Up: Glassmaking
Reminiscences 80 of 123
|
|
| |
lead basin some powdered fluor spar is then placed, and a sufficient
quantity of sulphuric acid poured upon it to convert it into a thin paste.
The glass to be etched is now placed in the basin, to which a gentle heat
is applied, when the vapor of the acid is disengaged and attacks the traced
lines from which the wax has been removed. The operation is completed in a
few minutes, the glass is removed, and the wax cleaned off with warm oil and
turpentine. All those parts which have remained covered with the wax are
now clear as before, while the other parts drawn by lines to represent
figures have a frosty appearance. Any person can produce figures on glass
with this acid, but, for reasons before stated, it is dangerous to use.
In October, 1859, a patent was granted to
James Napier, of Glasgow,
Scotland, for a very simple method of ornamenting glass with fluoric
acid. Instead of drawing patterns and figures on the glass with the
use of varnish and a graver to prepare the glass for etching, the
glass is prepared by simply transferring pictures from prints, which
can be performed by almost any person. The method is, to take a print,
lithograph, or picture made with printer's ink, and fix the
|
|