Definitely worth checking out. Mod Podge makes a dishwasher safe formula that I have read a lot of people use on glass and ceramic coffee mugs. But what about etched ceramic mugs or plates that need to be washed regularly? Glad it worked for you! The difference between the etched and non-etched parts is so subtle, you can hardly see it unless you hold the tile so the light hits it Just. Thanks! I used Pewter on the white tile and Ebony on the grey tile.Application is simple and quick. It leaves behind a dull, flat impression. The gold and silver colors worked differently? Read the instructions and familiarize yourself with the etching time needed for the type of tile you are working with. Do you think it would work on a ceramic casserole dish? Your glossy finish from the tile stays intact, and the porous, but now colorized area where the etching cream was applied, now gets a sealant applied to it. Give it a try. Falls account for millions of injuries each year, and many of these falls happen inside the home. How do you hang them? Hadn’t thought of it for this project, though. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Put on protective, neoprene gloves and eye goggles with side shields. Scrape the cream off with a metal scraper and put it back into the original container. Nuh-uh. I was thinking of a spray of some kind to give an even coat without brush strokes. Sep 8, 2015 - Etch ceramic tile? Well, I will still try Tile & Grout Sealer on another creation; haven’t been out to the Home Depot as yet. True, permanent and temporary vinyl do have a stronger bond…when dry. Sealing the paint will protect it from the risk of tarnishing, chipping, and fading that painting ceramic tiles comes with. Our husbands get slightly twitchy when she and I get together with that glint in our eyes. As long as it’s true ceramic glaze, etching should work fine. Tiled walls can resist moisture and handle scrubbing much more readily than drywall or other materials, and so they are the ideal choice for humid bathrooms and kitchens where they will be exposed to cooking splatters. Couldn’t hurt to try. That’s what I was wondering, too. ! I can’t wait to give this a try. :^) To use other content or designs, please talk to me first. It’s been developed to bond to ceramic and porcelain glossy tile. Although the Vs on these tiles LOOK like applied vinyl, they are not. *Next, how to seal? Thanks for your kind words. Let me know how it goes. Meanwhile, if you figure out something that works, please come back and let me know. I wish I had known this before. LOL… once at the lake where my clear coat was, the idea completely left my head (my forgettery is better than my memory more and more often these days hahaha) and I never revisited it. Rearrange the cream on the stencil, leaving it in a thick, even layer again. I wonder how well it would cover Rub n Buff, which is quite waxy and repels most liquids, and whether it would work over alcohol inks, which in my experience are quite fragile and get messed up easily when anything solvent-like is brushed on. Allow the adhesive to cure 24 to 48 hours according to manufacturer's instructions before continuing. I would try applying again to the splotchy areas and letting it ‘dry’ before buffing…I’ve never had to do that, so I don’t know if it’ll work, but it might. I can hardly wait to put them on my wall!!! Tile & Grout Sealer! As long as the tile has a glossy glassy surface. No stencil. Hi! I would try it, wait a few days and then try scrubbing to see what happens. Here’s the fast forward version for the tiles. This project was the first I did with tiles and I haven’t had a chance to come back to test washability (the lettered tiles went straight onto the wall! *Conclusion. That did work. Do it! I used Cricut brand because that’s what I had on hand. Wipe the tint in one direction over the top of the white etching. It’s available in a variety of metallic finishes as well as a few non-metallic colors. Scrape the sides as you are stirring to make sure it mixes evenly. They’re purely decorative, and other than dusting, won’t require regular cleaning. If you try it, let me know how it goes. I can’t remember if I ever experimented with a sharpie oil pen (different from regular sharpies), but I do remember none of my experimenting involved baking. OMG! If you wear contacts, remove them and put on your glasses before wearing the goggles. https://todayshomeowner.com/video/painting-ceramic-tile-walls Check out this quick 3-minute video, … https://youtu.be/03Mv1VHrjyk. Most refinishers use hydrofluoric acid to chemically “etch” a porcelain or ceramic tile surface in an attempt to make their coating “stick.” Hydrofluoric acid is so strong that it actually eats away the porcelain, creating “pits” and a rough area for the new coating to hold onto. Cleaning tile floors can be a very tedious and boring task. When mopped onto a mineral based surface such as stone, porcelain, or ceramic, the product causes a chemical reaction that immediately starts etching the tile. That’s really interesting. Use an abrasive detergent and a steel wool for any substance that is stuck on. My next step is to try a clear coat spray to see if I can seal in the Rub ‘n buff to the point of declaring it washable or even—fingers