Glass Etching Dresses Up Pickup, Car Windows

Glass Etching Dresses Up Pickup, Car Windows 30-1-8 "If you're itching for etching, see Chigger." That's the catch phrase for Steve Girard, AKA Chigger, who runs a sideline business etching designs onto car and pickup windows and virtually anything else made out of glass or metal. He got interested in etching after watching a friend do it. "Steve went home, bought some tools and started engraving on anything that would hold a design - including my kitchen canisters," says his wife Maria, laughing. "When he started getting pretty good, he made etchings and put them in frames and sold them," she says, adding that they show his work at bike and car rallies. He also does mail orders. They have a book of graphics clients can choose from or customers bring in photos of something they want engraved. Most want the engraving to represent who they are, Maria says, adding that Steve etches a lot of wildlife. "Sometimes, I think he becomes one with whatever he's engraving." Although he doesn't have an artistic background, he claims it's a gift from God." Engravings are scratched lightly into the material so they last a lifetime. "It's not deep at all but you can feel it when you run your hand over it. "When we add color to the etching, we put a wax over it which keeps the color from coming out," she says. The amount of time it takes to do an engraving depends on the size, detail and whether or not the customer wants color added. This also determines the price. Maria says there's a minimum $35 charge and it goes up from there. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Etching By Chigger, Steve & Maria Girard, 1106 N. Garfield, Chanute, Kansas 66720 (ph 620 431-9319; mgirard@cableone.net; www. etchingbychigger.com).

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