DIY Tempera vs Professional Marking Spray
My Honest Test for Laser Engraving Glass with the xTool S1
If you have ever tried to engrave glass with a diode laser, you already know how tricky it can be. The results often look patchy, weak, or completely washed out. Over time I have tested just about every coating people recommend online: Sharpies, chalk paint, acrylic, moly dry lube, and most of them gave me mixed results. Then I found something surprisingly good: tempera paint.
Tempera is that same water-based paint kids use in art class. It is cheap, easy to find, and gives a nice frosted effect when engraved. I have been using it for a while, but I wanted to know how it really stacks up against a professional product that is made specifically for marking glass. So I set up a comparison test between xTool’s professional glass marking spray and DIY tempera paint using my xTool S1 40W laser engraver.
Setting Up the Showdown
I started with four identical glasses, cleaned them with isopropyl alcohol, and coated two with the xTool spray and two with black tempera paint.
The spray went on beautifully smooth, although it took me a minute to get the nozzle to behave. It dried evenly in about thirty minutes. The tempera paint, on the other hand, needed a little more patience. Brushing it on evenly with a foam brush is a skill in itself, and while it worked fine, it left a few streaks. That gave me an idea, next time I will use an airbrush for a smoother coat.
Both coatings dried without issue and were ready for engraving within the hour.
The Laser Test
For the test I used my xTool S1 to run a small grid of six-millimeter stars at different speed and power settings. My goal was to see which coating produced the most consistent, frosted mark.
Once engraved, I rinsed both coatings under running water. The spray washed off cleanly with almost no effort. The tempera took a second rinse, but both revealed crisp patterns underneath.
Under a magnifying light, I could see that the xTool spray produced slightly sharper edges and a more uniform frost. The tempera, however, held its own, just a touch softer, but still impressive for something that costs a fraction of the price.
The Results
To make things fun, I scored each product in several categories: price, availability, application, safety, cleanup, shelf life, engraving quality, and scratch resistance.
Here is how it turned out:
Tempera Paint: 85 points
xTool Spray: 84 points
It was a very close finish. The professional spray scored higher for consistency and ease of use, but tempera dominated in price, safety, and accessibility. For only three dollars a box, tempera continues to prove that you do not always need an expensive product to get professional-looking results.
What I Learned
This test reminded me why I love experimenting. Each product had its strengths, and both are capable of beautiful, frosted engravings when used correctly. The xTool spray is fast, clean, and reliable. Tempera takes a little more work, but it is budget friendly, forgiving, and surprisingly effective.
Next, I plan to test tempera again using an airbrush to see if I can achieve a smoother, more even coating on glass. If that works as well as I hope, it might just be the perfect balance between DIY and pro-level performance.
Watch the Full Comparison
I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Have you tried different coatings for glass engraving? What worked best for you? Leave a comment below or join me on YouTube and share your results.
Always learning, always building.
