How to Hand Engrave Calligraphy on Glass, Wine & Champagne Bottles - Full Process, Tools & Tips

[@leahchong]

Hey friends! I’m going to be teaching engraving at The Kernference, an online conference from 13-15 Nov 2024. I’ll leave the link here for you to learn more and if you’re keen, feel free to sign up: www.thekernference.com/?affiliate=leahchong *Disclaimer, it’s an affiliate link! But hey, no pressure, it’s for your consideration. Hope to see you if I see you! ❤️🥳 If not, all’s good too. Have the best week, whenever and wherever you’re reading this!

[@JohnMatrixOfficial]

You make it look so easy.

[@leahchong]

Definitely w a lot of trial and error and practice!

[@AMStudios22]

Beautiful Calligraphy! Thanks for the tips.

[@leahchong]

Thank you for your kind words! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@ShapingSilver]

That was very useful, thank you. Never thought about adding wax to the engraving. 👍

[@leahchong]

Happy to share! All the best w your engraving projects 🎉

[@M_Rahul84]

I'm a dentist, and loved that drilling sound ♥️

[@leahchong]

Hahahaha! Ah yeah it’s similar isn’t it 🤣

[@M_Rahul84]

@@leahchong yeh, it is...😁😊 Would try calligraphy on patient's tooth next time..Lol🤣😂

[@AndreaStevens2012]

🤣😅😂

[@dalelane1948]

That Margaret River 2017 Cab Sav is a lovely drop

[@fathimanazrin4463]

Thankyou so much❤️The video was so helpful❤️

[@leahchong]

Yay! Happy engraving!

[@glenn2595]

It may be too aggressive, but at a low speed and a soft cotton disc you may be able to use your Dremel tool to buff out the coloring.

[@leahchong]

Oh what do you mean? Are you able to share more? Do you mean like “exfoliating” the surface but will that chip the glass? 😂

[@hughtempleton8640]

Absolutely beautiful job . ❤

[@leahchong]

Thank you Hugh! Appreciate your kind words 😄 Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays 🎄

[@slamthegavelpodcasthostmar5536]

This was excellent!!

[@leahchong]

Happy to hear! Happy engraving 🫶🏻

[@tonypet1518]

You are amazing, fantastic and beautiful. Seriously, brilliant video for me.😊

[@leahchong]

You’re the sweetest! Thanks for watching!

[@lubegafelixartist1847]

Wonderful thx for sharing this content

[@leahchong]

My pleasure! Happy engraving 🥳

[@AndreaStevens2012]

Nice video, great specifics. Thanks for posting! I am wondering though, why would I want to use a water soluble pencil when I use water to keep my tool cool and my surface free of dust...wouldn't the water erase my markings before I get them engraved?

[@leahchong]

Great question! It’s actually pretty waxy so it holds up better than other water soluble pens (think microns etc). If you’re looking for something smudge proof though, you can try using paint pens. Let it dry before engraving. Once engraved, you can remove your draft done w paint pen using rubbing alcohol. Hope this helps!

[@AndreaStevens2012]

@@leahchong Wow! Thanks so much for the info and for replying so quickly! You are on top of things for sure! I'm definitely going to look for such a pencil because I have problems with normal markers not being able to provide fine lines/intricate details. Thank you!

[@leahchong]

@@AndreaStevens2012 Let me know how it goes for you!

[@IAM369IAM]

Thank you for your video! Your calligraphy is beautiful! Just wondering if you do any commissioned work? If yes would you mind making a video sharing some tips for those who are interested? I would love to get started in engraving but there are things that I can’t figure how to do it best. For example, how do we get the bottles from the customers, is it via post or drop off? Post seems like a better option to me as this will allow the engraver to take on any commissions work without being restricted by the location. Would really appreciate your thoughts on this one of you see my message. Thank you Leah!

[@leahchong]

Thanks for your kind words Gwen! I usually let the customer choose which works for them. They either drop off or deliver the items to me, if they’ve their own bottles on hand. If not, I’ll source the bottles for them! I’m from Singapore so door to door delivery is pretty easy and efficient here. Not sure where you’re from but if delivery is overseas/international, I’d be extra extra cautious on the packaging and tracking end! Hope this helps!

