11 Best Glass Etching Paint For Successful Projects In 2023
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Do you love glass etching projects? Have you used glass etching paint before? If not, read this blog to understand how to choose the best glass etching paint for your projects to make the etchings pop out. Let’s get started!
Our Top Picks
 
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Best Overall - FolkArt Multi-Surface Acrylic Paint Set• Satin-finish acrylic paint |
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Best Fluorescent Acrylic Paint - Liquitex Basics Fluorescent Acrylic Paint• Bright, fluorescent colors |
Cheapest Acrylic Paint Set - Caliart Acrylic Paint Set• Water-based |
1. Benicci Premium Quality Acrylic Paint Set with Brushes
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What Customers Have To Say
The brilliant colors and safe-to-use features of the Benicci glass etching paint set are beloved among clients. With its low price and excellent quality, it's a great deal. Many people consider it to be the best bang for the buck when it comes to art products.
Why We Think It's Great
The Benicci Acrylic Paint set has larger tubes at 38ml than the usual 22ml tubes. It also comes with six nylon brushes of different sizes (#4, 8, and 10 round brushes, #4, 6, and 12 flat brushes).
The paint includes scarlet, crimson, cobalt blue, cerulean, sky blue, ultramarine blue, sap green, emerald green, white, and flesh. It also contains lemon yellow, mid yellow, ochre, vermilion, gray, gold, silver, black, violet, burnt umber, burnt sienna, and raw umber.
You can use it in canvas, wood, styrofoam, plaster, ceramic, clay, glass, and other surfaces. For any reason that you're not satisfied with this product, it has a 1-year money-back guarantee, and Benicci will immediately refund your money.
Who Should Buy It
This set is a good starter glass painting kit for any crafter who wants to try their hand at using acrylic paints for their craft. It is easy to organize your painting supplies since it comes with a brush set in a zippered organizer.
2. Piñata Alcohol Ink Exciter Pack
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What Customers Have To Say
Some customers love Piñata's alcohol-based inks because of their vibrant colors. However, they found that these do not work well with projects you intend to wash, so they recommend using them for decorative items only.
Why We Think It's Great
The Piñata alcohol inks, technically not glass paint, are good for coloring etched glasses because of their strong adhesion to non-porous surfaces. These are semi-opaque, multi-media transparent pigment dyes that stain glass and porcelain.
The colors remain vibrant over time and are also moisture-resistant. However, we discourage washing the glass applied with alcohol ink as it may wash off even if fully dry.
The 9-bottle starter kit includes enough colors to make your etched projects interesting - yellow, orange, magenta, blue, green, purple, white, black, and gold. Each bottle holds 0.5 ounces (14.2 ml). It is non-toxic and conforms to ASTM D-4236 guidelines for labeling art supplies, deeming them safe for home use.
It is also very affordable and economical since a little goes a long way with alcohol inks. However, the nozzle may be too big for small designs, so if you want to use it on delicate designs, best to use a needle-tip glue applicator.
Who Should Buy It
Alcohol inks are best for crafters and glass artists who want to make their decorative etched glass projects stand out.
3. FolkArt Multi-Surface Acrylic Paint Set - Best Overall
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What Customers Have To Say
Users appreciate its multi-surface application, and the quality is consistent even when used on different surfaces. It is also easy to clean up and affordable, which is a plus for hobby crafters.
Why We Think It's Great
Other crafter's paints have limited use, but FolkArt Multi-Surface Acrylic Paints works on wood, terra cotta, paper, canvas, glass, fabric, ceramics, rocks, concrete, etc. Because it is water-based, cleanup is easy with soap and water.
It is thicker than most acrylic paints to prevent unnecessary spillage. But using an acrylic flow medium helps make it runnier for easier application and more transparent, especially if you want to achieve a stained glass effect on your glass projects.
Each bottle contains 20ml of vibrant satin-finish acrylic paint in Wicker White, Daffodil Yellow, Pure Orange, Bright Pink, and Cardinal Red. Other colors are Perfect Purple, Look At Me Blue, Aqua, Lime Green, Classic Green, Real Brown, and Licorice.
Who Should Buy It
FolkArt Multi-Surface Acrylic Paint Set is an excellent acrylic paint set that crafters love since it works on multiple surfaces, including glass, wood, terra cotta, canvas, fabric, ceramics, etc.
4. Chalkola Acrylic Paint Set
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What Customers Have To Say
Many users love its convenient sizing, vibrant colors. It has a very smooth finish and is easy to organize in its craft storage.
Why We Think It's Great
Each 22ml tube of Chalkola Acrylic Paint Set contains high-quality acrylic paint that you may use on glass, wood, canvas, and ceramic. The paint is non-toxic and dries quickly, allowing you to create your glass etching projects with ease.
The set has 32 tubes, including two white, lemon yellow, yellow ochre, gold, Naples yellow, Indian yellow, scarlet, vermilion, crimson, rose, rose madder, light red ochre, ultramarine violet, mauve, and violet.
