Newbee needs advice

Hello, i have been wanting to give glass etching a try and want to
creat my own designs.....i have taken a look at sand blast etching but
the equipment is too expensive to think about buying for a total
begginer and so i am opting for the cream option. i have taken a look
on ebay and there are kits available with small stencils included
however i want to create BIG designs and so want to buy the neccesary
equipment seperately. i know where to buy etching cream but am unsure
of the other equipment...ie what is the name of the special material
you use for applying to the mirror?....contact paper???......also are
certain creams only compatible with certain types of contact paper???

many thanks in advance if anyone can direct me to a source of this
material in large pieces and perhaps the material you use for making
your own stencils.

thanks..........A

Etching cream will not give you good results over a large area, you will
need more control, for which you would need abrasive blasting equipment run
with an air compressor and you will have to build a containment box or room
to keep the stuff out of your lungs, house and neighborhood.
You can buy resist liquids and sheet goods for cutting patterns and buy
premade patterns and buy masks from your art work.
Your useless return address does not give a clue as to where you are but
www.crlaurence.com and www.somaca.com are two suppliers to the glass
industry that sell equipment and materials. Do a Google search with
"etching resists" or start with http://etchmaster.com/page/ES/CTGY/ER

--
Mike Firth
Hot Glass Bits Furnace Working Website
http://users.ticnet.com/mikefirth/hotbit47.htm Latest notes

"alpha" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello, i have been wanting to give glass etching a try and want to
creat my own designs.....i have taken a look at sand blast etching but
the equipment is too expensive to think about buying for a total
begginer and so i am opting for the cream option. i have taken a look
on ebay and there are kits available with small stencils included
however i want to create BIG designs and so want to buy the neccesary
equipment seperately. i know where to buy etching cream but am unsure
of the other equipment...ie what is the name of the special material
you use for applying to the mirror?....contact paper???......also are
certain creams only compatible with certain types of contact paper???

many thanks in advance if anyone can direct me to a source of this
material in large pieces and perhaps the material you use for making
your own stencils.

thanks..........A

before you decide to have a go at a new business, it may be helpful to take
a lesson or do some apprentice work. What you are proposing to do is an art
form, not just a technical service. There are many successful sandblast
artists who have become so only through years of trial and error. This is
not something one can just tell you how to do and you go off and make money
at it. Do some homework! try stuff, experiment, learn it your own self! and
you may realize it doesn't work the way you think.... m

"alpha" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello, i have been wanting to give glass etching a try and want to
creat my own designs.....i have taken a look at sand blast etching but
the equipment is too expensive to think about buying for a total
begginer and so i am opting for the cream option. i have taken a look
on ebay and there are kits available with small stencils included
however i want to create BIG designs and so want to buy the neccesary
equipment seperately. i know where to buy etching cream but am unsure
of the other equipment...ie what is the name of the special material
you use for applying to the mirror?....contact paper???......also are
certain creams only compatible with certain types of contact paper???

many thanks in advance if anyone can direct me to a source of this
material in large pieces and perhaps the material you use for making
your own stencils.

thanks..........A

On Mon, 7 Mar 2005 10:02:12 -0600, Mike Firth wrote:

Your useless return address does not give a clue as to where you are but
www.crlaurence.com and www.somaca.com are two suppliers to the glass
industry that sell equipment and materials.

The headers show England... possibly somewhere not
too far from Manchester.

--
Steve Ackman
http://twoloonscoffee.com (Need beans?)
http://twovoyagers.com (glass, linux & other stuff)