[@IAM369IAM]

@@leahchong thank you for taking your time to reply! I thought the same about posting the bottles too, it’s far too risky to have the bottle shattered during the transit. Drop on and drop off seems like a better option but it’ll be wasting a lot of time delivering them (I’m from Australia). Maybe the less hassled way to do it is to provide engraving service at a bottle shop. 😂 I’m so keen to get started in this business but I need to have an idea of how this is gonna work before I even start investing in tools. Now it doesn’t seem like it’s gonna work for me. 😂 Thank you! I really appreciate your reply! ❤️

[@leahchong]

Ah right! If that’s the case, you can ask your customers to buy the bottles themselves and put your address under checkout. So that saves double shipping. For the return, they can then pick up themselves or have them shipped within the city. I think intercity orders are tough.. I’d rather refer the inquiry to another calligrapher in the customer’s local city! Anyway, good luck and all the best! 100% recommend starting with dremel first to see if this is something you’d like to pursue. From there you can upgrade when you’re ready 🙌🏻

[@IAM369IAM]

@@leahchong thank youuuuuu so much! Appreciate you! That’s very helpful ☺️❤️ I hope you’re having lots of fun engraving. I really like your calligraphy

[@RoDelCa1]

Amazing job! I once engraved a wine bottle for one of my friends but while having the bottle rest overnight, the bottle exploded (thank God it was inside a plastic bag) I’m scared of engraving bottles now… do you know why this may have happened? I used a Dremel 3000, i just can’t explain why it would explode hours after the engraving.

[@leahchong]

Ahhh oh no. Glad to hear everyone’s safe. If your wine bottle’s a sparkling one, yes it may explode. Don’t recommend engraving anything that has bubbles or sparkling due to the pressure inside.

[@GKarabet]

Hey, great work! I have a couple of questions: About the color, is it in real life just like the color portrayed in the video. My second question is if the paint stays on the glass, mirror, doesn’t it fade away or go away if you clean the glass, mirror? My third question is if this paint will also work on mirrors , glass that are hand engraved? Kind regards :)

[@leahchong]

Yes it works on mirror as well. To my knowledge, it won’t fade if it’s left untouched. With repeated washing, then yes, it’ll risk fading over time. Regarding colour, there are many colours available online or in-stores - you may choose your preferred colour option! Eg. Gold, silver, white and more.

[@mayemami8057]

What did you use for cryptography template? How did you copy it on the bottle before engraving?

[@leahchong]

Thanks for your question May! The initial draft is hand drawn with a wax pencil actually!

[@NicoLas-og5do]

Hi. Thank you for the demo & tips. I just have a question: after apllying the gold paint, how exactly do you rub out what's not into the engrave lettering? is just by wiping out with a piece of fabric or do you use something in addition?

[@leahchong]

The process of that is called buffing. I usually just use tissue paper. But you can also use a piece of cloth. Or cotton pad. Hope this helps!

[@NicoLas-og5do]

Thanks for your reply. I'm a newbie and was trying to understand why the tissue "erase" the paint on the bottle without touching at all the part engraved. I'll try & see.

[@leahchong]

No worries I’m here if you’ve any further questions! Just make sure to do this step quickly before the wax dries. Once it’s dried it’s harder to buff out.

[@AndreaStevens2012]

Whether you use wax, paint, or marker, the color adheres to the etched areas as it gets rubbed into the texture; in fact, rubbing helps rub the colorant deeper into the texture. When you engrave you are roughing up the surface. Imagine the glass is a piece of carpet. If you put a colorant on your finger and rub it into the carpet fibers it will be almost impossible to get the color out because you have just rubbed it into the gritty texture. The same is for glass, and the reason why it rubs off of the not engraved part of the glass is because there is nothing for the colorant to hold onto so it wipes right off. Now, if you act quickly, before the colorant cures, it is possible to remove the color from the etched/engraved areas. It takes a bit of rubbing, and sometimes a little solvent, but it is possible. However, once the colorant has cured, fully dried, it it nearly impossible to remove it from the etched/engraved area. Hope that helps. 🙂

[@Flowertoday1]

​@@leahchongHello. I am having a problem with buffing dark color glass because in the process of buffing the glass is getting little scratches. I am using cloth. Why is it happening like that?

