Thread: Tombstone Materials ?

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I was wondering if it makes a difference if I were to use the white/blue or pink insulation boards. I know they come in about 1.5" to 2" thick as well as 2' or 4' wide. I just was not sure if there was any differences when it comes to engraving such and rasping down etc.


here is the link to the pink
Product Information Error Page

or

here is the link to the blue/white

2" x 4' x 8' R-Tech Expanded Polystyrene R-7.8

Not sure what that blue/white stuff is but I am familiar with the all blue and all pink foam (same stuff really) and I love it. You can get very detailed in the epitaphs and works really well for the spray-paint aging technique I use. I get the 1 1/2 inch boards and sandwich two of them together to end up with a nice 3 inch thick tombstone.
Good luck

Thanks for your insight, If I may ask what do you use to glue them together. Please keep in mind I am new to this halloween props stuff..........


Thanks In Advance

If you would like, swing by my tutorial. I give a pretty detailed how-to: Halloween Forum - Terra's Album: Ancient Tombstone Tutorial

The glue I use is Foamboard adhesive. It comes in a caulk-type tube.

Thanks again, and on my way to check out your link..............

Thanks from me too, as I will try my hand at making some tombstones this weekend.

Expanded Polystyrene is styro-foam, and is made up from little beads. it really isn't suited to making tombstones because as you carve it, the beads break off making your tombstone have a severe lack in details. Also, as you try to carve letters and such into it, you would need an extremely sharp razor blade, they would tend to break off. Really this would be quite a mess trust me I found out the hard way, take Terra's advice and use the blue or pink foam, that's the stuff most people here use for the stones they make.

BTW invest in some nice sharp xacto blades they help.

I made some tombstones last year. I just cut out some white Styrofoam (like the bally stuff) in the shape of my tombstones. Thicker pieces 1/2 inch-1inch and bought some thinner stuff to make letter stencils and shapes (skulls crosses, etc.). I tacked my stencils on (with some long nails) and just spray bombed/painted over the letters and shapes with black paint. WARNING: THE PAINT EATS AWAY THE FOAM. USE LIGHTLY. One way I found (this year) to avoid this is to paint the stones in white exterior latex paint and spray bomb/paint that so it doesn't eat away the foam. Although, I like that, it gives it an aged look without cutting cracks into it or busting pieces off.

Originally Posted by partsman

Expanded Polystyrene is styro-foam, and is made up from little beads. it really isn't suited to making tombstones because as you carve it, the beads break off making your tombstone have a severe lack in details. Also, as you try to carve letters and such into it, you would need an extremely sharp razor blade, they would tend to break off. Really this would be quite a mess trust me I found out the hard way, take Terra's advice and use the blue or pink foam, that's the stuff most people here use for the stones they make.

BTW invest in some nice sharp xacto blades they help.

I used to think the same way about the white stuff but I made a stone this year out of thick pieces by using a stencil and letting the paint eat away the letters. Sometimes you might have to cut and dig around into the foam to get it to eat evenly. I then roll on paint mixed heavily with sand for a hard surface. I read some time ago that someone even mixed cement with their paint. It holds up really well as far as not getting nicked up in storage on my pink and blue stones so I'm hoping for good results on the white beaded too!

The only kind available to me here is the white stuff.

I peel off the plastic coating and use routers, dremels and utility knives to sculpt them. Works okay. Not as nice as I imagine a finer grain foam would be, but still totally usable.

pe