You’ll hear me saying over and over again, there is a world of possibilities with glass etching. You can custom create very simple etchings or advanced sand-etchings or maybe even a combination of both. So, I wanted to share with you a story of another fellow glass artisan that works with my favorite glass sandblasting process. Click the play button below to watch. I think you will enjoy it!
Well, I actually do want to show you how to etch sandcarved glass artwork in my information manual. But not only that, it requires expensive equipment to purchase, which can be a huge investment. If I could show people not only this phenomenal glass artwork, but also show you my insider information to getting equipment at money saving prices, then I would feel like it could really help out.
In other sense, I would feel like I was doing my job at providing you great content. If you don’t think it’s great info, then let me know. So far, for the past year or so, I have been getting great responses back from recent readers. I haven’t seen this type of information anywhere and was the reason why I created it to help people, especially those that were stuck in a similar situation as me. So, the next thing I did was create the information manual located here: Glass Etching Secrets.
Next step, grab the manual with instant access to learn about:
- Sandcarving glass etching techniques & tutorials
- My money saving secrets which shows valuable resources
- Ways to get around paying for expensive equipment
- And other simple cream etching processes & tutorials.
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Nice video! Thanks for sharing.
Jerry
Fantastic video – really amazing what you can do with glass etching
Great video, would have liked more. Thanks
It is very nice to see someone share ideas and inspiration without a fee!
Thank you
I started Imagination Unincorporated (the name is a story in an of itself) around 1974. It was more of a tax break than anything else. However, I figured if I was going to chase tax breaks, I might as well do it by doing things I enjoyed. So began my sawdust making career.
Rather than dive in, such as by going into debt, I kept doing what did pay, my job, and started buying toys, uh, I mean tools. Nothing exotic, at first, but things that would allow me to produce things I, otherwise, could not afford. In a short period of time, the tools did start paying for themselves and my hobby progressed to a full time living.
By being patient and just doing what I enjoyed, I grew. Had I jumped in, I might have made it, or like most businesses, I might have lost it all. By taking my time, I, not the bank, owned everything.
I had to learn I had to spend money to make it. For example, I started out cleaning my sand belts, until I learned how valuable my time was in comparison.
All the while I and my business were growing, I expanded. I did so out of need. For example, while I sold a plaque or two, I had a lot of free time left and no “customer sales” to fill it. So I struck out in other directions. I went from plaques to decoupage. From there to signs and so forth. After a while, I was doing enough interrelated things that the time between sales became less and less.
My first project was a poster I found in a trash can, which I mounted on wood taken from my then horizontal back fence. The poster was crinkled and I glued it and finished it with a can of Varithane, but someone liked it enough to buy it. So it started.
From there, my progression, as a artist/craftsman took me deeper into woodwork. Along the way, I bought a camp trailer for the family outings. The guy selling it was a glass etch artist. He just made a not insignificant amount of money off me, so was not bashful about lending me his Sears compressor and siphon blaster to try the trade. So it started, again.
I could ramble on, but the point of all this is you can do this just for your personal enjoyment, or you can turn this into a business and you can do so without taking significant risks.
Even if you are already doing something else, you may be able to incorporate knowledge from that to blend art skills. For example, you may do woodwork, so you can frame work, such as etched glass, to make business signs.
Try making some sample items to educate the public, as to your capabilities.
For some more ideas, take a peak at some of my flicker pages.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/functional_art
Cheers
Kelly
Kelly, awesome comment. I adore your work too. I always wanted to master woodworking as well. Gosh, there is so much cool things to do in the world and so little time to do them.
Thank you,
-Eric
Sir,
Your work is so excellent and unique. I am very impress. Tell me plz that how can I etch and frost to iron.
Hi Asim, I know exactly what your talking about. Sandblasting can achieve these type of markings on most metals but there are better ways to do it. One way is to use a electro- chemical process which uses a electric source and an electrolyte. Its an interesting and simple process. Maybe I’ll try to make a post about it soon.
For a wannabe etcher, watching videos such as this one encourages me not to give up.
that video was amazing,that guy is just brilliant and soo enthusiastic . . i would give my left arm to be taught how to do that with someone like him 🙂
Great video Eric. I have an SCM system that I bought at a garage sale. Now that I’m retired, I’m hoping to turn it along with my conventional sand blaster into useful tools to bolster my income.
dear eric
i sow the video it is fine
i am intrested in granite deep sandblasting
and photo print in granite
thanking you
shanmugam
1586, 1587, anna sirpa calaiagam
trichy road
coimbatore – 641 018
tamilnadu
india
Shanmugam, I got your email as well and have been busy. Granite sandblasting is not that different from glass sandblasting.
