Acid Glass Etching - The Unique Art Form

Acid glass etching is a unique yet endangered art form. Acid Glass etching has some of the same effects as sand blasting but they are two different art forms. Acid glass etching also has a variety of watered down techniques that are still applied today as the traditional from of acid glass etching is rather dangerous and attempted by few artists.

This form of art evolved many centuries back especially during the Victorian times. The artistic work may be seen in the mirrors and the windows in the pub during the ages of Victoria. Acid glass etching was mainly used to decorate and add colors to the mirrors. A wax stencil was used in the process of acid glass etching and they were kept in the places of mirror that should not be exposed to the acid. Though hydrofluoric acids are harmful to human, artists continued using them as they proved to be the best of all acids. Fumes released on dipping the mirror into the acid are really dangerous. Also when the acid falls on the part of the artists body, the skin and the tissue may get dissolved. It may also result in the loss of fingers and hands due to this acid.

These days, only modern glass Etching are used. Hydrofluoric acids turned out to be expensive. So Artists had an alternative solution like the solutions and the creams in the mirrors that helped in creating wonderful arts. An Artist who is a beginner can use those solutions and chemical creams as they are not harmful to health.

There is actually a difference between sand blasting and glass etching. In sand blasting artist need to carve the glass or mirror but in glass etching it is not required. Artist need to spend more time in case of sand blasting and not in glass etching. Nowadays artists use chemicals and not hydrofluoric acid. We can very well find the difference between a glass etching that is done with the help of hydrofluoric acid and with the help of chemicals. The one that is done with the hydrofluoric acid will be very attractive and the other will give a dull look. Sand blasting will also give a good look when compared to the glass etching done with the help to chemicals and solutions. Artists should be very careful while preparing a glass etching. In acid and sand blasting various techniques are available to produce different types of glass etching and sand blasting but in chemical glass etching varieties are minimum and hence there is always a draw back in case of chemical glass itching when compared to the other two types.

Nowadays few artists are still in practice of acid glass etching. They are very much aware of the risk that is involved in this but still they are very passionate in doing this. There is always a demand for this kind of artistic works and only few of them are involved in this. Many artists started to use the modern techniques of this era. But still it cannot take the place of the Victorian art which will last forever.