Etching picture frame glass with the Laser

Anyone have suggestions on settings for etching the glass in a picture frame? Plan is to etch a message onto the glass.

Thanks in advance for the assistance!

If the glass is in the picture frame (it’s not clear from your post), and picture/whatever is underneath it, it may present some challenges. But we have an Epilog laser, which is referenced in first hit here:

https://www.google.com/search?q=laser+etching+glass

I’d expect any info gleaned from Googling would be relevant to Thunder lasers we have as well.

And there is a Laser Office Hours/Lab scheduled on 24th, if you want to stop by: https://calendar.dallasmakerspace.org/events/view/10294

Ask John Gorman @talkers

He teaches the class for the rotary attachment. One of the applications is etching wine bottles.

Depending on your design, an alternative is etching with acid.

This was a recent class about the technique:

https://calendar.dallasmakerspace.org/events/view/9875

There is another one which will appear on the calendar in a few days.

I’ve etched a lot of glass. Doing it with the laser is the easiest way IMO. The armor etch stuff is expensive and doesn’t work as well. Its only utility that I’ve found is in mirrors which the laser can’t do directly.

Anyhow, to etch glass I’ve found that 20 - 30 power at 500 speed with x-swing and interval of 0.1 - 0.15 to provide good results. You can go lower on the interval but because glass is fracturing when the laser strikes it, you get a bit of overlap at the smaller intervals.

It helps to put down transfer paper/masking tape/Painters tape or even a damp paper towel over your work to help dissipate heat from the laser and minimize the fracturing which gives you a cleaner image. It won’t matter so much on a picture frame glass as no one’s gonna be feeling it but the fracturing creates a rough surface on glass so is annoying on drinking glasses and the like.

I’ve not etched any glass at these settings on the thunder ever since it was repaired. You may have to adjust down on it for that laser.

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After lasering glass, use the Novus Polish. Even the coarse #3 leaves a wonderful, smooth finish.

We lasered the back of a mirror yesterday. Made a vanity mirror with LEDs in front of the mirror and behind to shine on the name and graphics…

Things learned.

  1. Alcohol is an amazing solvent on hot glue. Knowing this 12 hours earlier would have saved us 60-90 min.
  2. Using CA glue at intervals with wood glue on thin wood pieces can work! I used accelerator too. Great for parts you cannot clamp, or need to delicately use until the wood glue dries for greater strength.
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Thanks for the assistance. I ran out of time before I had to give my Valentines gift to my wife. Will try this another time.

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