Etching with masked off bits...

[Kimster]

Can anyone give me any tips on this? Tried with clear nail varnish.. I'm after well defined shapes & I've definitely not got that! It has just slowly dripped down the bead so left just a sort of thin smear....help!

[ScarletLeonard]

cut the shape you need out of masking tape? or buy a sticker set with that shape?
not something i have tried with dip and etch but it works for sand blasting.

[Margram]

A sharpie pen? Not tried it, but recall reading about it...try on a wonky bead first!

[poledra1958]

I have tried the stickers that you can get for cards they come off in the dip and etch.

But I have used them to them to mask off bits then put nail varnish on the rest of the bead.

Not tried a sharpie

[Glassy Lou]

Just tried with Sharpie and it does seem to work. I caught my beads on the side of the tub as i pulled them out of the etching fluid though and the ink flaked off really easily - handy for cleaning it off but not so good if you accidentally knock it off and spoil your design. Good tip though. I'll definitely be using this method again.

[Barbara]

I take window colour! Easily get off with warm water.

[lampworklover]

I use PVA glue from a very fine nozzled bottle (Anita's, red tube, v.cheap); you can get a very fine line with that and it peels of really easily afterwards.

[Kimster]

I use PVA glue from a very fine nozzled bottle (Anita's, red tube, v.cheap); you can get a very fine line with that and it peels of really easily afterwards.

Thanks for all these  - I'll try the PVA first since I have some. D'you know how long it takes to dry before you can etch them?

Also...noobie question here - what is a sharpie pen? 

[lampworklover]

depends how thickly you apply the glue, and how warm it is  but 20 mins/ 1/2 hour or so should do it I think.

Sharpies are marker pens; not sure hwo that would work but anything's worth a try

[sarah t]

some glass does not etch ..i am sure someone with a better memory than me will have a list

[Kalorlo]

If you are using nail varnish, one that's thickish and dries quickly is best - I've done spirally designs, applying it with a cocktail stick for thinner lines. (I used an opaque green - you can definitely see it while you're using it!)

[Kalorlo]

Cirrus doesn't etch and neither does zephyr.

[flame n fuse]

Bullseye glass doesn't etch (maybe not all of them, but the ones I've tried don't)