cobblers.keys Posted September 22, 2015 Report Share Posted September 22, 2015 My question is just that. At the moment I am using my signature 8080 computer engraver but what is the most effective method of engraving glass? lazer, sandblasting, computer engraver or is there another way? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted September 22, 2015 Report Share Posted September 22, 2015 Each technique has its advantages and disadvantages, I use a faceted diamond, cooled & lubricated by pledge on my U-Marq Universal engraver. As I understand it, from the other options mentioned, laser gives you most options, but with the highest capital cost. Sandblast is a good middle ground technique, and using our regular engraver is probably the slowest method, but still plenty good enough for day to day work. I guess the key considerations are what volume of glass you will be doing, how much you have to invest in new machinery, and how much space you have to put it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Gardner Posted September 22, 2015 Report Share Posted September 22, 2015 Laser all the way sand blasting to fidaly Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k4mrc Posted September 26, 2015 Report Share Posted September 26, 2015 We have both - some jobs are better on the sand blaster but as we have only used that twice in the last year would advise laser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Cobbler Posted October 2, 2015 Report Share Posted October 2, 2015 We had so little success with glass engraving on the Universal that we sand blast all our glass. We lose the occasional job where they need it straight away, but most are prepared to wait a few days for the stencils to arrive. Would like to be able to afford a laser machine for so many reasons though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted October 3, 2015 Report Share Posted October 3, 2015 We had so little success with glass engraving on the Universal that we sand blast all our glass. We lose the occasional job where they need it straight away, but most are prepared to wait a few days for the stencils to arrive. Would like to be able to afford a laser machine for so many reasons though. We do quite a bit of glass on our Universal. We've just been using a general purpose diamond and not overly happy with the result. I seems rare to get a good result with a single pass. I am waiting for a dedicated glass diamond to arrive. Perhaps that will do a better job. Would be interested to hear any tips for engraving glass on the Universal with a diamond. I'm told that glass can have hard spots with can cause problems but there must be a way to over come it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowster Posted October 3, 2015 Report Share Posted October 3, 2015 We do quite a bit of glass on our Universal. We've just been using a general purpose diamond and not overly happy with the result. I seems rare to get a good result with a single pass. I am waiting for a dedicated glass diamond to arrive. Perhaps that will do a better job. Would be interested to hear any tips for engraving glass on the Universal with a diamond. I'm told that glass can have hard spots with can cause problems but there must be a way to over come it. its got to be a faceted diamond for glass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted October 3, 2015 Report Share Posted October 3, 2015 I tried to engrave a glass tankard from Glenway yesterday on my Universal....knackered two composite diamonds and didn't touch it!! I must have run it about 5 times with each diamond, one of which had only been used once before and was fine. Ended up cutting a vinyl stencil and acid etching it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted October 3, 2015 Report Share Posted October 3, 2015 its got to be a faceted diamond for glass I find the composite better and run quite slow, approx 0.3m/min feed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broms Cobb Posted October 3, 2015 Report Share Posted October 3, 2015 I tried to engrave a glass tankard from Glenway yesterday on my Universal....knackered two composite diamonds and didn't touch it!! I must have run it about 5 times with each diamond, one of which had only been used once before and was fine. Ended up cutting a vinyl stencil and acid etching it. WE have all done it, use our machine on the glass, usually as well you take the glass out of the machine to find (mysteriously) it has missed part of a letter? The more options you have the better, I think you can get a Laser machine weekly for about £7 or buy an old standard booth off of Ebay and get a quality compressor which will give a better finish. You can buy one of them boxes to make your own masks (£120) and do same day if you rewall want but the customers will wait or pay you a lot of money for same day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Cobbler Posted October 3, 2015 Report Share Posted October 3, 2015 We had tried a composite diamond, and I'm pretty sure we tried a faceted diamond too. We also varied the speed, used glass oil, Mr Sheen, water; whatever anyone suggested we tried, but to no avail. Mostly the diamond would do one cut into the surface then skip over a whole lot, do another cut through and skip over another area. It was seriously frustrating and it didn't seem to matter what the quality of the glass was either, if anything the more expensive the glass the more trouble we had. So we contented