How to Use Etching Cream
If you’ve ever seen a beautiful piece of etched glass, you may have wondered how you could create the same thing at home. You may have even done a little research and discovered how difficult it is to etch glass using a sharp object. The chances are good that you stopped looking before discovering the miracle that is etching cream. This cream can be applied directly to a piece of glass to create a piece of etched glass. You’ll need the cream, a piece of glass, a stencil and a pair of latex gloves.
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Things You'll Need
- Stencil
- Vinyl
- Glass
- Tape
- Utility knife
- Glass cleaner
- Paper towels
- Etching cream
- Brush
- Latex gloves
- Water
Instructions
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1
Cover a stencil with a piece of thin vinyl like a shelf liner. You’ll want to put the stencil on top of the vinyl and position it in the way you like best. Keep the stencil in place by using small pieces of tape.
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2
Hold a utility knife in one hand and carefully cut off the excess pieces of the vinyl. You’ll need to cut through any empty places in the stencil so you have the design on your piece of vinyl. The vinyl is what will be used to create the design on your glass.
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3
Rub a small amount of glass cleaner on your glass and dry it carefully with a paper towel to ensure that your glass is clean and completely dry. This helps the etching cream work better.
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4
Remove the tape from your stencil and let the vinyl come loose. Lay your vinyl on top of the glass and position it. This gives you the chance to see what the finished product will look like. You can also use small pieces of tape to hold the vinyl on the glass so it doesn’t come loose.
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5
Place the etching cream on a small brush and brush the cream onto the exposed areas of the glass after first covering your hands with a pair of latex gloves. Try not to place the cream on the vinyl because it can eat through the material and leave splotches on your glass.
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6
Wait 5-10 minutes before wiping off the etching cream with water on a dry cloth. Remove the vinyl and wipe off your glass with a towel or cloth. The final design should be etched onto your piece of glass.
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Tips & Warnings
Try positioning the vinyl in a few ways on the glass to find the design you like best.
You can use several designs on the same piece of glass if you want something unique.
Don’t move the vinyl once you have the etching cream in place because this can mess up your final design or make the design look blurry.
Don’t let your kids do this one. The etching cream can irritate the skin and cause other problems.
