Lasering glassware tips and tricks

Engraving on glass or crystal can produce fantastic results, especially when done with lasers. Whether it may be engraving the names of a bride and groom on their champagne flutes, or having a company's name/logo placed on mementos, there are many benefits to engraving glass and crystal. However, getting the process right can be a complicated skill, especially when the engraving is complex. Here are some tricks and tips that will help you get the most out of your laser engraving.

Glassware is often easier to engrave than crystal. While the crystal structure may look great compared to plain glass, after the engraving is done the glass work will often be superior. This is due to the fact that crystal contains a lot of lead, which retains heat for too long. Meanwhile, glass cools quicker and results in a more precise and authentic engraving.

Whenever you are about to start a glass engraving job, make sure that you know what speed and power settings you are going to use. These settings should be altered for different assignments. The last thing you want is to have to do everything a second time, because that can lead to a blurry end result. Get the settings correct the first time, and you will be home clear.

This was mentioned earlier, but overheating is one of the major reasons why glass engravings can get spoiled. Too many engravers will ignore the optimal temperature, and continue to engrave. To avoid extreme temperatures, wet the surface before you engrave and coat the glass with a thin layer of dish washing detergent. This keeps the surface moist during the entire process.