Magical Forest Glass Engraving using Eternal Tools Glass Engraving Tools

Magical Forest Glass Engraving using Eternal Tools Glass Engraving Tools

What Glass Engraving Tools Were Used?

How Was the Glass Engraving Done?

The theme for this glass cloche by Diane Wood was one of a magical forest, the fairy being her daughter. A photo was taken of her and by editing in Photoshop, wings were added.
  1. The outlines of the images were started by using both the small and medium diamond ball burrs. Diane then filled in the engraving with a medium sized diamond ball burr. Where more depth was required such as the flow of the dresses, she passed the burrs over a second time.
  2. For the willow tree, diamond ball burs were used again in a zig-zag pattern.
  3. The rats tail burs were then used for the fine lines of the owls feathers, butterflies and the eyes.
  4. Once satisfied with the main canvas of the engraving Diane went on to use a 3mm white Arkansas stone burr to fill in and followed this up by smoothing over with a grey rubber silicone polisher (bullet shaped) this also prepared the glass for it's final polishing.
A green silicone carbide burr can also be used prior to pre-polishing with an Arkansas stone burr. This will block in and add shading to your engraved areas.
  1. Final polishing was done using a silicone polishing wheel and bullet in a medium grade (black) and then a fine (blue) bullet shaped polisher.
  2. She used the idea of a 3-D engraving on the owls which gave them a really interesting effect.
  3. Etching cream was used for the water and clouds and then these areas were rubbed with the black (medium) polishing bullet to give a more realistic effect.
  4. Parts of the glass were left un-engraved and gold paint was used instead. The hair band and belts were both painted on the outside and inside of the cloche.
The glass was kept wet throughout by using a ShamWow shammy dipped in a bowl of water. According to the advert, ShamWow holds 20 x times it's weight in water so you don't have to keep dipping it in a bowl of water like you would do with a sponge. A handy tip! Note: a drip feed system would also work very well.
Diane say's:
"I am very happy with my tools from Eternal Tools. I embarked on my first ever glass engraving project and I didn't start small! Your tools made it so much better. My sister gave me a large glass garden cloche/bell and being an amateur it took me about 70 hours to complete. Lesley Pyke's videos were a huge source of information for me right down to constructing a light box to take pictures of the glass. I will be ordering from Eternal Tools again!"
If like Diane you'd like to have a try at engraving on glass you only need a small amount of tools to get started, have a look at our list of the5 Essential Beginners Glass Engraving Tools to find out what you'll need.