How to Sandblast a Window

Preparation

• 1

  Choose the pattern you want to blast onto your glass. Get a printout, sticker, drawing or some other printed form of this pattern.

• 2

  Put on your work gloves.

• 3

  Remove the window you want to work on, using your drill or hammer and box cutter (for removing sealant and/or caulk). This protects your wall and anything else around the window, such as furniture, from sandblasting damage.

• 4

  Place the window on a flat surface, such as a work bench or a thick piece of wood placed between two sawhorses.

• 5

  Fill your bucket with water, put some soap in it and use this water and your soft cloth to completely clean all glass surfaces of your window. Allow it to dry before sandblasting.

• 6

  Gather all your materials – sand blaster, abrasive, safety glasses, box cutter, vinyl sheets – in one place. Chose a place close to your work surface for easy access.

• 7

  Plug in your sandblaster. Place abrasive in the blasting pot if necessary. Follow manufacturer's instructions for this step, as the process varies from machine to machine

Sandblasting

• 8

  Decide where you want to put the pattern(s) on your window. Use your glass cover -- usually a thick, padded piece of cloth impervious to sand damage -- to wrap all the parts of your window other than the spot where you want your pattern.

• 9

  Place the vinyl adhesive sheets over the section of window that you want to sandblast. Place your pattern on top of the vinyl adhesive sheets, exactly where you want it on the window.

• 10

  Using your box cutter, carefully cut the outline of your image into the vinyl adhesive sheets. When you're finished, remove your image and all cut-away pieces of adhesive.

• 11

  Put on your safety glasses and turn on the sandblaster.

• 12

  Using the sandblaster hose, blast sand over the surface of the pattern you cut in the vinyl adhesive sheets in Section 2, Step 3. Blast sand until you see the image appear in the glass. Hold the hose away from yourself.

• 13

  Stop the sandblaster. Visually inspect the depth and contours of the image in the glass. If you're satisfied, stop the process. If you're unsatisfied, continue the process until the image achieves the depth and texture you want.

• 14

  Turn off the sandblaster. Remove all wrapping from your window and replace it, using your drill or hammer and the nails or screws you removed earlier. Apply any necessary caulk or sealant around the window.