Other colors are ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, Prussian blue, phthalo green, viridian, sap green, raw sienna, raw umber, burnt umber, burnt sienna, copper, dark gray, black, silver, and flesh tint. The squeezable plastic tube does not easily break, and you can squeeze out everything without the tube breaking like in metal tubes.
Who Should Buy It
Chalkola Acrylic Paint Set is an excellent acrylic paint set that crafters love since it works on multiple surfaces.
5. Liquitex Basics Fluorescent Acrylic Paint - Best Fluorescent Acrylic Paint
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What Customers Have To Say
Many artists believe that the Liquitex Basics Fluorescent Acrylic Paint is an excellent starter paint for its vibrant colors that looks good against dark backgrounds or enhance the colors of other acrylic paints.
Why We Think It's Great
The pack contains six tubes of fluorescent paint - orange, red, pink, yellow, blue, and green. You can use it on glass, canvas, paper, masonry, metal, styrofoam, stone, ceramics, and textiles.
The pigments are mixed with ceramic beads to improve strength, brightness, and fine dispersion. Each tube contains 22ml high-quality acrylic paint that's quick to dry and easy to clean.
Who Should Buy It
Liquitex Basics Fluorescent Acrylic Paint is best for students and artists because it is easy to blend and has a permanent pigment that covers brush strokes evenly.
6. Rub-N-Buff Wax Metallic Finish
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What Customers Have To Say
One user loves using Rub-N-Buff because of its awesome metallic finish on his etched glasses. However, some users recommend using KimWipes, especially when dealing with delicate glasses, to protect them from unnecessary scratches.
Why We Think It's Great
Rub-N-Buff is a metallic finish wax that you can use on frosted glass, wicker, wood, etc. It is an excellent alternative to paint to use to color your etched glasses. It gives your projects an antique look, though, in etched glass, its effect is a more dramatic metallic sheen.
Each tube contains 0.5 ounces of metallic wax finish and comes in ebony, silver leaf, gold leaf, and antique gold. Because of its waxy makeup, you cannot oven-cure your etched glass.
You can even use it with Piñata alcohol inks to achieve a soft, pastel tint. Be careful when adding alcohol inks, though, to prevent the wax from becoming runny. Add a drop, mix, then apply on etched glass with a paper towel wrapped around your finger.
Who Should Buy It
The Rub-N-Buff Wax Metallic Finish is perfect for crafters looking for an antique finish for their etched glass projects.
7. Caliart Acrylic Paint Set - Cheapest Acrylic Paint Set
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What Customers Have To Say
Professional artists who have used various acrylic paints love using Caliart acrylic paint because of its true color and vivid shades. It uses high-quality pigment, so it stays true to its color even after some time.
Why We Think It's Great
The Caliart Acrylic Paint Set has different finishes. The tube has an icon that indicates opaque (white circle), translucent (half circle), and transparent (black circle). It is also very dense, allowing artists to build texture on their artwork.
It is an excellent paint to use for various surfaces. It works on glass, model, canvas, fabrics, stone, wood, rocks, metal, blackboard, paper, Styrofoam, plaster, terra cotta, plastic, ceramics, decorative wall, and tin.
It includes eight yellow, orange, burnt sienna, red ochre, vermilion, carmine, red, crimson, mauve, magenta, violet, rose, light purple, pink, yellow pink, yellow-green, and purple. It also includes eight shades of blue, eight shades of green, raw umber, burnt umber, black, dark grey, grey, white, four metallics (copper, bronze, gold, and silver).
It has a 100% money-back guarantee for a no-hassle refund or a free replacement of the product.
Who Should Buy It
If you're a beginner artist, you'll love using this 52-set acrylic paint, so you don't need to mix them to get the shade you want to use.
8. Trandpter Acrylic Paint Pens
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What Customers Have To Say
Artists are very pleased with the no-bleed coloring, so they can still color the opposite side of the page. Others love the product for its excellent opaque coverage.
Why We Think It's Great
Trandpter Acrylic Paint Pens are great for creating art on various surfaces like glass, rocks, stone, metal, pottery, and more. They flow smoothly with great coverage, which is perfect for projects requiring painting onto different materials.
Who Should Buy It
Our paint pens create a beautiful finish on light and dark surfaces. The ink dries quickly to produce an opaque, glossy surface that is highly durable. The Trandpter Acrylic Paint Pens are great for starter artists who are not yet adept with using paintbrushes or prefer working with paint pens when doing rock painting.
The pack contains 24 paint pens and has an extra-fine nylon tip. It has no toxins, no odors, and is environment-friendly. It's also compliant with ASTM D-4236 and EN-71 standards for safety.
The pack has white, two shades of pink, three shades of yellow, three shades of blue, three shades of green, three shades of violet, metallic gold, metallic silver, black, and gray.
9. Craf-T Products Metallic Rub-On Paint ColorKit #2
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What Customers Have To Say
Many artists find it works like a charm and is easy to apply on various surfaces. The metallic tones are also soft and make a good finish.
Why We Think It's Great
The Craf-T Metallic Rub-On Paint comes in a flip-top case with a clear plastic cover and works on cardstock, wood, glossy paper, clay, ceramic, glass, and other surfaces.
