Ice glass is a crucial thing to add privacy to your window glass, especially in the bathroom. The process of making frosted glass involves spraying a "foggy" solution on the window pane to make it opaque. The frosted glass lets light in but obscures the view into the room. Making ice glass isn't difficult, but it does require precision and attention to detail to ensure the manufacturing process is carried out correctly. Here are some ways to make ice glass.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Making Ice Glass for Large Windows
Step 1. Wipe the entire window glass with glass cleaner until clean
Scrub until you have removed all the dirt and dust from the surface of the glass.
After wiping, dry the glass completely. Make sure you don't leave any scraps of paper or cloth on the surface of the glass, as that will affect the appearance of the frosted glass once it's finished
Step 2. Glue the tape along the inside of your window pane
This will mark the boundary between the edge of the glass and the area of the window pane that will be used as ice glass.
- Use paper tape to create borders. Paper tape (white) or special paint tape (blue) is designed to be resistant to wet paint and has a less strong glue, making it easy to remove once the work is done.
- For windows with slats or louvers, you will also need to cover the slats and louvers with paper tape.
- If the 2 inch (5 cm) paper tape isn't wide enough to cover, stick it again next to it. Use a tape measure to make sure that the borders you create are the same width on each side of the window pane. Boundaries that are not the same width will give strange results later.
- If your window pane doesn't have a frame, simply tape some paper tape along the outer edge of the window to create a border.
Step 3. Cover the surface of the wall around the window pane with waste paper, plastic sheet or other covering
Cut it with scissors to fit the shape and stick it with paper tape.
- Do not leave open gaps where paint spray can enter.
- When working indoors, open other doors and windows and turn on fans to help circulate air. Consider wearing an anti-particle mask to protect your nose and mouth. Spray paint fumes are not only pungent, they are also harmful to your health.
- Bring window panes outdoors, if possible. Working outdoors provides a workspace with plenty of fresh air and reduces the chance of the wrong spray or excess spray hitting other nearby objects.
Step 4. Shake the frosting spray can according to the directions you can find on the can label, usually about 1-2 minutes
- You can find frosted glass spray paint at many craft stores, hobby stores, and building supply stores.
- When you shake the can, you will hear the sound of the small balls in the can hitting each other. Try it first by spraying a little on the board. If the spray results are good, you can start spraying the window glass. If the spray is still uneven, keep whisking and try the results every 1 minute interval.
Step 5. Spray the window pane in a wide, left and right sweeping motion to cover the entire surface
Hold the paint can at least 30 cm from the surface of the glass to prevent the spray from pooling or melting.
- Spray a thin layer first. It's easier to add a second or third coat to even out the paint spray, than it is to fix a spray that's too thick, puddles or even melts.
- Wait between 5-10 minutes for the spray to turn into a layer of frozen ice on the glass.
Step 6. Spray a second coat after the first coat is completely dry
Do this in the same left and right sweeping motions to get an even surface to spray.
If needed, spray a third or fourth coat for the desired effect. Follow the instructions on the can regarding the waiting time required before spraying a new coat
Step 7. Spray clear acrylic paint on the frosted glass that has completely dried
When you're satisfied with the shape of the glazed glaze, spray some clear acrylic paint to protect the glazed area.
- Clear acrylic paint helps protect the glass from moisture and dust. It adds a protective glossy finish that lasts a long time.
- If you are not satisfied with the result of your frosted glass after the clear acrylic paint has dried, you will need to peel it off using a razor blade or a catheter.
Step 8. Gently peel off all the paper tape after the frosted glass dries
Do it very slowly so as not to peel off the glaze paint from where it should be.
- If you're working indoors, do the same way to remove the paper tape from the wall, so that the paint doesn't peel off too.
- Use a mineral-based thinner to remove paint from your hands or other objects in the room, but don't use it on things that are painted or glossed over, such as polish, as this will only damage them.
Method 2 of 3: Making Ice Glass on Glass Doors
Step 1. Remove the door from its hinges and place it on the base of the plastic bag
Make sure the surface to be glazed is facing up.
A garage or patio is the best place to do this, as the plenty of air will prevent the paint vapor from being inhaled and the empty area will prevent any spray from hitting other objects
Step 2. Wipe the glass clean with a cloth and glass cleaner
Any dirt left on the glass will show up on the frosted glass and make it look unprofessional.
