Etched/Engraved Glasses

Instructions

In this particular case I was making glasses to give as a gift in a set of four. The glasses were to have four different brands with the logos for Colt, Winchester, Beretta and Kimber.

To begin engraving on a mug, wine glass, cup or vase, I measure the glass' height and width then draw the shape with those dimensions in Photoshop. (For wine glasses or vases I measure all points of width and recreate the shape using the s-line feature of free drawing at the measured widths). I then import the logos, laying them on to fit the full width of the side of the mug and then print the image.

I draw on the outline of the basic form and lettering, then begin etching with a dremel, stones and polishers till complete. In this particular case I was making glasses to give as a gift in a set of four. The glasses were to have four different brands with the logos for Colt, Winchester, Beretta and Kimber.

To begin engraving on a mug, wine glass, cup or vase, I measure the glass' height and width then draw the shape with those dimensions in Photoshop. (For wine glasses or vases I measure all points of ...
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Difficulty:

Category: Other

Type of item: Functional

For: Other

Style: Whimsical, Casual, Classic

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Materials

Heavy mugs, dremel, diamond tip engravers, green stone tip, pink stone finishing, felt polishing bullet tip.

What was your inspiration?

I've always loved the look and feel of cut, engraved or etched glass. I began a simple project of making wine glass sets for family members during Christmas with their family initial and a design such as a fleur de lis. I loved the project so much and saw such potential I began doing more complex designs.

My son (mid teens) is a sporting clays competitor and often makes jokes about having a Big-Boy cup when he does something well. When I found these huge mugs at a Dollar Tree I couldn't pass up the attempt to make them customized for him as an Epiphany gift. Using his four favorite brands to use in competition I gave it a go. He loved them. That was good enough for me.

What are you most proud of?

My son - thus my inspiration for wanting to do a good job on the glasses. LOL

What advice would you give someone starting this project?

You can start etching immediately with a basic inexpensive dremel. Harbor Freight tools has some for $10 that will get the job done for a beginner. Start with simple designs and work on the feel of the dremel and controlling the angles and edges. As you progress you can get into the depth of the carve, the varying details with different tips, polishing tips and wheels. If you do not draw well free hand you can always tape your image to the inside of the glass and trace it on with a permanent marker or simply begin etching following the image as a pattern.

Points on dremels as you get into this work:

It's easier to change tips quickly with a dremel that has a collet lock. Some have an ez-change collar in which you just twist or slide the collar, it releases the tip and you pop in the next one.

Dremel is a brand name, but has become what we call the small handheld rotary tools with interchangeable tips. Dremel makes wonderful equipment and their newest, the 4000, is optimum for doing the work and is best with the Flex Shaft attachment. These rotary tools are made by many other companies as well. One with a variable speed is preferable because different techniques in the design work, work better in different speeds. Look for ones that can go anywhere from 10,000rpm to 45,000rpm. The Dremel 4000 is 35,000rpm at max.

Tips can be purchased from Dremel, however they're more expensive because of the name brand. I have found a site: widgetsupply.com which carries every conceivable tip you could need for engraving whether it's glass, crystal, wood or metal. They also have a more generic version which is interchangeable with Dremel, however is anywhere from $1 to $5 less per tip and work just as well.

Always use eye and ear protection as well as a dust mask.