Introduction: How to Etch Glass

College kids are known for their creativity but when it comes to their beer and whiskey glasses, they always come up bland. Here is a set of instructions on how to create your own personal glass to be the coolest kid of the party!

Step 1: Collect Necessary Supplies

Here is a list of supplies you will need:

  • Glass of choice
  • Armor Etch Crème (can be found at your nearest Hobby Lobby)
  • Popsicle sticks (To apply etch crème)
  • Rubbing Alcohol (To clean glass before etching)
  • Duct Tape (To protect glass from etch crème)
  • Stickers (To complete your design)
  • Paper towels (To dry glass when necessary)
  • Stainless sink (A must for cleaning etching crème later)
  • Scissors (necessary for more complicated design, see Step 3)
  • Sharpie (necessary for more complicated design, see Step 3)

Step 2: Prepare Glass

To begin you first need to clean the glass you wish to etch. To do this, take rubbing alcohol and apply to all surfaces of the glasses. Be careful with your hands during the process and keep away from cuts on hand. After rubbing alcohol on the surfaces of the glass, rinse with water and dry.

Step 3: Design Your Glass

Pick a design for etching. This can be words, graphics, a combination of the two, and as easy or as complicated as you want. A suggestion for a complicated design would be to take the duct tape and draw your design on the duct tape. From there, you can cut the design out from the sketch made on the duct tape and apply the duct tape on the surface of the glass. Your glass should visible show the design where the etching creme can be applied.

Step 4: Cover the Glass

Cover your glass where you do not wish the etch crème should be applied. Make sure to cover all surfaces around the design so that the etching crème does not interfere with that part of the glass.

Step 5: Apply Etching Creme

IMPORTANT: DO NOT TOUCH, CONSUME, OR PLACE ANYWHERE INSIDE AND OUT OF THE BODY WITH THE ETCHING CRÈME. IF COME IN CONTACT, CONTACT POISON CONTROL IMMEDIATELY.

With a popsicle stick very carefully, paste etching crème over the exposed surface of the glass. Place around in all corners.

Step 6: Start and Watch Timer

Set an 8 minute timer and begin after etching crème has been applied. At remaining minutes 6, 4, and 2, stir the etching crème around to ensure that no air pockets are being formed.

Step 7: Remove and Clean

First, remove etching crème with water. Do this in a stainless sink ONLY. Once all etching crème is removed, remove tape from glass. Clean and dry glass accordingly.

Step 8: Enjoy!

Enjoy and drink responsibly!