How to Sand Blast Glass
Sandblasting is an efficient way of etching glass to change its look or prepare the glass for further modifications. Common reasons for sandblasting include removing the shiny appearance for a frosted look, preparing to paint the glass or blasting patterns into the piece so that some portions show the etched appearance, while others remain unaffected. If you have your own sandblasting cabinet or have access to a glass art center, you can create your own sandblasted glass work.
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Things You'll Need
- Glass piece
- Resist material, such as duct tape
- Mask that covers mouth and nose
- Ventilation
- Sandblasting cabinet
- Water
Instructions
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Prepare your glass for sandblasting by using a resist, such as duct tape, to create patterns on the surface (if desired). The taped portions protect the glass so that the abrasives from the blasting do not affect the current appearance, while exposed areas become etched. Whatever is not taped will have a frosted appearance after sandblasting. Remember this as you tape in your design.
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Put on a mask that covers your mouth and nose and turn on the ventilation system before blasting the glass. If you use a cabinet in a glass art studio, ask the studio manager how to turn on the ventilation in the sandblasting area. The mask and ventilation are preventative measures to keep flyaway dust out of your lungs.
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Open the sandblast cabinet to insert your glass piece. Cabinets typically have a top or side door that opens for this purpose.
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Turn on the cabinet by pressing an "on" button and place your hands inside the rubber gloves attached to the machine. These gloves allow you to hold the glass and spray nozzle that blasts the piece, without fear of the abrasives coming in contact with your skin.
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Hold your glass with one hand and use the other hand to blast your glass horizontally, from left to right, to ensure your piece is blasted evenly. Continue this movement until the whole piece has been completely treated.
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6
Turn the cabinet off and remove your hands from the protective gloves so that you can retrieve your piece inside the cabinet. Remove the resist (if applicable) and place the glass under running water to remove any leftover debris.
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