crossed—dishwasher safe. As the surface is wiped, a raised pattern forms under the resist. They’re similar, but not exact. And a little experimenting to see how well a finished test plate holds up in hot water would probably be a good idea. Seal with Art Resin for sure, but this means you are coating the entire surface area of the tile with resin. This a very old installation? Will Rub ‘n Buff stand up? Required fields are marked *. *Rit Dye looked like really good color saturation, but at wipe away, rinse away, no color saturation to speak of. Allowing water or cleaners to stand on ceramic tile can strip the paint, so you should be sure to clean up spills quickly. One video I watched did the rub and then the buff almost immediately afterward. Enter, Rub ‘n Buff. Pursue the hardware store and experiment with bright colors and materials like ceramic, marble or slate. Try using vinyl instead of contact paper, it has a stronger bond and I bet it would work for the rub n’ buff part. Etching works on glass, ceramic, porcelain, concrete and marble tiles using the same process. It was as if, I totally cleaned out the etched areas and started fresh. Good idea, though. Think of surfaces like these: Polished Concrete I think it’s going to be spectacular! The Rub ‘n Buff is a wax based product (it might melt) and who knows what noxious fumes might be released from the clear coat once heated (would it discolor or burn?). Also, be very careful…glass and ceramic get hot enough to burn and STAY really hot much longer than fabric or paper. Print out my free Chicago flag printable template. I found with a good soapy scrubbing, most of the coloring would come off etched glass. Here is the result:The etching cream removes the glossy top glaze of the tile, leaving the porous body of the tile exposed. More experiments are needed to figure that out. —Use a soft cloth or facial tissue to apply just a teeny tiny bit of Rub’n Buff (the size of a head of a pin could be enough for an entire tile, and too much R’nB makes it more difficult to remove the excess). Was it even possible with oil to wipe away the excess on the non-etched areas, or did you have to make sure you got it in the etched areas only? But I found that with any amount of soapy scrubbing or dishwasher time, the coloring would start to come off (that’s the “not really” part). Any etching cream left on your clothing will damage the fabric. ; Note:If you don't have laser-specific tiles, you can achieve a similar look with other ceramic tile by masking the piece with tape and then using a colorfill to fill the engraving.This is a great solution if you have extra tile … Her work focuses on tutorials and self-help articles. Etching adds designs or words to tiles by reacting with the materials in the tile to remove them. You’ll add high-end custom touches to your home that would make HGTV jealous - all at the push of a button. Remove the stencil, and wash the tiles with warm soapy water. Best color saturation was with stencil paint, probably similar to your ‘waxy’ Rub N Buff. Read the packaging and heed all warnings for using the etching product. Firstly, you’ll need to determine what you’ll be using your tiles for. Clean the ceramic tile if necessary. I won’t bite. For example, while you can use phosphoric acid on ceramic, porcelain and composite surfaces, you should never attempt to use it on natural marble, onyx, granite or limestone. If they’ll be for something like tiling a kitchen then they’ll need to be completely identical so they can match up perfectly. I then put it into a 170 degree oven for two hours. You’re done. I just did a plate to hold cupcakes for my daughter’s 30th birthday and am going to wash it tonight to see what happens and if it all cleans off (since it is the gold and I only have a 50/50 success rate with gold) I am a little nervous but can reapply and clear coat if it comes off. And then color it to add contrast. I also found that less time with the iron worked better on glass…about 10 seconds for me. This website uses cookies to improve your experience and provide information about how the blog is used. Most refinishers use hydrofluoric acid to chemically “etch” a porcelain or ceramic tile surface in an attempt to make their coating “stick.” Hydrofluoric acid is so strong that it actually eats away the porcelain, creating “pits” and a rough area for the new coating to hold onto. When you start printing on tile with Glowforge 3D laser printer, you’ll discover a world of unexpected style. Please check the link below to give you some ideas: I just discovered the Rub n Buff and had the same fail as Abbi. Glass etching projects on Whatcha Workin’ On. So many questions! Transfer tape – to transfer the vinyl stencil to the tile. How long do you recommend? Wonder if you sealed it with a clear spray if it would stay on? —Start with a glossy tile (not the least bit matte)—the Rub’n Buff sticks to the rough ceramic created by etching and if the rest of the tile is at all rough ceramic or dull ceramic, it’ll stubbornly stick there, too. For example, while you can use phosphoric acid on ceramic, porcelain and composite surfaces, you should never attempt to use it on natural marble, onyx, granite or limestone. A small rotary hand-held drill that the Dremel