If you want to engrave photos into granite, you will need to make a halftone stencils. To do this I use a photoresist but I am not sure where you can get them in India. If you can not find a place to buy them in your country, I would check out the supplies used to make circuit boards and see if that will work.
Wawwwww
I’ve seen some work in my time but that sail fish is truly gorgeous. I’d really love to be able to do something like that. Looking at at that makes my work look amateurish.
Vary nice. The man does some real nice work. Seeing work like that make me really want to get started in the field of sandblasting. I have been thinking about it for quite some time now and have been looking at a few of the suggested sites to buy equipment you have suggested. I watch ebay for a vinyl cutter and have recently found this one CREATION PCUT PERFECT VINYL CUTTER /CUTTING PLOTTER 28″
I was wondering if you could let me know what you think of it. I am a carpenter and have a small wood working shop that I do relief carving engraving on wood glass and metal. I would love to incorporate sandblasting into my wood work. Anyway thanks for your info and time.
Nice movie
If you have a Home Depot nearby prauhcse a gallon of Shower, Tub Tile cleaner by ZEP. Apply it with a spray bottle. Be careful of the fumes. Leave it for 5 minutes then scrub with a non abrasive scrubber sponge ( the blue not the green one). Then rinse with clear water. The stuff costs about $7 per gallon and works great on tile, fiberglass and glass with a minimum amount of effort.
That is a great idea Kana. Thanks for the suggestion. I actually have a bunch of that same stuff at home. I’ll give it a try.
I have never used any of these forms etching. I sm very interested though. I am using diamond bits and my dremel and carving my artwork into the glass. Takes more time from what I can tell thsn if I usef the other methods.
Inspiring. That is how I want to do my work. I just started in this art form and I am trying to soak up everything available. It is so amazing, the possibilities.
Awesome work. The person in the video is a true artist with some amazingly detailed pieces 🙂
Oh to be so skilled. But the work does inpsire me to try my hand on the artform. But most importantly, it is more than mugs and glasses as I initially thought etching was useful for 🙂
I am yet to start glass etching. I have bought a sand blaster and all the bits and pieces to go with it however I’m stuck for stencils. Can you advise me how and where to get what i need.
Hi Andrew, I briefly list the different processes here: https://www.glassetchingsecrets.com/stencils.html
But I go more in detail about it in the ebook and extensively in the member’s area here.
totally inspiring and the most incredible art, thank you for sharing the video!
Nice video. I already have the ‘bug’ and now I want to do my due diligence in finding all the right equipment at the best prices. In the video the gentleman mentioned a kit they had already put together. I also not that you have tips for saving some $ when starting out. Could you enlighten us on equipment or should I go read the blog?
Thanks!
Now that’s a guy with a passion for results! I’m at the “finding the right equipment” stage myself so this sounds like the place to be.
Hi Doug & Randy, most of this type of information in my ebook “Glass Etching Secrets”. I am working to improve it actually and hopefully post some of that information on my blog posts soon.
The video was indeed inspiring. The interviewer did a great job exposing your passion for sandblasting and etching.
I’m just learning what etching and sandblasting can do to bring out the picture in my head.
Can’t wait to learn more!
Stunning,what a wonnderful video.Never posted before but to let you know here i am in England registered disabled and will never work again and with all the time in the world,well i’m 60 years old so perhaps not quite all the time in the world but i have for the past 6 months been looking for something that may bring me more of an income to compensate for the little benefits i recieve,and stumbled on a website from a nice guy called Carle who runs Hunterglass and for those of you out there take a look at his work as i feel this is out of this world.So i have decided to try to learn the art of Sandblasting on various materials including all things glass and now i’m looking for someone here in the UK to give me a one to one course on sandblasting and if anyone who reads this can suggest somebody i would be very grateful,but please note that i would be interested in making my own stencils,something different not bog standard company logos ect.Forgot to mention i can’t draw whatsoever not even a matchstick man so do i have any chance of producing work similar to this video ?,please give me your thoughts.Thanks,Keith.
That was pretty neat! Thanks for sharing!
