Description
Engrave and etch designs, lettering, and patterns on glassware, mirrors, and architectural glass using hand tools, rotary tools, sandblasting, laser, or chemical etching. Prepare surfaces, create masks or stencils, set up equipment, and finish pieces while ensuring accuracy, safety, and quality.
- • Apply inks or paints to highlight or shade engraved areas as specified.
- • Adjust engraving depth on glass by setting tool pressure, spindle speed, blast pressure, or laser power.
- • Engrave designs, lettering, and logos on flat or curved glass using rotary tools, sandblasting, or laser.
- • Position and clamp glass pieces in jigs, chucks, or vacuum fixtures.
- • Determine machine settings and select nozzles, bits, or lenses to reproduce designs accurately.
- • Inspect engraved glass for depth, uniform frost, chips, scratches, and completeness.
- • Measure and lay out design dimensions and letter spacing on glass.
- • Start equipment and align tools to the starting point of the pattern.
- • Clean engraved areas and remove abrasive, dust, and residue from glass.
- • Review sketches, samples, blueprints, or photos to plan engraving methods.
- • Prepare and apply etching creams or solutions according to specifications and safety procedures.
- • Sandblast masked glass to cut designs, controlling nozzle distance and dwell time.
- • Set scaling, offsets, and feeds in software or pantograph controls to achieve specified sizes and depths.
- • Neutralize and rinse glass to remove acids, creams, wax, or enamel.
- • Inspect etched areas for depth, uniformity, and defects using gauges, microscopes, or magnifiers.
- • Prepare glass by cutting to size, cleaning, edge-finishing, and applying resist films or masks.
- • Install and secure diamond burrs, engraving bits, nozzles, or lenses on equipment.
- • Print proofs or test samples to verify design accuracy, and rework as needed.
- • Transfer images to glass using photoresist, stencils, decals, or direct marking.
- • Sketch, trace, or scribe layout lines on glass with grease pencils or scribers.
- • Hand-guide rotary tools along templates or freehand to duplicate patterns.
- • Remove completed pieces from fixtures and place them in protective racks or trays.
- • Remove tape, wax, or resist from etched glass by peeling, scraping, or warm-water immersion.
- • Fill engraved characters with enamel, paint, or gilding to improve contrast.
- • Apply etching cream or controlled acid exposure to develop frosted designs safely.
- • Use design software and CNC or laser interfaces to create and program engraving patterns.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
