Etching
your VIN numbers into your windows is an affordable way to deter
theft. Car thieves do not want to have to alter or replace
the windows to unload a stolen car. Most insurance companies also give
cars with etched windows a small insurance break. Most police
departments and dealerships can direct you to a local
company that can perform this service. However, with a little time and
patience you can do this yourself and even add a personal touch such as
a company logo or your name. In the picture below I added
the Volvospeed logo and the Volvo emblem to the VIN numbers to give it
a custom appearance..
Before
you begin, you need to have all of the materials available. Most of the
items
you probably already have. Etching solution is available in several
forms.
Hydrofluoric acid is a common industrial etching agent. However, if you
are not trained and experienced in the handling of caustic dangerous
chemicals, I
suggest you avoid this route. It is also not readily available. A
cheaper and safer alternative for the
home user is any of the commercial Arts and Crafts products available
such as Armour
Etch. These products come in varying strengths and can be purchased at
most craft stores for under $25. The other thing you will need to
obtain is a stencil or template. Instructions for ordering a custom
template can be found at the end of this article. Templates can
generally be used 15-20 times and can consist of any custom 2 color
design you can think of.
With all
of the supplies arranged, start by cleaning the glass. The
glass must be free of any oil, not only to promote the etching
solution, but it also insures the tape sticks and the template does not
slip.
With the
glass clean, start by aligning one side of the template and taping it
down. If you are using an activator (recommended), apply 4-5 drops
behind the
template. You do not have to worry about air pockets at this time.
Square up
the template and secure the other side with tape. At this point, the
template should be fully in contact with the glass anywhere near
where you intend to etch. If it is not, remove the template and try
again. Once you are happy with the way the stencil is aligned, you need
to concentrate on removing any air pockets. The best way to do this is
to apply a few drops of activator where the template is cut
out and
work the fluid through with your finger.
With the
air pockets removed, dab the template with a paper towel to dry the
area where you are going to apply the etching solution.
You can tell when the area is dry by the color of the lettering/design.
If its gray there is still activator present. When it is dry the
template is more white in color as shown in the emblem of the template
above.
Before
you apply any etching solution be sure that the template is aligned the
way you want it and is free of air pockets. Once you are sure it is how
you want it, begin applying the etching solution with a q-tip. Be sure
none of the solution comes in contact with your hands. You may want to
wear disposable nitrile or rubber gloves. The trick to
this step is to apply the solution in all directions. Start with a left
to
right application and finish with an up and down application. This
will assure that the etching solution reaches all of the corners and
fine detail areas of the
stencil.
If for
some reason you get any of the etching solution on your hand wipe it up
ASAP. Depending on the etching solution, wait anywhere from 30
seconds to 10 minutes. Your etching solution will recommend
the times for etching, so read the instructions thoroughly.
After the
specified amount of time, peel up the template starting from the side.
Set the template aside. Using a clean wet rag, wipe up any
etching solution from the glass. Repeat this step several times to
insure all the etching solution is removed. While the glass is wet the
etched area may be hard to see. Once it dries the etched area will be
clearly visible. Your template should be carefully
washed
in lukewarm water and dried with a clean papertowel if you are going to
immediately reuse it again. Otherwise you can allow
it to
air dry after washing. The total process is very
straightforward
and easy to achieve.
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