and the first few glasses I did weren't as "crisp" as the last few. For example the lines weren't as distint, there were a few leaks into the stencils on some parts. I was thinking maybe I could print the same stencil a little bigger (its just a mustache) and etch it again... Have you done this before? Does it appear like you've etched two different times??? Please advise!
ReplyDeleteI haven't tested this with the cream, but I do think it will be slightly that it was reworked. It might not look too bad though.
ReplyDelete