company makes will engrave the tile with the desired lettering or an uncomplicated pattern with ease, after some practice on some preliminary tiles. However, a theme I do every six years, so I guess hand washing won’t be bad. Glossy finish ceramic tile; Armour Etch etching cream; Small foam brush; Vinyl – to use as a stencil. When the chosen reaction time has been reached (usually 5-15 minutes), rinse the tile with fresh water. Any temporary or permanent vinyl such as Oracal 631 or 651 will work, I used Con-Tact paper because I didn’t want to sacrifice any of my 631 or 651. However, you could stencil it, leave the contact paper on and then paint, or whatever. I should note here that the etching cream is serious acid—the sort of thing your high school chemistry teacher kept locked up—so be sure to read the label warnings and follow the safety precautions. Do not apply more than you need. Thank you so much for the info and quick reply. The designs are cute and I hate to completely scrap them, but I want full coverage, not splotchy. So sorry this didn’t work for you, Abbi. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Firstly, you’ll need to determine what you’ll be using your tiles for. If you have a simple design with larger elements, freestyle painting might be doable, but all of my etching projects so far have elements and fonts that are too tiny or narrow for me to be successful. So I tried the project! I just found this pin and I’m so impressed with your beautiful project. Can they be used as coasters?? I tried mod podge and polyurethane previously when I was vinyling these tiles and both looked terrible because of the brush strokes and the weird coloration it left on the tiles. Seal the design with 2-3 coats of acrylic spray sealer (make sure touch-up paint is dry first!) okay great im actually going to try it tonight and i will let you know how it goes! Rub ‘n Buff has a wax component to it, so once applied it does withstand water and you can wipe water off it without removing the coloring. I then used a oil sharpie to put some color to the etched part. It’s an interesting idea worth experimenting with. I recently cleaned a glazed/polished porcelain tile floor with a heavy duty acid concrete cleaner since my regular Pro-chem acid wasn't doing the trick on the grout. Wipe it on, let it set for 5 minutes or so, then wipe off the excess. The Rub’n Buff easily sticks to the etched areas and easily wipes off the non-etched areas (see my in-progress pic above)…, so I’m guessing the problem is with your etching…that it may not have been quite thorough enough and the areas where the RnB isn’t sticking still has some glaze on it. :^). I haven’t done anything that needed to be food safe, so I don’t have any experience to share about this. This technique is often done with shellac and referred to as shellac resist. Apply a couple of drops of Pinata Tint to the sponge and blend a little. And the amount of RnB needed is seriously tiny…like the size of a head of a pin, so mixing to retain colour would be on a very small scale. Apply the tile adhesive with a notched trowel as normal. It sounds like your gold didn’t give you grief as it did the previous commenter (Laurie). If it begins to dry out, apply more cream to remoisten. You’ve been busy! These tiles will be hung on a wall for decoration so they’ll be fine. Smeared that all over the surface of the 13 x 13 (approx) white glossy ceramic tile, with a purple-ish shade of the etched area lettering, smoothed the resin out to the edges, monitored for side drips, wiped them away, as they occurred, else you get solid, rock-hard drips that have to be cut or sanded off, if you don’t tape, or wipe as you reach set time, about an hour later; now we are at the curing stage which will go for 24 hours on a ‘LEVEL’ surface. It takes a really long time to cure though… (See this: https://blitsy.com/blog/diy/vinyl-craft-kate-spade-inspired-gold-polka-dot-tumblers-and-bowls), Thanks! I wanted to pin it and I put them in box with the confusion of Staff Sargent son home for lunch. Only for the gold buff, silver always works well. I lovelovelove HTV. And then color it to add contrast. Cut it apart using your X-Acto knife, metal ruler, and small self-healing cutting mat. I hope you’ll try it and let me know. Or if anyone has tested anything other than a light hand washing? LOL). That is great…..yes lots to trails with doing tiles and glass stuff unless you use vinyl for the glasses. However, your process is way fast and nice affect. When you start printing on tile with Glowforge 3D laser printer, you’ll discover a world of unexpected style. I was curious to see if anyone has found a successful way to handle sealing the Rub n’ Buff yet? Etching works on glass, ceramic, … *Will advise when testing complete. Contaminants on the floor can interfere with the acid, leaving you with unevenly etched tile. and allow to dry thoroughly. As for etching or othewise mechanically scarifying the existing tile surface, it would be helpful if we knew what sort of tile you had on the walls now. If you get to it before I do, drop in again and let me know how it goes! So, the etched area, now colorized with something waxy has to dry/cure really good and long, methinks a few days; then try Tile & Grout Sealer. My friend Laura and I are partners in craft and decorating crime. Learning how to install ceramic wall tile is a task well within the reach of an average homeowner. Oh, yeah! The etching process involves applying an acidic substance, typically a cream, to the tile and waiting for the reaction to occur. It doesn’t take long. When etching the entire floor, suction up the water with a wet vac and place the fan so that it blows across the tiles to dry them. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Free files contain images and fonts that I created myself, or are in the public domain, or to which I have the commercial use rights. Wipe away any dust or debris from the tile using a soft cloth. For these tiles we used Command strips (the two part ones that look like velcro). Clean the tile, scrubbing away grease, mold, mildew and any other debris. For detailed glass etching instructions and information about the materials I used, see my Pi(e) plate project tutorial. Tips for Preparing to Etch. If it worked, experiementing with glitter would be cool…if you wanted it only in the areas that are etched, that poses the same problem as using ordinary paints to colour the etching—keeping the glitter in the etched areas only would be tricky. There are lots of ways to hang tiles… everything from small spring plate hangers to sawtooth hangers. Funny thing I didn’t realize two didn’t have stars on top of the trees, so I will say if you have no star on your mug you get a prize. I love them, too. I’ve added a “just so’s ya know” note at the end of the blog post for future readers. How do you permanently color etched glass? For casserole dishes or anything that will be put in the oven or on the stove, I wouldn’t use Rub ‘n Buff or clear coat. The etching process removes the glossy glaze layer, leaving a rough ceramic layer perfect for coloring. I swore I had a whole box of these tiles of this size laying around the garage, but I do not; would have done a half dozen more various designs on the tiles. Is it glazed ceramic tile, un-glazed ceramic, natural stone of some sort, perhaps? Wondering if using the ink with a foam dobber or something would look/work better? *Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we have fallen in love with Art Resin brand, two-part epoxy resin, … sooooooo, we mixed up a batch, brought in super fine glitter in ‘irridescent’ shade of white, a tad of pink, and a wee bit of purple. . Simply squeeze a tiny amount (I used about the size of a head of a pin for each letter) onto a soft cloth or facial tissue and rub it on. Mask over areas that you do not want etched. Experiments are on the to-do list. Chemical etching really just changes the surface from super smooth glossy to textured, so there isn’t really room for grout. It's also great for tile, ceramic, porcelain, quarry, travertine, and concrete - … Wait another 10 minutes. Coasters! Not just the possible toxicity, but the washability…it’s a wax-based product, so vulnerable to hot water. Is this water proof?? Draw or stencil a design onto it with a pencil. – I washed with dawn soap and bristle brush lightly and the RnB was slightly affected. I’m going to follow this for one of my projects. Also, I used alcohol ink in liquid format, and Sharpie markers can be used, as they essentially alcohol ink as well. I have a box of 4 x 4 ceramic tiles sitting in the corner waiting on an inspiration. should i experiment on a ceramic dinner plate first? Today I am going to try HVT Heat Vinyl Transfer for those that don’t know on glass. This is a great solution if you have extra tile laying about from a previous project. Allow each coat of sealer to dry before adding another. Walls change color, things get dismantled and re-imagined, new things appear, old things disappear, and forgotten things reappear changed forever as part of something new altogether. How to Repair Scratches on Ceramic Tile Natural stone tiles, including travertine, marble and limestone, can develop etching when exposed to acidic liquids or foods. Rinse the ceramic tile, and wash again to remove the remaining residue from the ceramic tile. A concrete floor is a good base for laying ceramic tiles, provided it is level and free of cracks or abrasions. Thanks for the tutorial! Carefully take the mug out of the oven and let it cool completely. I hope you’ll give it another try. I cut mine from black Con-Tact Paper Creative Covering Self-Adhesive Shelf Liner using the regular vinyl settings on my Silhouette Cameo.I eyeballed placement on the tall grey tile. :^). Open the windows and doors in your work area. So my questions for you… Did you get crisp clean lines? Oh boy, big possibilities! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/166562886195241973/ I don’t know if they are dish washer safe either. Great hack. I tried this but i guess my tile wasn’t glossy enough cause the color stayed everywhere and when i cleaned it off or came off the etched part as well. This is an optional step but I did find it cleaned off a bit of that hardware store film. GlazeGuard Plus is useful on tile surfaces that normally experience high traffic with constant exposure to contaminants. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from American InterContinental University. Now, these beauties went right onto the gallery wall. :^), has anyone tried spray sealant yet? (Be food safe?) You may use a single image with a link back and watermark intact. Mix well; then apply the color/pigment/paint combined with the Tile & Grout Sealer to the etched areas. Your local hardware store will have lots of ideas. Over … There are a few ways to etch ceramic tiles, unfortunately, the best way will cost more. Rinse thoroughly to remove the soap residue on the tile and leave it to dry. It can also be used in entrance-ways, lobbies, building access-ways with minimal shutdown of the foot traffic. A lot will go a long way. A: Armour Etch will take the glaze off of a ceramic item or ceramic tile. Soft tools like mops and cloths are a better choice. Your email address will not be published. – I hand washed with water and the RnB was unaffected. Clean the painted ceramic tiles with gentle tools. *Alcohol ink will wash away with more alcohol and does not give strong color saturation; it practically wipes away completely. A couple of days later I put it into the dishwasher and it came out fine. That would work well for some materials but not RnB…it’s wax-based. :^). The etching cream removes the gloss revealing the rough ceramic below. And your handwashing test proved R’nB to be more durable than I expected…a nice bonus. The piece of vinyl I cut it from was just shy of 6″, but I hate wasting materials so I used it anyway. On a design with loops or side-by-side sections, getting a cloth on a narrow non-etched part without hitting an etched part was impossible. Down side is, it recommends 28 days to dry before using. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. I wonder how easy it would be to get the tile surface to look even when applying a sealer with a brush. Wait 10 minutes. If you try it before I do, drop me a line and let me know how it went: eff [at] whatchaworkinon [dot] com. I etched on a mug. Basically, pour out some Tile & Grout Sealer and then ‘tint’ it. hostess gifts, etc! Currently you have JavaScript disabled. I’d love to know how it goes. I’ll report back when I know more. Apply a water-based sealer to the tiles. From whatchaworkinon.com Oh, the possibilities! Just came across this tutorial and I am so impressed. Kelvin Boult from KJB Systems in Ashburton engraving a ceramic tile using an 80w co2 laser engraver. It’s a thickish paste that comes in a small tube. Could you use tile grout to fill in the etched letter. There are a few different ways of making tiles, and you’ll need to decide which one works best for you. Do you think Rub ‘n Buff would work with porcelain tiles or cement tiles? —When trying to remove the excess R’nB, rub the etched part as little as possible. Change your clothes and wash them before wearing them again. I’ve used alcohol inks (bottled ink) on tile, but not on etched tiles (so many projects, not enough time! Will report when tested! Good luck with your experiments! I like those odds. If necessary, you could use a spray clear coat to seal in the Rub ‘n buff (but I don’t think it would come to that). *It looks gorgeous right now. I love how it looks on the tiles. If they’ll be for something like tiling a kitchen then they’ll need to … You should be able to find it in local stores…Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Walmart, etc. No, I haven’t yet. It was quite a game changer for me. So your tip is fab….. Oh, no, Diane…I can imagine your face when the sharpie came off! Use etched tiles individually for craft purposes or etch the entire floor in preparation for other floor treatments. I’ll post my results here. A system of etching ceramic surfaces and the like including the method characterized by the application to the treated surface of an aqueous solution of hydrofluoric acid, ethylene oxide and nonylphenol, continuing the contact on the treated surface for a period of time sufficient to etch the surface; and thereafter flushing away the solution in order to terminate the contact. Your email address will not be published. Heat from coffee? sharpies, so I see oil sharpies and did that and then find people say you can’t put them in the dish washer. * Tried alcohol ink, Apple Barrel acrylic water-based, Rit Dye in royal blue, wood stain in navy, PVC primer (purple), and stencil paint, dry-brush. Minute by minute, microscopic pores are created, making the tile surface rougher. Maybe try a second coat after curing period. How to Get Black Spots Off a Ceramic Cooktop, Painting and Decorating Concourse: Etch I M Etching Cream for Porcelain and Tile, A&E: Etch Masters: Etching Marble Plaques. If the floor was an interior, high-gloss polished surface, then we would recommend our Tile SlipShield. I did mugs all came off with reg. I haven’t tried gold, but now I want to. That’s good to know. I know, right? I assume the heat cycle might remove them. STEP ONE: Cut and apply a vinyl stencil. Always use neutral pH cleaners and avoid abrasive implements like steel wool or scouring brushes. Question though, do you know if you can buy the Rub N Buff in local stores or just on line? They’re etched. It would require some kind of sealant for sure…and spray would definitely be the way to go there as any brush movement would affect the ink designs.