Thread: Cement Gravestones

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Hi all,
I was wondering If I could get a little help. This year I plan on making old fashiond (pioneer like) tombstones. I would like to make them out of cement. My question is what should I use for a base and a frame?

I'm not sure I know what you're asking. The base and frame? Do you mean the mold for them or a base and something to hold them up after they are cast?

I'd use a wooden box filled with damp sand as the mold. You could cast them with a couple of pvc tube "holes" in them to allow you to slide them onto rebar pounded into the ground. I'd use acrylic fortifier in the cement also, you'll find it at home improvement stores.

Why cement?why not blue or pink foam?Cement is heavy and breaks and as your dragging them out to set up and back to storage you'll ask the same thing.you can use drylock to give it that stone look.Thank terra for that idea.

I also agree with the foam suggestion. Unless you're real set on making concrete tombstones that will more than likely weigh between 30-50lbs each (depending on how big you are making them). Foam graves are so much easier to work with plus you can create much cooler headstones and designs with foam.

Way back when I wanted cement tombstones I found molds on ebay. The problem was that they would come out the same unless you bought diffrent molds and how do you put epitaphs on them? Also they were only 14 or 13 inches high which is way to small for my tastes. Thats why I went to pink foam bord instead. Much more easy.

Yeah, I just don't think someone could pay me to make cement tombstones... I think the foam ones look close enough to concrete, no matter what shape or style you are looking for, and with drylock, monster mud, or Flek-Stone you can get the same texture, they are just so much easier to move, setup, store, etc.

Maybe if you detailed what characteristics you are looking for that you feel cement gives you that you don't think you can get from foam, we could be of more help.

Well since your question was about cement tombstones, not how to make a cement-looking tombstone, I'll do what I can to help you accomplish what you want.

A large box with wet sand can be used to create a different mold each time you cast. You can use a block of wood to pack down the sand into the shape you want. Lettering and other embellishments can be added by pressing wood or plastic letters into the sand to leave an impression. Lettering that looks carved into the stone can be made by placing clay letters onto the sand. Use a water based clay, as the letters get picked up in the cement. When the cement has cured, hose off the sand and the clay letters will dissolve, leaving nice engraving on the stone.

If you want a tombstone that is incredibly durable and nearly impervious to weather, won't blow away or get carried off, and will only look better when left outside, cement is a great choice.

I think casting is far easier than building with foam, less toxic, less mess, and cheaper too.

I would have to agree if cement is what you want than casting is the way to go. just the way lurks in the shadows say using pre made letters or symbols as part of the process. Especially for what you want. You could also sand blast letters using a templet much in the way they actually carve stones. Dont forget to use something to re enforce the material rebar chicken wire screen just something to hold it together.

And please dont feel that any one is belittling you its just that the logistics of real stones are tough. Most stones are carved from solid rock which is tuff but cement tends to crumble or worse crack and break in storage never mind the weight.

Oh, yes... I agree with Slightlymad, none of us are trying in any way to belittle the use of cement at all... my apologies if some of the replies, including mine, seemed that way. No disrespect intended at all.

If cement is the way you want to go one thing I have been told is DO NOT use beach sand in your molds due to the salt will corrode the cement and hamper the curing of the cement.