Thread: Do tombstones need monster mud?

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I'm looking at making my first tombstone and have read several tutorials on how to do it, so I have a good general idea. (although, not sure about the specifics of what I want to put on it yet)

Anyways, all of the tutorials I've read talk about coating the tombstone with monster mud.... however, A. I don't have any (although I've read how to make some) and B. I'm in an apartment and so don't really have too much space to make some. So, is monster mud needed or is there some other way that I'm missing or what?

Also, I'm planning on picking up some pink/blue styrofoam and using a soldering iron type setup to make the reliefs.

You can coat your stones with anything you like. MM is not a necessity. It can add some texture to the stone, but so can carving and distressing the foam.

For what its worth, none of my foam tombstones are coated in monster mud. Carving and painting can really make a tombstone look good. Plus if it will be displayed in an even slightly darkened area, any texture the monster mud may add to it would probably be lost to the people viewing it. I'd also have to wonder how the mm would wear with handling/storage over time. My entrance pillars have a light mm coating and I have to touch them up every few years.

Good luck with whichever way you go on your first tombstone!

Never MM'ed my stones, but I always try to put a coat of Drylok on them before I paint them.

The only time I use mm on the stones is when I'm putting something with fabric on the stone (draping cloth, doll, feathers, etc.). The mm helps the fabric stiffen up dramatically and takes on the appearance of a carved statue. If you aren't doing appliqués like that, then you are fine.

Originally Posted by Terra

The only time I use mm on the stones is when I'm putting something with fabric on the stone (draping cloth, doll, feathers, etc.). The mm helps the fabric stiffen up dramatically and takes on the appearance of a carved statue. If you aren't doing appliqués like that, then you are fine.

Yeah, I'm not going for anything like that... I'm starting out nice and easy with a nice little simple tombstone and use my new dremel to make the words. ...I was thinking my epitaph will be, "V. Agra....He wont get up anymore"

Love the epitaph.

LOL! That's an instant classic.

Yeah.... that's what you get when you're around pharmacy majors all the time. I thought people would understand that one more than one about bronchodilators or whatnot.

I build mine from plywood and other scrap wood pieces, then coat them with Bondo for texture. My pentigram-body-thingy is Bondo over pink foam board reinforced with dowels, old graphite tent poles, and wire. The Bondo heats during cure but not so much to melt the foam. Go check out my galleries for examples or any ideas they might give you.