Glass engraving has been around for many years already, and many people love the idea that is why it has now become popular. Engraving on glass produce an enhanced look on all glass items, may it be wine glasses, mirrors tabletop or jars. Some industries, like wine companies, take advantage of glass engraving to engrave their logos, brand name or mottos on their glass packaging. We can also see glass engraving on beer mugs, photo of the bride and groom on their glass souvenirs, and so much more.

Anyone with creative skills can make a streak on a glass. It may start as a hobby, but it can eventually turn into something productive and will lead you to more advanced techniques using different tools.

Laser engraving on glasses doesn’t really streak the glass deeply or remove any material at all. It simply leaves a frosted look on the surface of the glass. This forested appearance looks great, but sometimes it can cause chipping on the glass. We will you tips in creating a glass engraved masterpiece while reducing chipping and roughness.

Glass type

Before you begin, decide first as to what type of glass to use for your project. Note that crystal glass doesn’t really work well for glass engraving. This is because crystal consist high level of lead. A large amount of lead will result in ununiformed engraving. You can still opt to use crystal if you really want to, but we suggest you test engraving on extra crystal glasses first for you to see the results. You can try to use different settings until you get what you desire. However, note that it may still not give you the perfect engraving you are looking for. Each glass type is unique and composed of different materials. Therefore, you can’t really predict the engraving result in each type of glass. If it’s your first time to engrave on that particular glass, then testing it would be ideal, so you’ll know how the glass will react with the engraving process. By testing it, you can adjust your settings accordingly and know what setting to use on your final piece.

Decide on your design

Once you’ve selected the type of glass to use and set the proper settings, it now time to select a design that you wish to engrave on the glass. This can be your logo, name, an image, quotes, etc.

You can use designing software to help you come up with an excellent design. Just make sure that the software is compatible with the laser engraving machine. Some engraving machines now come with their own designing software so find out the compatibility of the machine with the software you are using. This is an important step even before you begin creating your design.

Send your design to the machine

During the engraving process, certain factors can be adjusted like the depth of cut, the strength of the laser, the thickness of the streaks, the speed and number of passes. This is why testing phase is important, so you’ll know what combinations of settings will give you the best glass engraving result.

Use a damp paper towel

Glasses may break or fracture during engraving due to high heat. This is especially true for glasses with high lead content. To avoid this, before you begin the process, you can place a damp paper towel on the surface of the glass where you plan to engrave your design. The moist will help break down the heat and can help protect the glass from breaking. Using this technique can actually help to achieve clear engraving result. Just watch out for wrinkles or air bubbles as this can affect the end result.

Aside from paper towels, you can also use a damp piece of newspaper as an alternative. There are also people who use dishwashing soap to coat the lay of the glass prior to engraving. Using moisturising agent like dish soap is okay, but you need to reapply repeatedly as this can dry out quickly.

Clean your glass

After the engraving process, clean your glass. Use a small brush to remove bits and pieces on the glass. If there is any oil residue, you can use rubbing alcohol to remove them. You can also add colours on your engraving by using coloured laser markings. Depending on the type of glass you use, the design might be blurry or might be too detailed to see with a naked eye. 

There is no doubt that engraved glass items look like a masterpiece. They are elegant and unique. While it may sound complicated, the process is straightforward and easy, especially for professionals like laser cutting services melbourne. The good thing about laser engraving on glass is that it’s very affordable and can create consistent designs.…

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