Among the main techniques for creating artistic glass, sand engraving, or sandblasting, allows for the creation of monochromatic relief decorations on the glass surface. These decorations stand out both in full light and in shadier areas, providing discretion from view without reducing the light intake. Sandblasted glass windows allow light to pass from one room to another but, thanks to the specific processing technique that characterizes them, prevent focusing on what is happening on the other side of the glass, making them suitable where a certain level of privacy is required.
Sand Engraving: The Technique
The technique of sand decoration or engraving consists of directing a powerful jet of silica sand onto the glass surface to erode it. To create three-dimensional decorations with a sure effect, it is sufficient to direct the high-pressure nozzle longer on the same area of the glass, which can also be colored with special paints upon request. To protect the parts of the glass that are not to be engraved from the sand, it is sufficient to apply an adhesive rubbery film resistant to the abrasive effect, previously shaped according to the decoration to be achieved.
Sand engraving on glass can be performed on transparent or satin flat crystal, but also on mirrors. It is ideal for creating artistic glass, partitions, crystal tops for tables and coffee tables, display cases, and much more in the home, office, public spaces, professional studios, or commercial businesses. The aesthetic effect of artistic glass created with sandblasting is extremely refined and versatile, allowing for the creation of unique decorative elements that fit elegantly into various environments, ensuring a high-quality finish.
Choose the Experience of Vetreria Re
Thanks to over twenty years of experience in the design and creation of artistic glass, Vetreria Re is able to perform sand engravings or decorations on glass with an extremely precise and scrupulous technique. This allows for any type of decoration while keeping the brightness of the surfaces intact. The duration of sand engravings is eternal, as this processing method does not suffer from time erosion in any way. Depending on how the glass is hit by light, it can provide ever-changing shades and effects, contributing to a sense of domestic comfort.
Sand engraving can be performed on any type of glass, keeping in mind that different effects will be obtained depending on the raw material used: cathedral glass, especially if colored, can produce high-impact effects thanks to its rough surface, while common glass can be enhanced by the contrast between the opacity of the sandblasted parts and the transparency of the background. Satin glass, already opaque in itself, allows for the creation of excellent partitions or internal doors capable of shielding the view from other rooms, ensuring privacy and acoustic silence. Even mirrors can be customized with sandblasting, creating highly suggestive decorative effects.