Etch creative designs into your glass table top.
Glass-top dining room tables are attractive pieces of furniture, but the clear glass may appear too bare for your taste. You may decorate the glass by etching designs into it. You don't need complicated sandblasting equipment to accomplish this, just a special product called glass etching cream. This highly acidic cream eats into the surface of glass, creating an etched surface.
Instructions
1. Take the glass table top outside to work.
2. Wash the glass with glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth.
3. Peel the backing off of a large sheet of self-adhesive clear vinyl sheeting.
4. Apply the vinyl sheeting to the table top, smoothing it out to eliminate any trapped air bubbles. If you cannot find a single piece that is large enough, apply several smaller pieces with slightly overlapping edges.
5. Draw the design you want to etch into the glass onto vinyl with a marker. If desired, tape printouts of a design to the underside of the table, then trace it onto the contact paper.
6. Cut out the designs with a sharp razor blade and remove those portions of the contact paper.
7. Put on a pair of thick rubber gloves to protect your skin.
8. Apply a generous coat of glass to the exposed portions of the glass with a brush or craft stick.
9. Allow the cream to sit for the time recommended on the container, usually between five and 20 minutes. The cream actively eats into the exposed glass surface.
10. Rinse off the cream with a garden hose when the time has elapsed.
11. Remove the vinyl paper and wash the glass surface with soap and water.
Tags: glass etching, contact paper, designs into, eats into, etching cream, glass etching cream, glass surface