Information About the Cream Used for Etching
Glass etching cream is also widely known as acid cream and is one of the easiest ways to personalize your glass. It is fairly inexpensive, but a jar doesn’t go a long way since you have to coat your glass with a thick layer to etch it correctly. The cream has a diluted mixture of chemicals which eats or etches the surface of the glass very lightly. The mixture is comprised of the hazardous chemicals: Barium Sulfate, Sulfuric Acid, Sodium Bifluoride, and Ammonium Bifluoride.
Bottle of Armour Etch Acid Cream
For a step by step cream etching guide with pictures, check out the tutorial page. If you are searching for acid cream, you can order it through Amazon shown at the bottom of the acid process page. This is my favorite place to order it from. FYI:I have heard from a few people that it’s not sold in some states. This is most likely because the local government wanted to keep it away from people vandalizing glass. It has been a problem in some areas where kids or gang members would etch a store’s front glass with graffiti. It’s not like regular paint graffiti because we can usually rub that off or paint over it. The etching cream leaves a permanent mark in the glass and will have to be replaced.
It is used mostly for etching designs into glass cups and wine glasses, but can be used for many other things also. The bad thing about using the cream is it doesn’t produce a consistent etch on large surfaces such as a glass shower door. It is best to etch larger surfaces with a sandblaster which is another reason that sandblasting is a highly desirable process. There is also another brand called Bath Etch that will work better for larger areas.
Where to Buy & What is the Best Brand
The question that is asked frequently — what is the best brand & what etches the best?
There are many brands available with the most popular being Armour Etch & EtchAll. I created an experiment which I test the different creams to see what works the best. To access my free report of places to buy, please fill out your best email address below. That way you can see what the results look like.
Before you decide to purchase supplies or equipment, you need to decide what you want to do with it. Depending on your budget, you will also need to decide if you want very low cost equipment or more professional etching equipment.
If you want to start an etching business, then you should use a sandblaster because it will create sharper elegant etchings that your customers will enjoy and come back for more. If you’re not willing to place much money on this interesting niche, then you will want to stick with cream method. Professional etching equipment will allow you to produce the most artistic and elegant forms of art fairly easy with the sandblasting process. This professional equipment is also known as abrasive etching and sand carving. It can be expensive to start up, but the ongoing cost is fairly inexpensive. In my information manual, Glass Etching Secrets it shows you how to save thousands of dollars and get a lot of this sophisticated equipment for less than a few hundred dollars. In the tutorials section of the ebook, we will also discuss more about the acid cream.
Check out my information resource!
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Eric, I just wanted to share a quick thought. I use a dremel a lot for glass projects and have found that after completion of that etching, I add a light coat of “Rub and Buff” over the etched glass., Let sit a bit (not long) and then use a simple scotch scratch pad to go over the entire surface. The results are extraordinary! The etching stands out and is especially stunning if used on colored glass. Wow, you really have to try this. The scratch pad only takes off the excess, but stays withing the scratched design.
@Patsy, thanks for sharing. It is a great idea! I talk about this in some of my ebooks.
Hi where in uganda can i find your prouct
good morning !!! where in Greece can i find your products???????
Hi,
Am writing from Malawi in Africa and about to start a security car window VIN etching business using a stencil from brother hand printers and need infor on etch cream. Can i use any etch cream and where can i get the cream and Marking gel at cheap price?
when you aresand blastin,how much psi and wgat type of media you use and can i go to my locak sign shop for the stenciles or print out my own,also is it feesiable todo like a vehicle emblem on windows up to 32 to36 inches
For sand blasting, use at least 90 psi. You can sift river sand through a window screen for medium. You can use almost anything for stencil, depending upon how deep you must blast. Even masking tape will work. Lay down multiple layers, then cut the design. Best is specially made sheets of sticky-back material that is 1/16th inch thick or more and a couple of feet wide. Use the professional material for large designs – it is worth it.
