Enhancing your window design

Explore how to enhance your window design with etching and sticker applications.
Now that you have your ventilation system and window in place, let’s dress up the design. Two easy ways to do this are through etching and sticker applications.
Etching the acrylic will require the use of your rotary tool with a sanding attachment to etch a design into the surface of the acrylic. A sticker application is easier and can be removed later. Both offer interesting finishing touches to a window modification.
Etching acrylic is similar to normal wood work. Small scratches are made onto the surface of the window to create a somewhat blurred design. Any design is possible, ranging from letters to pictures. As with any project, you will need to plan where and what you are etching before you pick up a tool. You will also need some sort of back lighting or else you will not be able to see your etching clearly. You can mark the acrylic panel with an erasable

marker; since the area where you mark will be etched, the markings will not show through later on. Lightly scratch the surface where you marked until you see a slight blurred mark. It’s best to scratch in layers, starting shallow at first — if you do it all in one attempt, some sections of the etching may be deeper than others. Clean off the area frequently, and you should be able to see your creation as you work. The etched surface of your acrylic should look something like this:

If marking the acrylic is something you do not want to do, you can print out or buy transparent adhesive stickers and apply them to the window instead.

Where to go from here

So what’s next?

• After the window has been cut and installed, you should wipe down your side panel to clear away any debris.
• Make sure all metal fragments are removed on both sides of the panel. Install your panel on your case to make sure that it fits in place.
• If you used the nut-and-bolt method and the bolts are too long, you can shorten them with your rotary tool. Take the necessary precautions before doing this, just as you did when cutting the window.
• If you made a mistake on your acrylic window and it is not usable, don’t throw it away. You can use the remaining usable sections to try a smaller window mod.

The steps provided here are not the absolute rules for window construction. Numerous alternatives can be used for the classic acrylic window; just let your imagination shape the way your box looks and feels.