[@zekesundown2397]

That awesome I wanna try that

[@leahchong]

Awesome!! Looking forward to seeing your finished piece 🤩 Have fun!

[@DragonXDrei]

could you not use the dremel to perform the buff?

[@leahchong]

Oooh interesting! Do you know which attachment is the most suitable for this?

[@DragonXDrei]

@@leahchong I just got mine today, haven't experimented yet, but I would assume one of the buffing or polishing heads should make that part easier.

[@tattoosbyrigo]

So wine bottles are okay to engrave but champagne bottles are not? Correct?

[@leahchong]

Yep!

[@tattoosbyrigo]

@@leahchong thank you 🙏🏽

[@IslaNoordAhmed]

What if your not good a free hand writing? Can we use a template?

[@leahchong]

Yes of course! One way is to print your design with a cricut to act as a stencil. Remember to inverse it so the design is the one you’re “cutting out”. Paste it over your surface, and you can engrave directly within your stencil. This requires a cricut or equivalent equipment of course. Or you can also transfer it the old school way - print your design and colour all over the back side of it with a wax pencil or crayon or chalk. Tape it down design facing up and trace over your design with a ball point pen. Pressure from the pen will transfer the design onto the glass surface. Oh but if you’re engraving on transparent glass like a wine or champagne glass, you can just print the design and tape it to the back side of it. Hope the above tips help!

[@alexandradragalan6187]

Hello. Can you help me with an alternative for Rub'n Buff Metallic Wax? I live in Romania, where I can't find any good wax for the engraving. Thanks! ❤

[@leahchong]

Ooh that’s what I usually use. But any gilding wax should work fine! Maybe search for gilding wax instead at your local store. Alternatively you can also add colour by using colour pencils - colouring directly on the engraved design, ideally for items without much handling / high touch point. Hope this helps!

[@alexandradragalan6187]

@@leahchong, thank you so much for the answer! I'll give them a try! ❤️ Good luck and have a wonderful year! ✨

[@leahchong]

You too! Happy new year!

[@tebogomemela279]

Hi Leah Im Brenda from South Africa I would like to find out about the engraver I would like to buy one and how much it is Thanks

[@leahchong]

Hey Brenda! Check out my engraving on metal video. I provided links to various engravers there!

[@wowpintar]

Awesome 👍🌷

[@leahchong]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@nav01nav]

Where did you get your tools from please. Can you provide linke

[@leahchong]

I share them in my video here: linktw.in/tLSlrY

[@carlyrae1084]

what rpm do you run the drill at?

[@leahchong]

For glass, usually 28 for me but you can go higher if preferred

[@muqllidagah9336]

Очень красиво ! 👍🙏🌹

[@leahchong]

Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@slamthegavelpodcasthostmar5536]

Thank you!!

[@ras3997]

Price for bangladesh your engraving pen

[@mrbranch]

Where to buy rub and buff in sg?

[@leahchong]

I got it from spotlight!

[@mrbranch]

@@leahchong thanks for the info. how much do you charge for engraving on a perfume bottle? Ex: just a name.

[@leahchong]

Drop me an email with more details!

[@littorio27]

Glass engraving without water? Do you, er... care for your health?

[@leahchong]

Hey there! I use a face shield & mask :-)

[@iloveitUbet]

Sounds like the dentist office!!

[@leahchong]

Hahahaha it’s also known as the dental drill so yes you’re right - *brings back memories…* 🤣

[@xeniamundi7514]

I hope you have your public liability insurance up to date because when that pressurised bottle explodes (Champagne) and it will, you can be sued. Your technique is quite heavy making this an eventuality. Engraving by hand on pressurised bottles is very dangerous and should not be made available in the public space. Bottles can also explode after engraving as one Sydney calligrapher found out much to her surprise. She was lucky she wasn't hurt and that she wasn't at a public event.

[@leahchong]

Hi Xenia! Yep that’s very true! Which is why I only accept engraving commissions for non pressurized bottles. For champagne customisation, I offer ink customisation 🙌🏻 Safety’s always first.

[@victoriabonecutter6]

That's why u chose what to engrave on your own discretion! U can't be sued for giving a gift!

[@andrewkato8216]

😂​@@leahchong