Good evening, I am hoping someone has successfully etched a glass subway tile with a 7W JTech diode. I purchase a 4X12” glass subway tile from HD and attempted to etch a backwards black and white comic book image into the bottom paint of the tile. I attempted at 40 IPM x 80% power but laser had no effect on paint or glass. Then tried again at 20 IPM X 100%, and a third attempt at 8 IPM X 100% all with no effect on tile. The laser is firing and operating in all respects. There is slight bleed on one edge so I am getting engraving into my mdf wasteboard. Thanks for reading I am hoping to get some help with settings or setup or … if you have been succesful with this I would appreciate any help.
It sounds like you have a layer of paint on one side of the tile and that you’re trying to engrave “through” the glass surface to the paint layer below. If that is the case, the laser is getting diffused within the glass, so to laser it, you would want to flip the glass with the paint side up, and would subsequently need to flip the image to be engraved or it would come out reversed.
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I thought that was exactly what he was trying to do based on how I read his question.
“I purchase a 4X12” glass subway tile from HD and attempted to etch a backwards black and white comic book image into the bottom paint of the tile.”
I haven’t had a go at this yet, but it is in my list of ideas to play with. I may have to move it up the list if I have time.
I have seen folks have good results with Tempera paint, I don’t think brand matters so much as color. Needs to be black from what I can see. Paint side facing laser for etching. The other thing I keep seeing, and will be doing myself is to raise the glass off of the bed just a little, and placing something under it, maybe just a scrap piece. Don’t know if any of this will help.
Thanks for the replies. Ok yes I was trying to etch through the paint in the bottom. This is a technique several people use on YouTube. However I was unable to engrave through the paint. However I tried another technique and had quite good results. I used Cold Galvanizing spray on the glass and used 80% max power at 50 inches per minute. The etch is deep and dark.The etching has a very nice drop shadow as well, Overall I am pretty happy with this technique.
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One more thing the comic book page came out nice too but the thin lines are not as striking to me because the shadow makes it look very busy.
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Great results!
Did you do paint side on top, or paint side on bottom for this?
I have a couple of cans of cold galvanizing spray on hand so this could be fun. Just have to finish making all the freaking tile coasters first. lol.
I did paint in bottom galvanizing spray on top.
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It’s great that you’ve shared your attempts and settings. To troubleshoot, here are a few suggestions:
Focus and Lens: Ensure that the laser is correctly focused on the glass surface. Sometimes, improper focusing can lead to ineffective etching.
Coating: Some glass may have coatings or treatments that make it more challenging to etch. You may want to try different types of glass or remove any coatings if possible.
Image Preparation: Make sure your image is suitable for etching. Ensure it has enough contrast and detail to be noticeable on the glass.
Masking: Consider using a masking material like vinyl or a laser masking tape designed for glass. Apply it to the glass surface before etching. This can help protect the glass and improve the etching result.
Power and Speed: Experimenting with different power and speed settings is a good approach. You’ve tried various settings, but you might want to continue testing with different combinations until you find the right one.
Multiple Passes: Sometimes, glass etching may require multiple passes at lower power settings. Be patient and try running the laser over the same area multiple times.
Ventilation: Ensure that you have proper ventilation, as glass etching can release harmful fumes. Safety first!
Material Quality: Check the quality and type of glass you’re using. Some glass may be more suitable for etching than others.
Cleaning: Make sure the glass surface is clean and free from dust or debris before etching.
Test on a Scrap Piece: If possible, test your settings on a scrap piece of glass before attempting the final project. This way, you can fine-tune your settings without risking your main piece.
Remember, glass etching can be a bit challenging, but with patience and experimentation, you’re likely to achieve the results you’re looking for.
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