Elegant & Unique

Highland Rim Engraving is one of only a few engraving shops in the area offering this process and we are confident that you will see and feel the quality which adds to the enjoyment of the products.  

Sandcarving consists of blowing an abrasive grit at a surface using compressed air. Where the abrasive hits the surface, it roughens and erodes, thereby carving into the surface. What exactly is our sandcarving process? First, a photo mask is applied to the surface of the item to be engraved.  Using a professional blast cabinet, an abrasive, sand-like material (we use silicone carbide) is propelled onto that surface.  This abrasive carves the surface only in the open areas of the stencil, while the areas covered by the photo mask remains smooth and spotless. As a result, the impression made in the glass, crystal or stone cleanly follows the pattern of the photo mask. 

You may have heard of “etching” on glass which refers to a technique where the glass is simply roughened to produce a translucent “white” area on the surface. Sandcarving is a process in which glass is actually carved away leaving a gorgeous deep imprint without damaging the integrity of the glass. The design is first rendered as a “line drawing”, with line weights (thicknesses) carefully selected to reflect the needs of the processes that follow. The graphic artist will generally use a computer in this process, to ensure that the lines have a consistent quality. Most quality sandcarving is done using freehand line drawings, with the artist incorporating the limitations of the medium into the design, as it develops. Once the design is complete, a mask must be constructed to prevent the abrasive from carving the glass in areas to be left “clear”.

Most print/trophy shops only offer milky white silkscreen process/print to make customers believe that their glassware is “etched”. Worse, other sandcarvers may utilize hobby equipment that only allows them to do what would be considered “standard sandblasting”. Our quality control methods for our elegant sandcarving create a look you will be proud of and a product that will stand the test of time.

To have an item customized with a very deep impression, look for products that say they are engraved with a sand carving process. Highland Rim Engraving is one of only a few engraving shops in the area offering this process and we are confident that you will see and feel the quality which adds to the enjoyment of the products.  Your glassware will be a truly personalized, deep etch sandcarved product and you can see and feel the difference.