It is also non-toxic and conforms to ASTM D-4236. It is easy to apply with a paper towel. It is best to use a fixative to keep the rub-on paint on your non-porous crafts.
Who Should Buy It
The Craf-T metallic rub-on paint is a great replacement for the more expensive Rub-N-Buff Wax Metallic Finish.
10. Magicdo Stained Glass Paint
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What Customers Have To Say
Crafters prefer using the Magicdo Stained Glass Paint when working with glass because of its vivid, transparent colors that help to make faux stained glass projects easy. However, you can add more layers to lessen the transparency of the paint.
Why We Think It's Great
The Magicdo Stained Glass Paint includes violet, crimson, deep blue, orange-yellow, light green, cerulean blue, black, rose, viridian, burnt umber, mid-yellow, and titanium white. Glass paint kits work on the glass windows, cups, ceramics, wine bottles, glass vases, and fish tanks.
The benefits of having a powerful covering capacity, great adhesion force, and water resistance make it last for years with its bright color. It also has the function of protection from UV radiation and heat.
You may opt for an additional layer to reduce the transparency of the paint. After seven days of airdrying or oven-curing at 176°F for two hours, the paint is colorfast.
Who Should Buy It
The Magicdo Stained Glass Paint makes an excellent glass etching paint for beginner artists.
11. Craft Metallic Acrylic Paint Set
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What Customers Have To Say
Customers love its smooth, metallic finish and easy application. Other users think it's very durable and can withstand outdoor weather (not snow, though). It also does not dry out quickly when stored for extended periods, according to another user.
Why We Think It's Great
Though its original purpose was to highlight walls, you may use Craft Metallic Acrylic Paint Set for adding colors to glass etching.
Each 20ml bottle contains easily spread metallic acrylic paint in gold, silver, bronze, and copper. It also has metallic red, metallic blue, metallic green, and metallic black, which are not available in other metallic paint sets.
It is a premium-quality metallic acrylic paint trusted and recommended by over a million users, both amateur and professional crafters.
Who Should Buy It
The Craft Metallic Acrylic Paint Set is best for crafters looking for affordable and easy-to-use metallic glass paint for their etched glass projects.
Glass Etching Paint Buying Guide
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Coverage
You should buy a glass etching paint set according to its coverage. Some glass etching crafters like to improve the opaque effect to make it more pronounced, while others prefer a transparent finish to achieve a muted effect.
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Colorfastness
How colorfast is your paint? While glass etching paint fades with time, especially those you cannot oven-cure, choose a glass etching paint that keeps longer, so you don't need to reapply after a few months. If you want to change the color with the seasons, you can use a waxy finish that you can wipe off easily.
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Curing/Sealing Method
If you want the color to be permanent or last a long time, choose a glass etching paint that you can cure in the oven.
If it is not possible, use a clear acrylic fixative to seal the paint on your glass etching. Be careful not to spray fixative on parts that are not etched to preserve the clarity of the glass.
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Price
The glass etching paint should be easy to use and affordable without compromising the quality of its results.
Glass Etching Paint FAQ
1. What kind of paint do you use on glass etching?
You can use several types of paint on etched glass. The most popular choice is acrylic paints because they are easy to work with, affordable, and easy to remove if you make mistakes.
Another paint to use is acrylic enamels, designed for working with glass. They usually bear the label multi-surface or have a wine glass on the cover or the label. They adhere better to glass because of the enamel composition and come in various finishes - glossy, matte, and satin.
2. How do you fix etching on glass?
Remember that etching on glass is permanent, and you may have trouble removing it once it is in. However, you can try this trick on glasses with light etching.
Rub baking soda over the etching using your fingertips. White vinegar may also do the trick. It is best always to check your stencil several times to ensure it is free from errors before you start etching.
3. How do you color fill etched glass?
It's best to add color after the etching is complete without removing the stencil. Wash the glass you just finished etching first and let dry well before painting.
Also, if you're planning to use an etched plate for serving food, use the underside of the plate to avoid having food in contact with the paint, even if the manufacturer noted that it is non-toxic.
Another tip is to use a fine paintbrush to limit mess since it is easier to manage a small brush than a larger one.
4. How do you paint engraved glass?
Using a paintbrush with a fine tip if you want to add color to your glass etching project. A fine tip paintbrush will allow you to draw finer, more compact edges while creating your artwork. Apply the color in small strokes but avoid going over the same area too many times.
Conclusion
Choosing the right glass etching paint is important to make your projects stand out and increase your conversion and customer satisfaction. For this review, here are our top picks.
We choose FolkArt Multi-Surface Acrylic Paint Set as the best overall glass etching paint because of its satin finish, non-toxic composition, and you can cure it in the oven for long-lasting designs.
If you prefer a fluorescent finish, our best bet is the Liquitex Basics Fluorescent Acrylic Paint. It has bright, fluorescent colors, easy to clean, and is economical to use.
Lastly, if you want to try an affordable acrylic paint set, Caliart is our cheapest set. It is also water-based, non-toxic, and has an even consistency, so you don't need to mix it before using it.