How to Engrave Champagne Glasses

Make a holiday memory with personalized Champagne glasses.

Through a simple process you can put your favorite love quotes on romantic champagne glasses for a wedding or anniversary. You can trace love birds or cherubs to create permanently etched works of art. Turn an ordinary set of Champagne glasses from a thrift store into custom glassware that matches your kitchen.

Things You'll Need

• Champagne glass
• Dremel tool with flexible shaft extension
• Stone or diamond drill bit for Dremel
• Dish rag
• Goggles
• Nose and mouth surgical mask
• Wax crayon
• Engraving machine lubricant

Instructions

1. 

   Engrave romantic sayings on glassware for a wedding.

   Purchase a set of new or used Champagne glasses, or use glasses from your own cupboard. Put on personal protective equipment. Wear a mask over your nose and mouth to avoid breathing glass dust, and goggles to protect your eyes. If the noise of the Dremel distracts you from the work, wear hearing protection such as earmuffs or plugs.

2. 

   Engravings on a light bulb.

   Draw a design onto the glass using a wax crayon, or place a photo, wallpaper or printed text into the glass so that the pattern is visible through the sides of the glass. The paper will curl around the insides of the glass. Place a rag in the middle to hold the paper in place, and trace the design through the glass with a wax crayon.

3. 

   A Dremel is a universal tool used for many projects.

   Plug in the Dremel tool; it must be one with a flexible shaft extension. Suspend the extended shaft above you to allow for free arm room. According to Home Envy, it's important that your hand is not supporting the weight of the shaft. Equip the Dremel with a stone or diamond drill bit. Place a sheet of nonskid vinyl or rubber beneath the glass to prevent slips. Clamp the glass to the table gently. Don't tighten the clamp too hard and break the glass. Use a rag between the metal of the clamp and the glass for padding.

4. Apply an engraving machine lubricant to the glass to help prevent the glass from chipping. Slowly bring the bit into contact with the glass. Trace your wax design, the design through the glass or just freehand it. Try different speeds on your engraving tool and feel out which ones work best for you. Home Envy writes that a diamond burr produces smooth consistent lines, while a stone one give you variation like using a calligraphy brush. Wipe glass frequently with a rag to clear it of the glass dust which will be produced.

References

• Beer Masters: How to Engrave a Pint Glass
• Home Envy: Do it Yourself Engraving

Resources

• Corning Museum of Glass: Using a Dremel to Engrave