QA

Question: How To Use Etching Cream

How long do you leave etching cream on?

About the timing: The etching cream company instructions say to leave the etching cream on for only 1 minute. I didn’t find that to be nearly long enough to get a good, solid etched result. 5 minutes was exactly right. BTW, I tested leaving it on for 10 minutes and got the exact same result as with 5 minutes.

How do you get the best results with etching cream?

Let the Etching Cream Sit Finally, you want to make sure you leave the etching cream on the glass for a few minutes. Armor Etch’s directions say 1 minute, but I have found that a thick layer of etching cream left on for 4-5 minutes gives a better, deeper, and more defined etch.

What happens if you leave etching cream on too long?

What happens if you leave glass etching cream on too long? It can weaken your stencil making it even harder to get off, it can also scorch your glass as it is “eating” away at it. So be sure to not leave the glass etching cream on too long.

How does etch cream work?

A: It is the nature of Armour Etch Cream to contain particles (crystals). The particles are necessary and add proper potency for Armour Etch to work properly. Occasionally hot spots (darker etched areas) develop when these crystals are allowed to remain in contact with the glass.

How do you remove etching cream?

Immediately wash off all the etching cream under luke warm water. Some of the stencil will be removed during this rinse, but it is OK. After all traces of the etching cream are washed away, remove all the remaining tape and stencil pieces. Clean the glass using window cleaner and dry completely.

What can be etched with etching cream?

Etching cream can etch materials such as glass, mirrors, porcelain, and glazed ceramics. The time for how long the etching cream has to stay on the material in order to etch it may vary and, in some cases, it will take off any protective layers, such as the glazing of ceramics.

Why is my etching cream not working?

Re-inspect the entire project before patting on the cream. Any debris or tiny pecks of dust can hinder the etching process because the etching cream, will not etch evenly. Wipe everything off with a slightly dampened, soft paper towel. Hold the glass up to a bright light—this can reveal anything debris you have missed.

Can you add color to etching cream?

Do not add nor mix colors with Armour Etching Cream. Etching cream will only frost the glass; since the etching cream gets rinsed off under water, none of the colors will stick. Since the frosted etching is permanent, you can re-apply colorants or entirely remove it with an alcohol based product.

How do you smooth etched glass?

Acetone, which is the main compound in the remover is known to smoothen the etching on the glass. Dip a soft cloth in acetone and rub it on the surface till you find the stains disappearing. Denture cleaning tablets are also handy when it comes to removing etching from glass.

What paint do you use on etched glass?

How do you choose the color of the etched glass? Paints specifically designed for glass, such as enamel, acrylic, or solvent-based, are the best choice. A special type of acrylic paint is designed to adhere to glass and provide transparency to the color.

How do you clean etched glass?

For glass that has been etched, carved and/or painted, spray a good quality glass cleaner such as Hi-Sheen, Windex or water on paper towels first and then wipe the glass clean until dry. This works better than spraying the art glass directly.

Can you reuse Armour etch cream?

You can reuse the cream over and over, so one should do it. I put the cream heavy on the stencil, and when the time is up, I brush it back up and scrape it back into the container.

Can you eat off etched glass?

A: Yes! It’s permanent and dishwasher safe. Isn’t that crazy cool? To wrap your head around this concept, don’t think of etching like adding white color atop the glass, but rather eating away at the top layers of the glass, so the design is permanently etched into the glass.

Can you use vinyl for glass etching?

Did you know that you can actually use adhesive vinyl to create a stencil for use with glass etching? That’s right, with just your Silhouette, etching cream, and OraCal 651, you can create a gorgeous etched design, that’s permanent and dishwasher safe.

Can you etch glass with acid?

Various techniques are used to achieve an etched surface in glass, whether for artistic effect, or simply to create a translucent surface. Acid etching is done using hexafluorosilicic acid (H2SiF6) which, when anhydrous, is colourless. Glass etching cream is used by hobbyists as it is generally easier to use than acid.

Can you use etching cream on colored glass?

To etch onto colored glass, you’ll want to clean the glass and affix the stencil in place just as you would if using etching cream. Begin etching along the outer edges of your design, working from one end of a line to the other. There’s no need to press hard – let the tool do the work for you.