Etching Curved Glass

[Former_Member]

i was wondering if anyone had tips or ideas for when you are etching curved glass like wine glasses. I use armour etch and so obviously if there is a fold in the vinyl/contact paper it can be a serious issue when you get to the final product with bleeds. I haven't had to throw out many glasses but I end up spending an incredible amount of time stressing over them and it's not time efficient and im hoping to hear some tips.

Like for instance I am about to do an etching with "Mother of the bride May 24, 2014" on three different lines. Would you put the whole thing on the glass (approximately 2 inch rectangle) or place the line(s) separately? I see these all over etsy and I wonder how these people do it. Everytime I get a wine glass order I get annoyed because I know it's going to mean so much more work...but I also don't want to turn away sales....

Thanks for whatever help you can give. :)

[Former_Member]

Hi Nina!

Have you thought investing in a Sand blaster? we started out using acid to etch as well, but we ran into a lot of the same problems that you are describing. The sandblasting process is a little more forgiving on curved glasses.

Wine glasses are always a little frustrating though! we feel your pain! lol

[BeachwalkerBoxes]

I have a sandblaster, and I've never acid etched, but it's a huge pain in the ass to sandblast curved glass, for all the reasons you described, Nina. When I have to do it (not often, thankfully) I use strips of resist that fit snugly for whatever is to be etched, and cover the rest thickly with contact plastic paper, which usually works, except for when it doesn't. I've heard that there is stretchier, more malleable resist, but I've never really investigated.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for your advice. So I decided to split the design in half and lay them separately on the glass and it worked great! It won't work for all designs but just plain lettering it was great!

[Everre]

I'm a little late to the conversation but I just wanted to share how I do it. When I adhere the vinyl on, I press against the letter/shape only. I let the edges do whatever folding they want to. I carefully remove the transfer paper with the edges still not all the way on, but my shape/word is well adhered. then I take my exacto knife and cut from the curved part back towards the edge of the vinyl. Then I run the knife under the vinyl at the cut part and make them overlap at where I cut them. I press down hard with my finger nail at where the two parts meet to make sure no enchant gets beneath. I hope this makes sense, its hard to describe in words, but it works great!