How to Sand Etch With Air Tools
Sand etching on glass requires a few special tools and careful preparation, but the result is well worth the effort. You can either make up your own design, or use stencils. Stencils designed for acid etching are usually too thin a material to withstand sandblasting, so you should specify the use to make sure you get the right kind of stencil. Otherwise, you can make your own design and trace it onto the contact paper that is applied to protect the glass. Usually at least 4-millimeter contact paper is required for sand etching.
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Things You'll Need
- Glass object
- Glass cleaner
- Paper or cloth towels
- Contact paper (at least 4 millimeters)
- Design or stencil
- Marker or pen
- Carbon paper (optional)
- Utility knife
- Safety glasses
- Breathing mask
- Air compressor
- Sandblasting tank with nozzle control
- Silicon carbide or aluminum oxide abrasive
- Blasting box or enclosed area
Instructions
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1
Clean the glass object thoroughly so that the stencil or contact paper will stick well.
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2
If using a stencil design, apply the stencil to the glass as per the manufacturer's instructions. Make sure all the edges are stuck tightly to the glass so that they don't peel up when being blasted with sand. If using your own design, please proceed to step 4.
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3
Cover the rest of the object with contact paper and proceed to step 7.
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4
Apply the contact paper to the entire object, making sure it is stuck down flat with no air bubbles over the entire area where the design will be placed.
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5
Trace the design onto the contact paper, using the carbon paper.
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6
Cut the design out of the contact paper using the sharp utility knife. Smooth down all the edges so that they don't lift up during sandblasting and ruin the lines of the design.
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7
Prepare the blasting box and sandblasting machine, adding the abrasive to the tank and readying the air compressor as needed.
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8
Put on the breathing mask and safety glasses.
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9
Sandblast the design onto the glass, controlling the flow of sand with the nozzle to achieve an even frosted effect. You can also blast some areas longer for a deeper etch, giving the piece more texture.
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10
Remove the contact paper from the glass after the design has been etched to your satisfaction.
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11
Clean the glass carefully with running water to remove all the sand so that it does not get scratched.
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