Glass Etching Using Toner Transfer Templates

I recently began experimenting with glass etching cream. There's a lot of creative things you can do with it, but to create really cool designs you need to spend a LOT of time trimming your stencils. I wanted to find a quicker way to create complex designs and realized that the toner transfer technique used when creating your own circuit boards just  might work. What follows is a proof of concept for this technique:

 

Step 1 Tools & Materials

Glass 
Glass Etching Cream (such as Armour Etch)
Disposable brush
Latex gloves
Leather gloves
Masking tape
Glossy printer paper
Scissors
Lacquer Thinner
Iron
Ironing board or cotton towel  (nothing synthetic or it could melt)
Laser Printer or Photocopier

Comments

[jphphotography]

I'm just getting started with glass etching, something I've been meaning to look into for quite some time. I was already familiar with the printed circuit board method using the toner and was wondering if it would work on glass. My fear though was that the glass would crack due to the heat. I see now that it is in fact possible. I wonder though how high was your yield with respect to glass being lost do to cracking?

Oh and one other thing, for those ones that had the paper stuck to the glass, did you try soaking them then gently rubbing off the paper? This is how the PCB method needs to be done but I could see the toner coming off too since the glass is so smooth.

Anyway thanks for the instructable, I'm going to try this soon. I'm just using cheap dollar store photo frame glass anyway so if I lose a few due to cracking its not that expensive :)

[davidkichi]

Great instructable! Btw, I think the glass stencils might show up better if you have it on a darker surface.

[rabeatz]

Anyone have any ideas on how to do this with a curved object such as an ornament or glass?

[rabeatz]

A followup - I was able to get your method to work using glossy paper and a 'transfer point' on a wood burning pen - basically a flat edge. I slowly rubbed it around in cirs and applied light pressure until i covered the entire graphic. This was on a pint glass - I have yet to try it on something as curved as an ornament. Waiting till my shipment arrives from my glassblowing class.

[kaptaink_cg]

With something like that, you're probably better off printing it on a label (clear or otherwise), sticking it on the glass, then using a razor blade to remove the portions of your template that you want to etch. I don't think you'll be able to successfully do a toner transfer on an object that is curved too much. If it's closer to a cylinder it'll probably work, but spherical wont.

[rabeatz]

Too hard to find cheap water slide laser paper. I'm printing it on contact paper now and then I'm just going to get a stencil cutting tip (bent narrow tip) for my variable temp solder station and use that to cut more precisely than I can with a razor blade. I tried with a razor blade last night and ended up just scratching the glass like crazy.

[rabeatz]

I know I just won't be able to be very clean or precise with a razor blade. I'm in the process of trying a transfer using acetone. Hopefully it works!

[rabeatz]

Can't get it to transfer at all. I'm wondering if I can print on to a water slide transfer paper (like used on car decals) and it will work. Just need to find a place that sells it for cheap.

[lumpee]

You could make some awesome mirrors with this method. Good work.

[LawnBoy1991]

 Does etching cream work on hard plastic like a macbook, or would it just melt it to hell?

[technosasquatch]

how would you thoroughly wash off said macbook?

[Saint]

Glass etching works by applying a rather harsh acid to the glass (usually a fluoride component, like hydrogen fluoride). I don't think they would react well with your macbook, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was a special etching solution for plastics. You could ask in your local craftstore.

[hinge]

Good instructable,but in step 3,you state that "glass conducts heat very well"-well,it doesn't.Take a metal plate of same thickness as the glass plate,apply a hot iron to both and you will see the difference immediately.But otherwise ,you deserve a star of recognition

[kaptaink_cg]

Obviously, glass does not conduct heat as well as metal. But that's not what I said. It DOES conduct heat better than a lot of other materials. Examples: Ever try changing a lightbulb after it's been on for an hour? Ever put your hand on the windshield of a car during an Arizona summer? If you still don't believe me, try out my project without using gloves and see how it goes.

[ubercool]

i want to start etching some glass but im not 100% what kind of glossy printer paper is needed.  what kind did you use exactly? thanks!

[sbregher]

Great job with instructions!  I'll be sure to check out your other Instructables!

[zapro]

 To ease removal of the paper, soak it in water  for a minute before removing it!

[penumbra_]

 Very cool. I look forward to trying this!

[orksecurity]

To get better photos: Try lighting the glass from an angle, with a black background behind it. The etched areas should diffuse light and thus appear as light areas against the dark field. Lighting from an angle also avoids the reflection problem.

[kaptaink_cg]

Good suggestion.. I will try it within the next few days and post pics if it works.

[jeff-o]

It's good to know that this works.  I'll remember it the next time I want to etch glass!

[bulsatar]

When I was messing with etching cream, I would glue the stencil to the glass then rubber cement over the whole stencil.  Once dry, rub off the rubber cement in the area to etch and then apply the cream like normal (if there is glue in the area to etch it will not work so rubber cement to anchor the stencil works great).

This gives you extremely crisp edges and corners as the rubber cement stays in the groves and seals them off.  Then just wash the glass with soap and water and you are done  :)

[chichimus]

If there are gaps in the transfer, you might try filling them in with a sharpie. I have done this with PCB etching and it works. Not sure with glass etch tho'. Try a test spot first

[kaptaink_cg]

Great suggestion. I was wondering if a sharpie would work as well.