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Custom Etched Glassware

Custom etched glassware made with a mini sandblasting cabinet

Video published Oct 19, 2026 by Garage Profits

Startup cost: Low to moderate startup cost (about $120 cabinet, $60-100 used air compressor, $20 stencils and sand)

Source video

Garage Profits · If I Had Only $1,000, I’d Buy These 10 Weird Machines (Not What You Expect) ↗

One of 6 gigs covered in this video

What It Is

You put a sticker stencil on plain glassware, place it in a small sandblasting cabinet and spray fine abrasive so the uncovered design frosts, about five minutes per piece. The cabinet needs an air compressor. Custom beer mugs, wedding glasses and engraved water bottles sell for $15-35 each, with a cost under $5 per piece, and a set of six wedding glasses can bring $100+.

The Pitch

The creator says a $3 dollar-store glass becomes a $20 gift once etched, and that weddings, birthdays and holidays keep demand going all year. He suggests posting work on Instagram and Facebook and giving a free sample to a local wedding planner, who could send orders for months.

Who It’s Best For

Crafty people who like making personalized gifts and have a garage or workspace where dust is manageable.

The Truth (as we see it)

Glass etching is a real and established personalized-gift craft, and the margins described are plausible for custom orders. You need a compressor and good dust control; the creator rightly warns to wear a mask and eye protection, since abrasive dust is harmful to breathe. Selling online means careful packing for fragile glass. Figures are estimates. The creator sells a paid 'roadmap' guide for starting a home-based machine business (supplier info, budgets, calculators, outreach templates), linked in the description.

Our assessment, based on the video and what’s typical across similar videos. We don’t independently verify income claims or prices.

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