Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Procedures Involved In Glass Carving Alberta

By Angela Briggs


Carving of glass is a technique that is artistic and is used for inscribing symbols and creative designs in glasses. Sand-carving as a technique was developed back in the 19th century and was used for creating multilevel abrasive etchings on surfaces. When the design has been etched, light and shadow details are added. In looking to do glass carving Alberta residents have some helpful tips to consider. The carving is used to create gemstones, sculptures and windows among others.

When carving glasses, there are 3 main things that are required; etching cream that is acid based, foam brush and stencil. To begin with, the glass piece is placed on a surface that is flat then it gets sprayed with an appropriate cleaner. In order that the etching cream may properly adhere to the surface it is being carved on, the surface has to be very clean and dry.

When the cleaning of the surface is done with, the surface has to get wiped with a soft cloth. This ensures that it is dry. Also very essential is choosing of the right design that will be carved. Stencil is recommended by most professionals of the arts and craft because with it, there are designs that are already existing. Some stencils come with adhesive backing to ensure they completely adhere to the piece.

For purposes of safety, one should wear goggles and latex gloves during the exercise. There are very strong fumes that are produced from the cream which have diverse effects on different people. People with sensitive eyes especially would have to wear goggles, lest their eyes be affected further. People that are allergic to latex should use rubber gloves or vinyl.

What follows is application of masking tape at the stencil edges. This is generally done at the sections where the stencil meets glass. The masking tape helps to protect areas where carving is not needed. Such areas would ruin the design if they came into contact with the cream. The cream is applied onto the form brush, which is then used for evening out the application. The best way to ensure cream covers every section is to monitor the edges and corners closely.

The cream is removed from the glass for every 10 to 20 minutes that have elapsed for each direction that came with it. Any excess cream is wiped with paper towels and the hands properly washed before gloves are taken off. Doing so ensures no traces are left.

There are very many people that appreciate the beauty of carved glass. Such carvings will always be seen in shops that sell gifts, in glasses and also in fancy windows. The fact that there are not so many people that deal with the carvings means that as a business it can be very profitable.

In considering the business of glass carving Alberta business people would need three main things. These are resists, blast cabinet and a well lit studio. It is a business that is profitable if the right marketing is done. Marketing is done by creating brochures, making a website and even setting booths at local events.




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