Stone Engraving with Sand Blasters How Can I Use It and What Is It Anyway?

Select the Material to

Engrave

Most any material except diamond is suitable for engraving. Here are some options:

• Rock

• Tile

• Metal

• Wood

• Brick

• Some plastics

Select the Pattern to Engrave

• Patterns can be anything you like.

• Vector images are ideal.

• You can get images off of the Internet or create your own using Photoshop.

Positive versus Negative Etching

• Most engraving by sandblasting is called "positive etching."

• This means that the design is blasted away, leaving the background.

• "Negative etching" is when you leave the image and blast away the background, creating a negative image.

What Is "Weeding"? • Weeding is the process of cutting away the parts of

the pattern to be blasted.

• The stencil used is called "resist" material, because it is the part of the pattern that will resist the blasting of the sand while the image carved out of the pattern is blasted away.

• The pattern you print will be transferred to a stencil, which is usually made of tough rubber or vinyl to withstand the blasting.

Transfer the Pattern to the Material to Be Engraved

• Print your pattern.

• Attach the pattern to the stenciling material with tape.

• Cut away the image, cutting through the pattern and stencil.

• Remove the pattern from the stencil.

• Attach the stencil to the material you plan to blast.

• Most stencils designed for sandblasting have adhesive backing to keep it in place during blasting.

• If your stencil doesn't have adhesive backing, hold it in place with duct tape.

Blast the Design

• Sandblasters use a mixture of compressed air and sand to blast away the engraved image.

• The sand used for sandblasting is made of aluminum core. It is not ordinary beach or play sand.

• A blast cabinet keeps the blasting sand confined, so that it doesn't blow into your eyes, onto your skin, or all over the room.

• The blast cabinet operates much like a containment work unit in a laboratory. You can stick your gloved hands and arms through and work inside, while keeping the inside sealed off from the outside.

Remove the Stencil

• After blasting, remove the stencil from your material slowly.

• Examine the etching as you remove the stencil.

• If you missed any spots, now is the time to replace the stencil and re-blast the item.

• If you completely remove the stencil before examining your etching, it's harder to get the stencil back in the exact place.

Tips for Sandblasting

• To engrave glass, choose glass pieces at least 3/16 to 1/4-inch thick.

• Glass companies often have broken or irregular-sized pieces lying around that they'll give away for free.

• Etch on plastics with caution. Plastic is significantly softer than most other materials, and can be blasted away easily.

• Get some free or inexpensive "throw away" materials to practice on before investing in nice metals, glass, tiles, or stones.

About Big A’s Place • Big A’s Place Sandblasting Supplies offers an extensive selection of sandblasters and

sandblasting equipment, including portable sandblasters, stationary sandblasters, rental units, pots, popup valves and seals, and blasting lights. With a variety of sizes, you can get the perfect sandblasting machine for any application. These high-quality Pirate Brand machines are all made in the USA.

• For more information, visit sandblaster-parts.com.

Sources

• http://buildmakecraftbake.com/2009/03/how-to-tuesday-sandblasting-with.html

• http://www.sandcarver.org/introduction.htm

• http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/sandblasting-zmaz82jfzglo.aspx#axzz3GQ0g8wyI

Summary

• Engraving with a sandblaster is a fast and easy way to create beautiful pieces of art. From stone to wood to tiles, there are so many materials you can use. With a little practice, you can be a true engraving artist!