This is nice to see if it can be done, great. your sharing Eric.
Thank you.
After toying with the idea for more than 2 months I finally got up the nerve to try my hand at blasting after becoming totally unsatisfied with cream etching. My biggest obstacle was how to start off cheaply. I went on amazon and search the Internet for parts and I decided, with the design assistance from a good friend, to make my own cabinet!
I already had a cheap-o vacuum cleaner donated by my wife I would say it would be about $20 if I had yo buy a new one. I purchased the following items.
– 3 gallon Pancake Air Compressor with quick connects and 25 ft coil hose (Home Depot – $49)
– 35 gallon Hard Plastic Storage Container (Home Depot – $16)
– 12″ x 18″ piece of Lexan / Plexiglass (HD – $4)
– A set of Rings to attach the gloves to on the inside, with long sandblasting gloves (forgot the site but will provide if asked) gloves and mounting rings ($32)
– 1 piece of 1 1/2″ PVC elbow at 45 degrees about 2 inches long on each bend (HD $0.65)
– Hobby Abrasive Gun model 260 (like for air brushing) with a 4oz underneath bottle – handles up to 60 psi with long hose 4′ to go to compressor (webairbrushes.com) (don’t get it with the compressed air if you can help it)
– I already had a battery powered 3 lens LED light bar (was about $9)
I used only a jig saw and a flat head screwdriver for tools.
First I cut the square in the top of the lid so I could see into the tub. I laid down the plexiglass and mare the corners (L) and then when I cut it out I did so with about 1 inch on the inside of the lines. I put a bead of quick dry plastic/PVC glue on the lid about 1/2 inch from the edge, making sure there were no gaps in the lines and they connected all the way around. I let that dry for 2 days before I turned it over and used a bead of silicon caulk on the top bead as a preventive sealer-bond. Left it alone until I was ready to use it.
I am making a positive air-flow system, so at the back, about 3 inches form the top and at opposite ends of the panel, I traced the PVC elbow for both holes and cut them out. I put the PVC elbow into the hole on the side where I was going to hook up the vacuum cleaner. The other hole is my intake air flow and I just left it alone. I sealed the PVC with the quick dry glue and then a day later I caulked it inside and out to ensure it was sealed.
The front was pretty straight forward; trace the glove rings and cut. Attach the rings and screw in the screws provided. even though they are sheet metal screws, they work fine and hold securely even if you over tighten a bit.
Attaching the gloves on the inside using the included hose clamps was a breeze. They look huge but the extra length allows for complete mobility.
Next I attached the light to the back inside panel. I put it about 2/3 of the way down. The domes are completely adjustable by rotation so I can move as needed.
Last thing to do was to put a very small hole on the side so I could run the long hose that came with the air gun to the compressor connector.
I keep a fairly large plastic jar of my etching media (Silicon Oxide – 120g) on the inside to use to fill up my 4oz jar on the gun. I find that the 4oz is just right for etching at about 25 psi. I keep my air compressor regulator set there or a tad higher depending upon the glass type and design.
Do it outside on your porch or in your garage / workshop. Use ear protection. Eye and breathing as required (Silicon Oxide does not require breathing but i still use a painters mask). Turn on the vacuum cleaner after attaching to the elbow with duct tape, The compressor should have already been on and the holding tank full. Put in your piece(s)and media Supply, turn on the light, close the lid and you are ready to go.
I am tall and I hate bending over to work on things so I either raise the bench or I tilt my bin (using wooden V brackets I made) and stand or sit depending upon how my back is when I etch.
My media collects on the bottom and I scoop it, screen it and reuse it just like the fancier metal ones do. I figure I saved over $100, I got it the way I wanted it and I had fun building it.
note – The positive airflow allows clean air to come in and to carry the lighter dust particles into the vacuum cleaner (use a good filter, check it often and replace as necessary). The heavier medium falls to the bottom of the bin. I have found no leaks anywhere even just using the snap closing on the lid as it came.
***One other tip***
I quit using the expensive vinyl and use the stuff from the Dollar Store or Wally World. You may only get 1 use from the stencil you cut, but the savings justifies the choice.
I have done a few things (some on Etsy and some on my own website) and have fun doing them. I do get custom order requests that have so far paid for my expenses to build my blasting bin. Someone else has asked me to do some decorative etching on anodized metal he gets custom orders for, so it can take off in the most unexpected directions.
