Etching Glass

Business, Advertising.

What you need to know about etching - another beautiful way to imprint promotional products, etching is often mistaken for engraving. Engraving uses either a graver( can be a rotating carbide cutter or a diamond drag) or laser to cut into metal and other hard - surface items.

Though the results are similar, the process behind the two are totally different. - etching, on the other hand, uses strong acids or other abrasives to cut into the unprotected parts of the substrate. How It' s Done. The most common use for etching is on a metal or glass surfaces. Etching Metals. The etcher then exposes the image to be imprinted.

The metal to be imprinted is coated with an acid - resistant substance( also called a resist, it is usually a waxy ground) . - traditional methods of exposing an image utilizes an etching needle or an �choppe for sloped lines. A photo - negative of the artwork is prepared. Today, most etching companies use photographic means. This image is then exposed on the photo - sensitive surface of the metal. The metal then goes through an acid bath or an acid wash.

This step results in exposed and a protected metal portions. - during this process, the acid eats away at the bare metal leaving a fine image on the surface of the product. Once the image has successfully been transferred onto the substrate, it is washed over with water. This process is called" biting" . Finally, the resist is removed with a solvent. There are two ways to etch glass: First, glass etchers can either use acidic, caustic or abrasive substances.

Etching Glass. - in the 1920' s, manufacturers developed the mold - etch process to significantly reduce costs for labor - intensive glass etching. This process involves extremely hazardous acids, so most etchers still prefer the use of abrasive elements. Here, art is etched directly onto the mold so that each piece cast from it comes out with the image already etched on the glass. Fluoride compounds are the most popular abrasives used for glass. The glass is covered with a template that has a design cut out of it.

The second way to etch glass is with a sand blaster. - when blasted with silicone sand, only the unprotected portions are etched into the glass.