engraving a wine glass... sandblasting style!

Sandblasting is the method we use in engraving crystals. It is where fine sand is blasted in the crystal, leaving an abrasion or engraving on. Sometimes we got requests to engrave ordinary utensils at home like pitcher, beer mugs, wine glass (like that below) etc.

First step is where my superior skills in graphics came in handy XP. We lay-out the texts in illustrator or wherever software we can print high resolution images or texts. We then print it into crystal film in actual size.

CS5 Illustrator, I also use CorelDRAW for this 

I would have loved to show you guys photos of the early stages but I got in production late. The glass is already contacted w/ photo emulsion (yellow solution that protects areas that shouldn't be sandblasted).


Contact (term they use in production) is done by coating the glass with photo emulsion and sticking it with the printed crystal film. It is then placed under a 500 watts halogen bulb in a makeshift compartment to dry, and also not to be exposed by other light. The space surrounding the texts (not covered with print) will dry harder and stronger, thus protecting the surface from sand. Once dried, highly pressurized water is used to remove those parts not contacted by halogen light.

Masking tape is then put around for added protection of glass

Second touches of emulsion is then applied to spotted holes to ensure only the texts will be blasted. Below is the model of machine used, heard its worth a million daw hmmm 

Inside the blasting machine

That guy is kuya ramil. You've seen the hands, the broad shoulders and back, and
you've yet to see the face of this chick boy on my coming post  ^__^ hahahah

Up close, the hose he's holding emits fine bits of sand at high velocity (sounds great right? I just googled it ;-)) that engraves the letters exposed and not covered with emulsion. Afterwards, tape is removed and soak into water w/ zonrox to rinse out the emulsion.

Soak until the solution rubs off the glass

We're done! That's how commercially available glasses are personalized! Ok diba!? Please follow my blog if you find my posts informative (atleast feel na feel kong informative blog ko hahahhah). 

Here's a sample of our engraved crystal

teka phinotoshop ko lang ata to hmmm...

Repeatedly proofreading this post before posting just kills my eyes so good luck with my grammar. Until next time guys!! mwah mwah