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How to Properly Sandcarve Acrylic

Avoid a brownish color with these parameters.

If you sandcarve on acrylic, you find out quickly that you cannot blast any real depth into it because the friction of the prolonged blasting partially melts the acrylic, turning it an ugly brownish color. Therefore, with this material use only the standard thickness of photoresist, which is 3-3.5 mils. The pressure setting is similar to the one for glassware, around 20-25 pounds of pressure with a nozzle distance of 6-8 inches.

Surface frosting is the name of the game with acrylic. You also have to be more careful in handling this material as it actually scratches easier than glass does.

-Ruth Dobbins, Your Professional Glass Consultant

Ruth Jan 2018

Ruth Dobbins

With over 40 years in the glass business, Ruth Dobbins offers experience in all glass-etching techniques as well as in fused and cast glass. Ruth holds a master’s degree in art and has been a partner in an art glass wholesale supply and studio company in Europe, which also placed great emphasis on a training program, before joining forces with her late husband Norm. You can reach Ruth by email at ruth@etchmaster.com or by phone at 505-473-9203.

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