ourselves with how good the Universal is at all the other stuff we ask of it and went back to stencils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 WE have all done it, use our machine on the glass, usually as well you take the glass out of the machine to find (mysteriously) it has missed part of a letter? The more options you have the better, I think you can get a Laser machine weekly for about £7 or buy an old standard booth off of Ebay and get a quality compressor which will give a better finish. You can buy one of them boxes to make your own masks (£120) and do same day if you rewall want but the customers will wait or pay you a lot of money for same day. There's another PITA....making your own masking stencils!!! I've got the UV box and sundries and I haven't cracked that yet, think I need to change my inkjet printer to get blacker prints for it to work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowster Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 I find the composite better and run quite slow, approx 0.3m/min feed the composte ones dont last very long tho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibsjo(SCO) Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Ive got a nice laser machine for sale lovely on glass carry on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobblers.keys Posted October 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Does it do cylindrical? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 I've been using a sandblaster for a couple of years now to engrave glass, aswell as a faceted diamond on my gravo machines. In my opinion, sandblasting creates the best results. you get a deeper engraving on the glass & some of the logo's/images I've done simply wouldn't look as good with a faceted diamond. The trouble with blasting..... I make my own stencils/masks using coreldraw, laser printer & a UV light box. (I'm not aware of any other methods as this is what I was taught) Although in reality you can do it fairly quickly, I often use my gravo machines for glass because you can just set it up, press go & crack on with your other work while its being done. The one other issue with blasting, its not fantastic for curved glass, ie: a brandy glass where its curved from top to bottom & left to right. As its difficult to get the mask on without major creasing. So overall I use a faceted diamond mostly, but if I have the time I do like to use the sandblaster on certain jobs. Cant comment on laser.... Both have drawbacks... the folex paper & masking stuff is expensive to buy, but so are diamonds right? Buying diamonds frustrates me. I've had them last me literally almost 12 months, yet my most recent one has lasted a matter of weeks & its already missing! windycity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibsjo(SCO) Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 laser does cylinders jay we send all our diamonds off to get repointed carry on! windycity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Who to Jo? and at what cost please? Do they come back as good as new? windycity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobblers.keys Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 give me some more info on your laser please Jo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibsjo(SCO) Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 send my diamonds to pantograph services rotating ones get repointed (if they can) static the same what do you want to know about the laser its an LS100 COMES WITH CYLINDER ATTACHMENT FILTER CABINET http://www.gravograph.co.uk/engraving-machines/ls100.php carry on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Thanks Jo, Going to give that a try Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobblers.keys Posted October 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 I would like to know info like age, price, what is included in the sale etc. Pm me please. Cheers hibsjo(SCO) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trophyman4001 Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 Hi, thought I'd throw my tuppence in. I engrave glass on a Roland EGX-360. Bit of a learning curve to start but I persevered and now its a major part of my business. My main problem was getting through expensive cutters at too fast a rate - finally had a chat with Mastergrave & they suggested a faceted 120 degree diamond cutter, which they use in their own workshop - their ref is a DC04/6F for my machine. They are a bit more expensive than composite but last MILES longer and can be relapped. Now I get great results every time but I also always check carefully that everything engraved before removing from machine, very occasionally a letter or 2 will be missed for no logical reason - if so I reset the cutter depth etc and just go over the missing part. Of course the huge advantage of engraving over sand blasting is that you can be getting on with something else while the machine does the job, I wouldn't have time in peak season to be messing about with stencils, masking tape etc. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GK Solutions UK Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 Hi, I can supply many diamonds, at a fraction of major manufactures. I get them manufactured. my faceted diamonds start from £37. Thanks Gary Kneeshaw enquiries@gksolutionsuk.com 07950211133 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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