Making Headstones

Headstones come in all shapes and sizes.

A homemade headstone is a personal way to say goodbye to a beloved family member, friend or pet. It allows you to customize the grave's marker in any way that you want. While shaping a marble or granite monument is likely too difficult for most do-it-yourselfers, a fine headstone may be constructed of concrete and an engraving tool. The process of manufacturing the headstone is not complicated, but engraving the lettering and artwork will require time, patience and practice. The work will be worth it, however, when you produce a headstone that has never been seen before.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic tarp
• 2-by-4 inch boards
• Wood screws
• Screwdriver
• Cooking spray
• Cement
• Mixing bucket
• Mixing stick
• Trowel
• Wire mesh or rebar (optional)
• Rubber mallet
• File (optional)
• Pencil
• Ruler or yardstick
• Stencils (optional)
• Rotary tool
• Diamond-tipped engraving bit
• Concrete sealer
• Brush

Instructions

1. Lay a piece of plastic tarp on flat, level ground. A driveway or sidewalk works well for this. Assemble a box out of 2-by-4 inch boards. This box will be the mold for your headstone, so the width and height will depend on the size you want your completed headstone to be.

2. Screw the boards together with two 2-inch wood screws at each corner.

3. Place the mold on the tarp and spray the interior with a generous coat of cooking spray to act as a mold release.

4. Mix a batch of cement with water in a mixing bucket. Follow the ratio provided on the cement packaging. Ideally it should be pourable without being watery.

5. Pour the cement into the mold. Use a trowel to spread it out evenly as you pour. If the tombstone is particularly large, add wire mesh or even pieces of rebar as reinforcement.

6. Continue filling the mold until the cement reaches the top.

7. Tap the sides of the mold with a rubber mallet to release any trapped air bubbles, which will float to the surface.

8. Trowel the surface of the cement smooth.

9. Allow the concrete to harden. Depending on the brand and the size of the headstone, this can take a few days.

10. Unscrew the pieces of the wooden mold and remove it from the headstone. If the edges have an uneven surface, smooth them with a metal file.

11. Draw the lettering onto the headstone with a pencil. Use a ruler or yardstick to keep the spacing even. If desired, use stencils of more elaborate fonts as a basis.

12. Insert a diamond-tipped engraving bit into a rotary tool.

13. Engrave the letters into the headstone by gradually grinding them away with the rotary tool. Stop frequently to check your work and blow away dust. Redraw the letters with the pencil as needed.

14. Engrave any pictures or designs that you want into the headstone. Either do this freehand, or sketch them out in advance.

15. Brush a layer of concrete sealer onto the surface of the headstone. Allow it to completely dry, then apply a second coat.

References

• The Hancocks: Dremel Tutorial
• Arizona Pioneer & Cemetary Research Project: Make Your Own Headstone