Line a portion of the work surface with foam rubber and place a float glass over it. You can use any piece of glassware you don’t need as the float glass. You’ll grind the edge you’d like to work on against the float glass, while the foam rubber is useful for keeping the glass in place. Sand the area you’ve outlined with the marker, using short strokes. Avoid leaving any spots untouched. Remove all the clear areas within the section you’ve outlined, and don’t use the tool on the masked parts. The tape will only offer some protection, but it won’t hold up well against persistent bumps. Any piece of glass with the frosted effect will look like your glass window during the winter. The semi-opaque appearance will make any bit of glassware look expensive. You can create the effect with some sandpaper bits and a rotary tool (such as a Dremel or power drill). Here’s what you should do (source: E How): Work from one end to the other. Don’t leave the tool running on the surface, as is the case when using a power sander.

Cover up areas you don’t want the frosted effect on with a coat of painter’s or masking tape. Use small tape pieces cut into the right shape when covering up tight corners and curved edges. An alternative to diamond sandpaper is silicon carbide sandpaper. Options likely found in your local hardware store, such as garnet or aluminum oxide sandpaper, should not be used.

Work in a circular motion, adding some downward pressure where necessary. Maintain even pressure during sanding to ensure uniform sanding. Wipe off the surface from time to time to see the progress you’ve made. Switch to a finer grit when you’re satisfied to complete the sanding process. What Type of Sandpaper Is Best for Glass?

As we mentioned above, you can go to coarser grits where necessary or even smoother options when necessary. When dealing with severe scratches and other similar scenarios, it makes sense to go to as high as 7,000 grit sandpaper (source: Red Bluff Daily). You can sand glass, but instead of standard sandpaper, you’ll need to use a diamond sand pad. The necessary grit type will vary from 80-3000 depending on the project. However, sanding glass is not always the best solution; you may wish to consider cutting the glass or finding a smaller piece. Map out the frosted shape you’re going for using a permanent marker. (You can erase any mistakes with some cotton swab dipped in some nail polish remover.)After you’ve completed the initial sanding, turn off the Dremel and swap out the sanding bit for a finer grit option. Use this to go over the surface again for a smooth and polished appearance. How To Sand Glass by Hand Some people keep the surface and sanding pad wet by working under running water (source: Glass Etching Secrets). Keep in mind, if you can cut the glass down to size or replace it so you can start with a smaller piece, it’s best to explore those options first before sanding glass. For context, it can take hours to sand down tiny amounts of glass, whereas local hardware stores can cut glass in a few minutes. Can You Sandpaper Glass? Will It Cause Scratches? When sanding glass by hand, you need to keep the sanding pad and the surface wet. As we stated above, keeping the sanding paper and the surface wet will deliver lubrication, improve the life of the sanding pad, provide lubrication and ensure the room doesn’t get filled with toxic silica.

With the Dremel turned on, gently place the side of the bit to the glass surface you’re working on. Work slowly towards the center until you achieve your rounded edge. Move the glass in a circular motion for five minutes over the sandpaper to get the edge smooth. Maintain downward pressure while working to push the edge into the sandpaper. Rotate the piece regularly to ensure uniform sanding. Keep the sandpaper wet throughout the process. Grab the piece of glass you’re working on and place the edge directly over the spot with silicon carbide and water mix. Glass has been around for a long time, so it’s no surprise it is available everywhere. From window panes to cookware to decorative ornaments, glass is a permanent fixture all around us. Can you refurbish glass by sanding it like wood and metal? Pour some water and coarse grit of silicon carbide powder onto the glass. Stir the mix together with a finger.

Set the tool to a medium speed level. The exact level that qualifies as medium will vary from one model to another. It is possible to sandpaper glass without scratching it if you use the right material for the job. This means using the right sandpaper and the right grit. For example, when sanding down a rough glass surface to make it smoother, you’ll need to start with a wet 60-80 grit option and move to finer grits as you work.

Unwrap the tape and wipe away any remaining tracing lines to get a frosted look on the glass surface. Don’t allow the bit to wear down completely before changing it. Depending on the level of fritz on the edges, you can expect each bit to last 3-5 minutes. That’s usually enough time to finish sanding off the edges but change to new bits if you need to spend more time on the process. During the process, you’ll also need to keep the sandpaper wet to avoid getting a lot of glass dust in the air. Additionally, you’ll require a dust mask, safety glasses, and a pair of gloves for personal protection. The rough edges around freshly cut glass have to be sanded down for the piece to be useful. Here are a few ways to get the job done: Using SandpaperAfter sanding, polish the glass edge with 1000-2000-grit sandpaper and wipe the edge of the glass with a clean damp cloth. With the Dremel turned off, mount the glass sanding bit on the tapered side of it. The bits come in different grit sizes covering extra-fine, fine, medium, and coarse. When sanding and polishing glass, you have to start with a medium grit sanding bit on the glass and use an extra-fine grit to achieve the final polish. Turn On the Machine Cut out a small circle of sandpaper and use it to work the inner outline of the frosted area. You should also use a small piece of sandpaper on the frosted area. This will help make the appearance uniform. If it starts to wear down, cut out a fresh piece of sandpaper. For narrow areas and fine lines, fold the paper in half and sand using the folded edge.