Brian, A good media to blast for chipping would be 100 - 150 grit silicon carbide. If you decide to do solution gilding, you can forgo washing with lye as required to do when using aluminum oxide. I am using aluminum oxide. I havent seen anything about washing with lye. Can you please point me to s...

After blasting different samples with either 180 grit or 80 grit, I wash the glass with water and blow them dry with compressed air. I then apply Etchmasters Hide Glue about 1/8 thick. I allow this to dry over night. I then put it in my hot box (about 130 degrees F) and let it set for about a day. W...