Tips and Tricks

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1. 

   Tapeless Sandblast Ports

   March 30, 2022

   Preparing a substrate for sandcarving can be time consuming and inefficient, but with tapeless technology, it can be simple and efficient. Have you ever wondered what it takes to go tapeless? Brian Mirsch, IKONICS Corporation Marketing Manager, recently published the...
2. 

   Hairspray As A Tool?

   January 4, 2021

   Did you know that hairspray can be a really great tool for sandcarving?! Hairspray?!....I mean who knew! Hairspray can be applied to the surface of what ever type of substrate you intend to sandcarve, also known as pre-treating. In terms...
3. 

   Getting Started in Sandcarving

   January 28, 2020

   When getting started in the sandcarving business, everything can feel overwhelming. What sandcarver should you choose? What photoresist film should you use? What does photoresist film even mean? What type of grit should you use? What size grit? What other...
4. 

   Oil Based vs Water Based Paint for Color Filling

   January 21, 2020

   When it comes to color filling after sandcarving, the type of paint you choose will affect the finished look. Below we compare the advantages and disadvantages of oil based paint versus water based paint. Check out our Color Fill Guide...
5. 

   Color Filling Guide

   January 14, 2020

   Color filling awards and personalization items adds interest and value to the finished piece. Sublimation and screen printing are other common options for coloring glass, but paint filling etched or sandcarved glass has a higher perceived value due to the...
6. 

   Wine Bottle Industry

   December 23, 2019

   Turn an everyday bottle of wine into a keepsake item with custom engraving. Etched wine bottles bring a sense of elegance and are the perfect gift for any occasion, such as a promotion, birthday, anniversary, holiday, retirement, wedding, or any...
7. 

   Eliminate Chipping When Laser Engraving Glass

   December 10, 2019

   Laser engraving is a fast and efficient way to customize and personalize glass, but the finished result can sometimes look patchy and feel rough to the touch. Because of the high heat generated from the laser beam as it engraves...
8. 

   Increase Your ROI With Sandcarving & SmartFlex

   November 19, 2019

   At a recent visit to the University of Minnesota Duluth we were wandering around the gift shop and came across these two wine glasses (pictured). The glass on the left has "University of Minnesota" etched in the glass and the...
9. 

   Sandcarving Odd-Shaped Substrates

   November 12, 2019

   When it comes to engraving odd-shaped glass items, sandcarving is one of the only methods available. Substrates with multiple curves and unusual or unique shapes can seem overwhelming, but with certain tips and tricks you don't need to feel overwhelmed...
10. 

    Choosing The Right Photoresist Thickness

    October 22, 2019

    What Photoresist Film Thickness Should I Choose? Photoresist film comes in multiple thicknesses and which thickness you choose depends on multiple factors including: Substrate: The type of material you are sandcarving is one factor in determining what film thickness to use...