Even if there is no dust or dirt on your glass, you should still wipe it down to make sure it is dry. Frosted glass paint will not stick to damp or oily glass surfaces
Step 3. Adhere the paper tape on the outside of each glass door
Don't forget to also put paper tape on the wooden slats separating one glass from another.
Because the glass on the door is relatively small, make the boundary of the ice glass area no more than 2.5 cm or the width of paper tape from the edge of the glass. If the border is made too wide, more light will enter but the area used as ice glass will be smaller
Step 4. Wrap the frame and each door slat with paper tape, until the part that remains without the cover is the glass surface
Make sure that the joints between the tape overlap each other so that there are no openings for the paint spray, so it doesn't hit the door frame
Step 5. Shake the glass spray paint can with ice for 1-2 minutes
Although the instructions on each paint label state a different time, in general it should only take a few minutes for the spray paint to be ready to use.
Try spraying paint on something clear, such as a piece of plastic, before you spray it on the glass. Make sure the spray is smooth and even. This is to make sure your ice glass will be even and consistent
Step 6. Spray the glass in a gentle sweeping motion
Hold the paint can about 30 cm from the surface of the glass for a thin, even spray.
- Pay attention to how you press the paint nozzle, as this affects how much and how quickly the paint is sprayed. Try to press just enough to produce an even spray, and do it in short sprays. This helps you to create a thin layer that can be added to the next layer if needed.
- Allow the first coat to dry completely before applying the second coat. Spray each subsequent layer as lightly as possible, although you will need to spray a third or fourth coat. Spray a little at a time avoiding spots where the paint is thicker or pooling.
Step 7. Remove the tape from the door frame, wooden slats and glass
Make sure the frosted glass is completely dry before you remove the tape, as this can peel off the paint border with the tape.
- The drying process usually takes 5 minutes, but you'll need to give it extra time to make sure it's completely dry. Also keep in mind how many coats you have sprayed and how thick each coat is, as these things also affect the drying time.
- If you're still unsure whether the paint is completely dry, let it sit for an hour and a half, during which time you can be sure the paint is completely dry.
- Don't touch the sprayed area just to see if it's dry or not. This will create finger marks on the frosted finish and will require a few more coats of spray to fix.
Method 3 of 3: Designing Your Ice Glass
Step 1. Cover the part of the glass that you are going to make the ice glass with with a large sheet of paper attached with paper tape at the edges
Step 2. Draw the frosted glass pattern design you want to make with a pencil
Keep in mind that complex designs will be more difficult to create using frosted glass spray paint, although it is not impossible to do over a long period of time and with a lot of patience.
Step 3. Remove the paper from the glass and place it on a flat, scratch-resistant surface
Use a razor blade or catheter to cut out the design, making sure not to cut around the edges.
Remember that when cutting, you are making a large screen printing paper so you have to print the image upside down, the part that is cut or removed is what will be the image on the frosted glass
Step 4. Clean the glass with an ammonia-based cleaner and a lint-free cloth until it is completely clean
This is to prevent dust or crumbs from sticking to your design.
If your glass has a film on it, clean it first with vinegar to remove the grease. Frosted glass paint spray will not stick to oily glass
Step 5. Adhere your design screen printing paper to the glass with removable tape
Make sure it's in the exact position you want it to be.
Glue the tape around the screen printing paper to give it a firm grip. If the paper slips during the drying process, it will cause the resulting image to be untidy
Step 6. Spray the visible part of the glass from the hole of the screen printing paper with frosted glass spray paint
The closer you spray it, the thicker and denser the ice will become.
If you include multiple colors in your design, spray the colors individually and wait for them to dry before spraying the next color
Step 7. Allow the frosted glass to dry completely before you remove the screen printing paper
You can speed up the drying process by turning on a fan that is pointed at the glass, but make sure to use the lowest speed to prevent the screen printing paper from shifting or blowing
Step 8. Remove the screen printing paper when the frosted glass image has completely dried
Gently peel off the tape while holding the screen printing paper in place so it doesn't slide or rub against the image. Lift the screen printing paper with a gentle motion.
Tips
- When you're ready to change the design of the glazing, use the blunt side of a razor blade or the flat side of the catheter to peel it off. After that clean the glass with soap and warm water.
- If possible, enlist the help of a colleague who knows how to make ice glass, before you try it yourself. This will make things more relaxed as you learn about the details of making ice glass.
