GLASS ETCHING IN 8 EASY STEPS
Step 1.) Clean the area on the surface of the glass to be etched. I should be free from all oils or tiny hairs and/or fuzz.
Step 2.) Choose the preferred “resist” method to be used to cover the areas that will NOT be etched; peel away the vinyl from the areas that WILL be exposed and etched.
NOTES ABOUT VINYL: I use a 12” roll of 2-layer vinyl (one layer, the vinyl itself and the other is the “paper backing”) that is fed through a vinyl cutter. I use the software that comes with it to design and create my own (disposable) vinyl cut outs. Once my machine has cut my design, I peel and remove the sections of the vinyl from the design that need to be exposed to the glass etching cream. I then place my 2-layer vinyl sheet (VINYL-SIDE-DOWN) onto a piece of “transfer paper” (STICKY-SIDE-UP) cut to size. So, now you should have transfer paper on one side, the vinyl cut-out stencil is sandwiched in between with the sticky side facing in the same direction as the sticky side of the transfer paper; then the paper backing is on the other side. Burnish it down well. With all 3 layers in place together, trim the cut-out very closely. Completely peel away the “paper backing” from the design sticker. This leaves the sticky side of the “transfer paper” and the sticky side of the vinyl cut-out facing in the same direction. The transfer paper, which holds the tiny and often complex parts of the design in place, allows you to transfer the vinyl cut-out to the target surface and easily arrange it onto the surface of the glass.
There are several different types of self-adhesive contact plastic or vinyl sheets available for purchase at any craft or hardware store; they can also be purchased online. Another option is to use carbon paper to transfer a design onto a piece of light colored vinyl and cut the design from the vinyl by hand, removing the parts that you want etched.
Step 3.) If lettering is the design or part of the design and you want it to be straight, mark the target area of the glass with a map pencil or apply painter’s tape or a piece of scrap vinyl to serve as a placement guide.
Step 4.) VERY carefully apply the sticker to the area of the glass to be etched, taking care to place it squarely onto the desired area the FIRST time. Rarely can the sticker be moved once it's placed. Remember, measure twice, cut once? The same applies here. Prep work is everything here. You will get better at placement as you become more experienced.
Step 5.) Once the sticker is in place, burnish it well onto the surface of the glass; carefully peel away the transfer paper, making sure no tiny parts of the design are left on the transfer paper. Once the transfer paper has been removed, check to make sure there are no bubbles around the edges of the vinyl sticker where the etching cream could possibly creep under and bleed the design. Cover the surrounding areas with scrap vinyl strips to ensure an area you do not want etched is not accidentally painted with etching cream.
Step 6.) Using an acrylic crafter's paint brush to apply a thick coat of etching cream only to the areas you want etched, making sure to cover every nook and cranny.
Step 7.) The directions on the bottle of glass etching cream that I use say to leave the cream on for five (5) minutes. I do just that. However, often times I am busy doing something else and I leave it for up to ten (10) minutes. I have seen no difference. Eight (8) minutes seems to be a comfortable amount of time for me.
Step 8.) Rinse the etching cream off the glass with ordinary tap water -- thoroughly. Remove all traces of vinyl. Rinse again. Wash well using regular dish detergent and a soft rag. Dry thoroughly with soft rag and ADMIRE YOUR WORK!
Step 1.) Clean the area on the surface of the glass to be etched. I should be free from all oils or tiny hairs and/or fuzz.
Step 2.) Choose the preferred “resist” method to be used to cover the areas that will NOT be etched; peel away the vinyl from the areas that WILL be exposed and etched.
NOTES ABOUT VINYL: I use a 12” roll of 2-layer vinyl (one layer, the vinyl itself and the other is the “paper backing”) that is fed through a vinyl cutter. I use the software that comes with it to design and create my own (disposable) vinyl cut outs. Once my machine has cut my design, I peel and remove the sections of the vinyl from the design that need to be exposed to the glass etching cream. I then place my 2-layer vinyl sheet (VINYL-SIDE-DOWN) onto a piece of “transfer paper” (STICKY-SIDE-UP) cut to size. So, now you should have transfer paper on one side, the vinyl cut-out stencil is sandwiched in between with the sticky side facing in the same direction as the sticky side of the transfer paper; then the paper backing is on the other side. Burnish it down well. With all 3 layers in place together, trim the cut-out very closely. Completely peel away the “paper backing” from the design sticker. This leaves the sticky side of the “transfer paper” and the sticky side of the vinyl cut-out facing in the same direction. The transfer paper, which holds the tiny and often complex parts of the design in place, allows you to transfer the vinyl cut-out to the target surface and easily arrange it onto the surface of the glass.
There are several different types of self-adhesive contact plastic or vinyl sheets available for purchase at any craft or hardware store; they can also be purchased online. Another option is to use carbon paper to transfer a design onto a piece of light colored vinyl and cut the design from the vinyl by hand, removing the parts that you want etched.
Step 3.) If lettering is the design or part of the design and you want it to be straight, mark the target area of the glass with a map pencil or apply painter’s tape or a piece of scrap vinyl to serve as a placement guide.
Step 4.) VERY carefully apply the sticker to the area of the glass to be etched, taking care to place it squarely onto the desired area the FIRST time. Rarely can the sticker be moved once it's placed. Remember, measure twice, cut once? The same applies here. Prep work is everything here. You will get better at placement as you become more experienced.
Step 5.) Once the sticker is in place, burnish it well onto the surface of the glass; carefully peel away the transfer paper, making sure no tiny parts of the design are left on the transfer paper. Once the transfer paper has been removed, check to make sure there are no bubbles around the edges of the vinyl sticker where the etching cream could possibly creep under and bleed the design. Cover the surrounding areas with scrap vinyl strips to ensure an area you do not want etched is not accidentally painted with etching cream.
Step 6.) Using an acrylic crafter's paint brush to apply a thick coat of etching cream only to the areas you want etched, making sure to cover every nook and cranny.
Step 7.) The directions on the bottle of glass etching cream that I use say to leave the cream on for five (5) minutes. I do just that. However, often times I am busy doing something else and I leave it for up to ten (10) minutes. I have seen no difference. Eight (8) minutes seems to be a comfortable amount of time for me.
Step 8.) Rinse the etching cream off the glass with ordinary tap water -- thoroughly. Remove all traces of vinyl. Rinse again. Wash well using regular dish detergent and a soft rag. Dry thoroughly with soft rag and ADMIRE YOUR WORK!
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