How to Care for Crystal Glass Featuring 3D Etching

Crystal glass is a smooth and luxurious material to work with despite its relatively affordable cost, especially when it comes to the 3D etching technique. It can last for years – if not decades – with the right care. So without further ado, here are quite a few practical tips to help you do just that.

1. Carefully package the item when in transit – you will need to protect glass items with 3D etching designs from two dangers while travelling: trauma and abrasion. This is why cotton balls make for excellent packaging material when it comes to crystal glass. They not only help protect the item from breaking or chipping when hit hard, but they are also soft enough not to damage the delicate surface of the glass.
2. Prepare distilled water for cleaning – ordinary tap water may contain minute traces of dust or dirt that can scratch the surface of the item in question. This also solves the problem of chemical or mineral build-ups that would obscure the 3D etching designs hidden inside the crystal glass. Granted, the glass will only fade out if exposed to high chemical concentrations or repeated washings with hard water, but it is better to be safe than sorry if you truly value the item you possess.
3. Remove dirt with cotton balls and slightly soapy water – cotton balls are great for cleaning these items. Simply soak one ball with distilled water, gently wipe the surface to pull up dirt and dab dry with fresh cotton balls. If dust has caked up into a thin layer of dirt, then mix a drop of mild dishwashing liquid into a litre of water and squeeze the solution over the caked areas with the cotton balls. Wait until the solution loosens up the caked dirt, wash away with the rest of the soapy water and gently rinse with fresh distilled water.
4. Always blot up any excess water – simply air-drying the pieces leaves ugly white spots that can obscure the 3D etching designs contained inside them. This is why you need to use those cotton balls – or even a lint-free microfibre cloth for larger pieces – for sucking up excess water. Dab the moisture and avoid wiping if at all possible to reduce the chances that a stray grain of dust will leave a tiny scratch on the surface when drying off the piece.
5. Encase the item within a transparent plastic case – if you commission a valuable piece of art that you really want to last for a long time, you may want to invest in a case. First off, these cases will prevent dust from coming into contact with the piece itself. Second, a clear plastic case can better absorb the force of impacts that would normally break the item you want preserved – especially if the plastic is firmly mounted on a solid surface.

Keep these in mind and you’ll have a much easier time maintaining and preserving the special piece.

George Berdichevsky is the Founder of 3Design Center, which designs image files to be used in 3D etching machines. His team of talented artists can create bespoke images for 3D engraving from any idea or image. Visit the website for more information.