I purchased 2 lots of the EtchAll Etching Liquid (2 x 473ml) only used it to frost 4 small 500ml bottles
after that the solution became unusable despite being sold as reusable.
In my experience it is not!
I tested the pH level when I first got it and again when I noticed it was taking far too long to
etch the exact same untreated glass item
For example: When I first used the product it took 15~20mins to completly frost the 500ml bottle
After about 4 bottles I noticed the finish was getting patchy.
After the 5 it now takes over an hour to slightly mark the glass!
At this stage after testing the pH level I noticed it had increased making it useless and not low enough to etch glass.
I have tried 3 times to email the EtchAll company (well if it is a company)
It took ages to find any kind of contact email address on their very unprofessional website and the email address
I did find was of someone who can only be decribed as my grandmother (yeah its the nutty old lady in the youtube videos)
For the cost of this stuff I expected it to be as advertised “REUSABLE” very disappointed not only in the product but the company and lack of customer support.
Im now making my own solution as I can not rely on EtchNothing
I’m trying to put a TV in my bathroom that will be behind my mirror. So I’m trying to make sure I can see the TV through my mirror. Reading through the post that has been provided what would you say is the best way to go about this and what products could you find in a normal distribution store in the United States?
nice liked it and wanna try it
In what store department can we find this product?
HI
I NEED BROWN ETCHING PASTE URGENTLY PLEASE
Hello, I just noticed that Patsy uses her Dremmel but calls her work etching, it is really engraving. Just thought I’d let you know.
Will the Etchall etch on stones (granite, slate etc.)?.I am in Chennai /India. Is there any agency /dealer here. Please inform how can I get?
A.JUDIT, it will not, nor will any craft etching cream
Hi does anyone know of a paint-on resist that can be used on glass, scratched away to reveal a design and then etched by painting the etch-all or similar to frost the glass. There used to be a blue transparent resist paint which went on quite thin, you waited 20-25 mins for the resist to dry and then a design could be scratched through using things like dentist metal toold. I used this method many times and would like to get back into it again, the results were excellent and it was possible to get very fine details into the design eg details on feather designs, coat details on animals. I can’t achieve the same result by cutting up a vinyl transfer. Any help appreciated – Vicki
Vicki, yes a similar product is sold here: http://amzn.to/2f9E6IY
Where can I buy Armour Etch in the Tehachapi, CA area? Zip Code 93561
@Anna, I am unsure of a local place there but they are offered through shipping here https://www.glassetchingsecrets.com/armouretch-order
I’d like a copy of the comparison report for etching creams.
Thank you.
we are trying to put a laminated safety glass etch in the corners of our laminated safety glass for inspectors to approve for code compliance. wll this product work?
@Kevin, the cream will definitely etch but it is not the most noticeable etching process, especially at a very small print. With that said, the visibility of this may not meet the code compliance- however, I am not familiar with the rules. In my opinion, I think a better route would be to use stencils and a white glass paint.
I am rebuilding my home after the 2017 Northern CA firestorms. My new front door has 4 glass panels 12×24. Problem is my builder bought clear instead of frosted glass. Will etching cream work or do you have a recommendation on how best to blur the glass? Funds are tight so I can’t just buy another door.
Hey Linda, usually etching cream applied to large areas can be risky since it is known to create blotches on larger surface areas if not done correctly. However, it may work but I would suggest using a smooth cream during warmer temperatures. Etching cream is known to crystalize when it is cold which can create more noticeable blotches during winter time.
The other options are to purchase privacy vinyl that adheres to the glass. Not sure how it holds up to the sun. And there is a glass frosting paint at local home improvement stores but that can look tacky.
Where can. I buy this n Scotland please
Is there a certain air temperature it must be for it to work. And how long dies the cream last in its container?
I would like to purchase a bottle and give it a try
Dear, I am an Enterprenuer and one of our product is double sided Rubber Gripper(Suction cup). We require some chemical to nullify the gloss of the glass pane (plate glass) used for glass windows, so that our rubber gripper gets fixed on the glass for long time.