Etching installed window glass

May 16, 2022 1:46 PM

I have purchased different products to prevent birds from hitting picture windows (lots of resources on this FWS post). It looks like a more permanent solution (the films I’ve used in the past last 3-6 years) would be etching the glass. I’d like to etch my windows. I was thinking about using these instructions and a circular dot stencil. Have you done anything like this? Did it work? Do you have other (permanent) suggestions which don’t include replacing the entire window?
posted by arnicae to Grab Bag (4 answers total)

I did a lot of playing with sandblast etching to see about doing some (tempered glass) shower doors and a window. All of those tests worked fairly well, and the only reason I haven't actually gotten to doing those shower doors was that we kept tweaking the stencil looking for the perfect pattern.

I have no doubt that the etching cream works really nicely, and I'd totally try it for your application, but...

If you have a local Freecycle/Trash Nothing/Buy Nothing/whatever group, totally ask to see if anyone's got some old windows or mirrors or something you can practice on. I got so much glass to play with and learn on.
posted by straw at 3:25 PM on May 16, 2022 [2 favorites]

There is plastic film that makes your window look frosted -- and it goes on with water and simply clings! You can cut it easily with scissors.

If it works, some pretty shapes or a bird silhouette might be good, without permanently altering the window.

I have like a roll and a half of the stuff; MeMail me your address and I can cut a few pieces and send them to you to try. :7)
posted by wenestvedt at 5:59 PM on May 16, 2022 [2 favorites]

If you like stained glass, you could easily hang some in the window. I have some hanging from the window frames, and I can take them with me when I move, rather than permanently etching the glass.
posted by Enid Lareg at 9:13 AM on May 17, 2022

yep, I've done glass etching lots using exactly that method! it works great. If you don't mind "ruining" your windows, it'll be perfect.

If you don't want to etch your window directly, you can also etch on another piece of glass and then just attach it to your window. I like working on the stencil part with the glass laying down on the table, which is a benefit of using a seperate piece of glass instead of having to work upright on the window.

3m makes a clear doublesided sticky pad that holds glass to glass nicely, or you could just "install" it with a wood trim.

My mom has big picture windows and she just has a ton of iridescent chandelier crystals hung along them at all different heights on fishing line. It looks quite pretty and it has kept all the birds away.
posted by euphoria066 at 7:22 PM on May 18, 2022