My Journey: When I first got into glass etching, I was most interested in the sandblasting process and was about to spend over $10,000 on equipment advertised by manufacturers. Just before I was about to make the irrationally quick decision, I decided to research other lower cost solutions and ended up piecing together a great setup for at least 90% less. My goal through our ebook and membership area is to provide this information so you too can save, while still etching like a pro. It is my aim that a small investment in this information will actually save you thousands.
If you do plan on sandblasting glass, you will obviously need an air compressor. The photo on the left shows an example of the 2 compressors in my garage (a 1 stage & larger 2 stage). The selection of an air compressor can sometimes get confusing because of various ratings and types available. The specifications
A video showing two etched glass techniques that I made with a step by step guide. Let me know what you think.
A lot of people have trouble seeing what they’re sandblasting due to abrasive dust clouding up inside and/or from inadequate light (too dark). This can be overcome by using a combination of different tactics. Listed below are some tactics to help you see what you’re doing better: Dust Collector: The best thing to do is
Mixing up stained glass with etching techniques can be an interesting craft.
When companies try to sell pressure pots, they mostly sell systems that are permanently combined to the sandblasting cabinet. These are extremely expensive; up to a few thousand dollars. I think the best way is to buy a cheaper portable one and hook it up to a stationary cabinet. There is a large advantage by
A tutorial about etching a glass wine bottle to give as a gift for any occasion. This is an example for a wedding gift.
One way to get a cabinet for a siphon system is to make your own, which may not cost you anything if you use materials from around your house for it. These can sometimes be made out of junk that you actually would like to throw out. When you’re using junk and making it into
It is a very wise idea to use a type of contained area to do the sandblasting (link for more info on the process) for safety reasons, for dust control, and for the ability to recollect & reuse this abrasive many times. The use of a sandblasting cabinet helps with all of this. The cabinet
The only bad thing that I have noticed about the Central Pneumatic sandblaster brand is its inability to keep a consistent flow almost like the characteristics of a siphon system. This is probably due to having an imperfect design and the abrasive media being exposed to moisture from the supplied air causing the abrasive to
Poor etchings due to having a white or creamy background. Tips to make your etchings look great.
One additional tip that I want to share with you, is that some of the most inexpensive pressure pot sandblasters are the ones made portable such as the Central Pneumatic system, previously discussed. These portable types have wheels (at least the majority do) and are not permanently configured to a cabinet. If you only want
