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Scratching the Surface         A Beginner’s Guide to Acid Etching Glass by Michele Ellington

Glass etching is a quick and easy method of creating attractive and useful pieces of art.  However, many of the materials are dangerous and the etching crème is particularly hazardous.  This is not a good project for kids, even under supervision.  It would be safest to do it outside the presence of kids or pets.  Read and be aware of the extensive cautionary information on the label of the etching crème bottle.

Select Your Glass

I suggest starting with a flat surface such as a mirror or sheet of glass for your first project.  The etching crème will burn any kind of glass; It makes a unique burn on crystal and burns mirrors very clearly.  Colored glass makes a good medium, but check it carefully.  Many of the colored glass decanters sold at craft shops are actually clear glass with a colored film shrunk onto it.  The etching crème will blister this plastic rather than burning your image.  I recommend a visit to your local dollar store or thrift shop to buy a small mirror or sheet of glass.

 Mask Your Glass

The best mask for flat surfaces is waterproof shelf paper, also called contact paper.  One roll will allow you to make many pieces of art.  Be sure to select a waterproof surface and color you can mark on. 

 Remove your glass from the frame.  Handle mirrors carefully, they are often sharp edged.  Wash and dry.  Lay on the shelf paper and trace it, cutting the correct size from the shelf paper.  Fold down one edge of the backing and carefully align with the edge of the glass before sticking it down.  Using the ruler on the slick side, peel away the backing and smooth down the shelf paper.  Use masking tape or scraps of shelf paper to cover any areas you missed.  Rub all over the contact paper with the ruler or Popsicle stick to make sure it is adhered well.  Don’t worry too much about bubbles. 

 If you are not working a flat surface, use masking tape to completely cover your glass.  Try to keep the area to be etched to a single layer.  Use your Popsicle stick or other hard yet flexible object to rub the tape down very tight.

 Create Your Image

You can draw directly on your object, and this is the best approach for 3D pieces.  Or you can use carbon paper to transfer the desired image to the contact paper or tape.  I recommend that you go over the carbon lines with a shrpie to keep the carbon from rubbing off as you work.

 Cut Your Image

Now for the hard part.  Unless you have used an actual stencil to draw your image, you will need to convert your image to a stencil as you cut.  This sounds more complicated than it is.  The simplest approach is to make your image a silhouette and cut all of it out.  If you want a more complex image, just remember that the contact paper acts as a negative of your image.  The parts of the contact paper that you remove will be the parts that are etched.   

Once you have finished cutting your image, use a Popsicle stick or other smooth object to iron down your remaining contact paper or tape, paying special attention to the edges of the actual image.  Make certain the only bare glass is the part you want to etch.

Etch Your Glass

Read and follow the directions on the etching crème. At a minimum, I wear surgical gloves and work in a well-ventilated area.  Using the Popsicle stick, Q-Tip or disposable paintbrush, smear a very thin paste of etching crème over the bare glass.  Allow the paste to set for a couple of minutes.  Extra time will neither help nor harm the crème’s effectiveness, but it is harder to wash off if it dries out. 

In a sink where food isn’t handled, use a brush to rinse off the paste with cold water.  Do not scrub off the contact paper, instead, use the paste a second time for best results.  Masking tape almost always comes off immediately, so you can only do one course of etching crème. When the paste is gone and your brush is clean, switch to hot water and the mask will come off more easily.  Wash the finished piece with glass cleaner, return to its frame and voila! you have a beautiful piece of etched glass.