Great Resource for gloves, adapter rings, abrasive at great prices. TPTools
They do car restorations but they have things we all need for this art and really good prices.
Wonderful Video. I learned to etch with acid as a seventh grader in school. My art teacher Mrs. Hooker was a fabulous teacher. I continued her art class all through high school. I have created store shop mirrors, I have done complete store front windows, wedding things, family portraits and more. I had to stop glass etching due to a spinal issue at which time I then began to bead and created wonderful things this way and I am now working on creating ways to use my glass etching ability with my 3 dimensional beading now that I am able to do so. Thank you Eric for the email with the link to this video!
Wonderful video loved the detail. Now I just want to learn more on how to do this amazing beautiful work without it having to cost me a fortune.
Great video. I would like to learn more…I’ve done some 2D sand carving but would love to learn to do some of the things seen on the video…
That is some of the best, if not the best, work I’ve ever seen. Eric, thank you for sharing.
I am more inspired to work in glass than I ever was. I have loved glass all my life. Thanks.
I am more inspired to work in glass than I ever was. I have loved glass all my life. Thanks.
Very inspiring video.Dont get to get to see this sort of work in New Zealand
I am 62 and lost my job and was trying to find a hobby. then I seen some of you work and am now in the proses of gathering information on how to get started and the equipment needed. thank you for your web site.
great video
very isnpiring video. I want to know more about this fantastic ART
Eric, the glassworks you do is absolutely beautiful you are an amazing artist
I am so glad that I found your site
Beautiful work! Incredible detail. Makes me want to step up my game and do the same quality of work.
Very short vid . . . just a taste of what you do ; beautiful. I’ve always really liked this stuff since the 1st time I saw some a few years ago. I’m working on setting up a studio at my place in this little town in the Bitterroot Mtns. in Idaho ; multidimensional, wood, metals, ceramic, . . . urban gardening, and a lot of interest in beautiful glass work – playing with light, that’s what it’s about.
Wondering if you got my post?
@ Gilly, I replied to you here: https://www.glassetchingsecrets.com/new-form-feature-etched-glass#comments
Thanks!
This is very good if I can do this to keep buzzy I wil be pleased .
My interest is more towards wet etching with vinyl stencils.
Bob
WOW, I never saw anything so beautiful. What a wonderful talent you got there. I only wish i could do this. Good work.
Amazing! If I can do even half as good I’d be pleased.
I am interested in glass etching but cannot really find
Easy ways of making stencils. I don’t want to be fiddling about with
Developer. I had enough of that with black and white photography.
Is there a way with lasers?
I loved this video. However, I’m just starting out and looking to do some etched glass with a little color to the etching that will stand up to a dishwasher. I’ve heard of glass paint, but don’t know where to purchase or what type to get. I love etching wine glasses etc. for family and friends but the etching never shows up enough to actually see it with the products on the market. Since I live in an apartment, sandblasting is out of the picture for now. Can’t wait to see more videos. Keep them coming!
Man his stuff is so 3D. Now this is something I would LOVE to learn to do!
I am eager to learn more about this. His work is beautiful. Am a little alarmed that he refers to himself as as “stuggling” artist. I am hoping to eventually make enough money doing this to supplement my rather meager retirement income.
Wow!!! Great !!!
You are very inspiring with your work. I know I can do this. I am a jeweler and its a walk in the park. This looks as easy with a good trained, now we are talking about you. I do look forward to learning and mastering this hobby. I have many hobbies and have learned so much with my hands…See ya soon
Sr. Erick realmente me quede con la boca abierta al ver sus esplendidos trabajos, no cabe duda que es usted un gran artista y que para llegar a esos logros tubo que pasar un largo tiempo perfeccionando su técnica, cosa que es de admirar. Yo por el contrario soy novato al respecto y tendré mucho que aprender de tan digno maestro.
Dios lo bendiga por ser tan generoso al hacer participe de sus conocimientos a tantas personas.
Sinceramente
Alfredo
P. D. Si sus videos fueran acompañados de subtítulos en español sería magnifico, pues habemos 300,000,000 de hispanohablantes
Thank you, your work is amazing!
I am too old (and too far…)to start this form of really art with you…
I wish you to be very happy with your work.
All the best wishes!
Victor Canepa
Nice art..and usuful comments
So beautiful! <3
Great video, thanks for sharing .
Do you have a page where you post videos and pictures of your work?