How to Engrave Headstones
Choosing an appropriate headstone is one of the many ways to memorialize a deceased person. The most popular monuments are made of bronze or granite and come in dozens of shapes and sizes. Regardless of the style you choose, or your budget, engraving photos, pictures or sayings on a headstone is a wonderful way to honor your loved one. If you want to engrave a headstone, there are several methods to consider. Cemeteries and funeral directors will help you with templates for headstone designs and choice of fonts. Engraving a headstone will take plenty of time and effort, but it's worth it.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Sandblaster
- Chisel
- Pneumatic drill
- Stonemason tools
- Utility knife
- Pencil
- Carbon paper
- Eye goggles
- Stencil
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1
Decide what information to include. Full name and nickname, date of birth and death, and the deceased's favorite saying or the names of his spouse or children. Select an appropriate font that will look good on the type of headstone you've chosen.
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2
Sandblast the lettering onto the memorial. A sandblaster uses pressurized air and sand pushed through a nozzle to engrave the design. Polish a granite headstone, then place a design stencil on it. Use an utility knife or stencil cutting machine to cut the design into the stone. The use a sandblaster to form the letters and shapes onto the headstone.
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3
Laser etch the tombstone. With this quick, inexpensive method, a technician etches any photo or drawing onto the headstone with a laser engraving machine. You may add an insert to the headstone at any time using this method.
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4
Etch a black headstone. This method doesn't seep as deeply into the stone as other methods, but it will leave attractive bright white lettering or images on a black background. Resize the picture you want to use to fit the headstone. Use carbon paper and a pencil to draw a copy of the letters or picture , then etch it on the granite.
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Engrave the stone by hand. Use a chisel, stonemason's tool or pneumatic drill. Wear eye goggles to protect yourself from dust. Form a divot in the tombstone with your chisel and angle the chisel as you work to create printing or cursive lettering.
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Comments
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Good Instruction, I Know it takes alot of time, you have to be patient, that's something I do not have, but I'm learning, all I need to do is count to 10(ten)!
