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How to secure styrofoam headstones?

11K views 18 replies 15 participants last post by  Tumblindice 
#1 ·


Hi there everyone. I was just wondering for those of you who have made headstones out of styrofoam, how do you secure them into the ground without damaging the prop itself? I keep thinking of I put a couple small stakes into the headstone itself and then try and shove them into the ground, it'll just drive the stakes up into the headstone more & maybe damage it.
 
#3 ·
Before I carved my stones I drilled two holes in the bottom, up through the stone, about a foot deep. Those holes were made big enough to slide a piece of PVC pipe in each one (I put the holes in before carving so if I accidentally drilled through the front it wouldn't ruin all that work!).

When it's time to put them out I drive rebar into the ground, spaced for the holes and pvc in the bottom of the stones, and then just slide the stones on.
 
#5 ·
i made some wood bases out of scraps from doing my deck,, so,, i used 5/4 board (thats roughly 6 inches wide, by 1 inch thick) for the base,, then i made some 1x1 stripes that i cut and screwed to the 5/4 board base, that the stone could be slipped into (super tight and glued in). Once that was done, they were painted to match the stone (these were used on my store bought stones) and had no issues with wind knocking them over after that.. and we had some strong winds come through last year (2009). This made it nice cause i ended up moving my stones around a few times before i got it set up the way i wanted.

here you can see the base on the stone next to the candles,,

 
#10 ·
So much Of what We Build..

..has much to do with how we will attach dissimilair items and materials.
I once was asked to give some Cub Scouts a lecture on this and their attendance went toward their art badge completion.
Being open for business I attach things possibly more in a heavy-duty fashion because I hate doing the same job twice!
Believe it or not, I have never owned or used a hot glue gun.
Nails, screws, Bondo,welding, pop rivets,bolts, them is my friends.
 
#16 ·
For my tombstones. I used paint sticks, the tall wood ones. Than these zip tie squares that I glued to the paint sticks. I used gorilla glue to glue the paint stick to the tombstone. After they dry I position them on the lawn where I want them. I put a stake in the ground, and zip tie the tombstone to the stake at the top and bottom.
 
#17 ·
The back of my stones are all painted black and I sharpened and painted two 1" thick dowels for each stone making the height of each dowel just over half as high as each stone. I hammer the dowels into the ground and place the stone in front and then tie fishing line to one dowel and wrap it around and around, up and down each stone making it tight to the dowels and then tie it off. My stones never move no matter how windy it is and with the black on black, no one can see how they are secured.

The fishing line also allows me to secure a spider or some moss if I want as well. It is virtually invisible itself.
 
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