MJ wrote:I'm just submitting this design now but I'm wondering if you can do such an engraving on a glass crystal? I don't think you can. What do you guys think?
Thanks,
Jeff
Jeff:
Your main choices for engraving on glass(I do stained glass among other things): Chemical etching, sandblasting,laser etching.
Chemical: Cheap, you can get a
membrane or mesh stencil made that can keep everything in place, such as the half circle that makes up the top of a lower-case "e". $50 for a template with maybe 35-40 copies of the name in it, $.3-.5(yes,3-5 cents!) for the etching, per piece. Each stencil(after cutting bigger stencil into individual ones with name) is good for 50+ etchings. Chemical etching can be done at your kitchen table while you watch the television. 8)
http://www.glass-etching-kits.com/
Sandlasting: Inexpensive, but hard to cut and apply a template for items that size, which rules it out. :( This is how those fancy patterns and pictures are put on headstones in cemetaries, and glass windows in resturants and other businesses.
Laser:possibly the cheapest, if you have enough pieces.....they do wonderful stuff with lasers. I've had script letters and other such stuff cut at incredibly low prices, once we got beyond the setup cost. Look in the phone book under toolmaking if there is nothing listed under lasers. Write me a private message if you need more details.
Actual engraving or grinding on glass is not economical and it introduces fine stress cracks. :(
BTW:After chemical etching, dropping gold or silver paint/epoxy into the letters, while wiping of the excess, is an easy task.