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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Posts
    53

    Glass etching/engraving?

    Are laser engravers suitable for engraving glass? (flat and cylindrical)

    Is a CNC router type machine a better choice?

    Anyone here doing glass?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    940

    Re: Glass etching/engraving?

    It depends on a lot of little things. Are you talking one offs or lots of the same. For one offs cutting a mask and using etching cream is better.Gives a nicer finish.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    2415

    Re: Glass etching/engraving?

    Ethic glass (Aka Sand carving) is best gone with a Vinyl cutter to make a mask in a cheap paint vinyl, unless you want deep carving . Then you sand blast it with aluminium oxide or carbide grit. It takes an inexpensive vinyl cutter , cutting software and a snad blast cabinet. Biggest time consumer is masking off the rest of the object from over-spray. You can make one or one hundred of a design. There are entire groups dedicated to glass etching but it called sand carving . If you wan to make one of something just do the etching acid . If you want to do multiples or make several of different designs then the sand carving is the way to go. There are all kinds of glass things that are fun to carve. Beer mugs, wine glasses, clear coffee cups, etc.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Posts
    53

    Re: Glass etching/engraving?

    Quote Originally Posted by fixtureman1 View Post
    It depends on a lot of little things. Are you talking one offs or lots of the same. For one offs cutting a mask and using etching cream is better.Gives a nicer finish.
    I have tried the stencil/paste method but I was looking for something a little more 'mass production' , say 50 off quantities of the same graphic.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    1740

    Re: Glass etching/engraving?

    A good co2 laser will etch glass or frost it just fine. Just do not cheap out and for round objects a rotary is needed. A lot cleaner and faster than sandblasting. It takes some time to get the right settings for what your going to do.
    Retired Master Electrician, HVAC/R Commercial. FLA Saturn 2 4x4 CNC Router Mach4 Kimber 1911 45ACP

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Posts
    378

    Re: Glass etching/engraving?

    I have done a lot of glass on a 40W CO2 K40 laser with a Lightobject DSP conversion. It does a great job. A bigger laser will do it faster, but I can do a design on a 4" square tile in probably 5-8 minutes. I have also done granite plaques. I just cut up granite tiles from Home Depot.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Posts
    10

    Re: Glass etching/engraving?

    I do lots of glass and mirror. I will sometimes laser it but not crazy about the texture. What I do mostly is cover the glass or mirror with vinyl then laser it. That will etch the glass and also create a stencil on it with the vinyl so I can give it a quick spray with the sandblaster to get the texture I want.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Posts
    2
    How to professionally Mat the glass at home. See here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAgchY0ZtgY
    FROSTING OF GLASS. PROFESSIONAL CREAM. You can buy in Sacramento. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS85BvojYqg

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Posts
    11
    Yes, Co2 laser engravers are certainly worked for glass engraving, for cylindrical things you need a rotary.-frank from aeon laser www.aeonlaser.net ([email protected])

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