Sandblast or laser? Which is best

[cobblers.keys]

I have just come back from trophex and interested in buying a machine for glass engraving and signs etc. Obviously sandblast suppliers say theirs is best and laser suppliers say theirs is the best option. One of the laser suppliers looks favorite to me but I wanted to find out from you guys with experience using both what you think. Ie pros and cons of either would help. Thanks

[petercoulson]

From my experience sand blasting gives a better finish but is more time consuming having to make masks, sticking them straight, making sure they are blasted properly and evenly etc etc whereas laser is more or less point and go. It may be laser technology has developed now but did you see samples of both engraved? What did you think?

[cobblers.keys]

Yes I saw both. Sandblasted seemed deeper but I think is more awkward ie thick gloves on etc and laser as you say is more like setting up a computer engraver which is what I am used to. When I went around asking the exhibitors how their glass display samples were engraved it seemed a 50/50 split on sandblast and laser. I found that interesting.

[petercoulson]

If it was me I would go laser all the way because of all the other earning opportunities it comes with

[cobblers.keys]

That's true. Thanks for your info Peter

[Lee]

Diamond

[crystal-engravers]

I'm a sand blaster myself but then that's all I do. Certainly sand blasting gives you a bit of depth which the laser engraver just cannot do. It also results in a slightly more defined image in my (albeit limited) experience of laser engraving on glass.

With new 'no washout' resists turnaround time is pretty quick. I use washout film but can still (at a pinch) get an engraving completed in less than 10 minutes.

Unless you intend specialising in glass or crystal the laser would, as Peter says,  give you a wider opportunity for use in other areas.

Am I correct in saying some laser engravers have difficulty engraving some forms of crystal? High lead content or something?

David

[Bronco78th]

I was at Trophex as well, first time, great show!

For me ive always considered it going Laser, Diamond, Sand Blast. in regards to quality on glass

About 4 years ago a went to the workshop of a local engraver who does all 3 (Laser, Diamond and Sandblasting) and compared 3 samples.

Laser doesn't really cut the glass it more fractures the surface which is why you can get a slightly more ragged edge on lines...this will come down to variarions of course, type of glass and quality of the laser. Ebay sellers selling glass for £5 use lasers because its quick and gives what you expect for £5. I don't doubt however modern laser technology has come on so much that it might be better now, when compared to Diamond......I think its tell tail that there was barely any diamond machines on show there...almost entirely Sandblasting and laser engraved....also that U-Marq, Generally knows as Diamond Engraving specialists are now moving into the saturated laser market. 

Diamond is what i have most experience in and as long as you have a specialist glass cutter your good. You can still get fracturing of the glass on lines but the overall quality and depth is better than laser. Its likely less economical than laser because your having to stock up on specialist tips which aren't cheap.....this is an issue im having right now because of what im trying to do.

Sandblasting. In my opinion is a different world to both these in regards quality. I did a demo at the show of the masking process as thats where I lacked understanding and im intending to do my own detailed designs....which are killing my glass tips.... and as it turns out as crystal-engravers says the newer tech and processing makes it very easy and quite quick to create them.

I do a range of stuff (coated metal items etc) and my diamond works well for those but I have my heart set on doing sandblasting for glass....only problem is im going it alone this year and working from my house with no garage, kinda puts sandblasting out the question as I can't find a compressor quite enough and powerful enough to do it :(.

Good luck with it!