Equipment

• Only sandblasting requires equipment. That equipment is a sandblaster, which derives its power from an air compressor. It basically shoots abrasives by means of high air pressure into the glass. This causes the glass to chip and produces what is known as a "frosted" look. The longer you apply the sandblaster, the deeper the chipped areas. This technique is also known as sandcarving; you carve designs in the glass.
  
  

Materials

• Rather than utilizing equipment, etching requires materials, including etching cream, or acid etching cream. All etching cream contains acid; it is the acid that eats away the glass to produce the etched design. Diluted creams may not use the word "acid," but it is there. Avoid true acid cream; it is strong and dangerous to use.
  
  

Stencils

• Both sandblasting and etching glass require a stencil. This is the design to be placed on the glass. The stencil is the guide, whether using a sandblaster or cream. It points the artist to the areas of the glass that need chipped or eaten away. Prepare your stencil in advance no matter which method you employ.
  
  

Quality and Cost

• Sandblasting produces a higher quality than etching. This results from the sharper edge produced by the sandblaster. The cuts in the glass from chipping look sharper than a cream can produce. The disadvantage from the sandblaster is its cost. Etching cream is inexpensive compared to purchasing a sandblaster. For a limited hobby on a small budget, choose the cream. Serious artists use sandblasters.