Thread: Tombstone Carving

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I saw that the tutorials suggest a wood burner for melting font into tombstones but would a solder iron also work? Anyone tried with solder iron and had a bad experience?

That's what I use. Make sure you have plenty of ventilation and don't plan on using your soldering iron for electronics after you use it on foam. It will never come clean.

Thanks fravak. How much ventalation are we talking about? If I am in my garage will i need a fan blowing across my work?

Open up the windows if you have them or the doors. Ventilation is fresh air in bad air out.

Melted foam fumes is something you do not want breath, I would honestly just set up a table outside, in the shade of course.
I would just get a wood burner before ruining a iron.
About ten bucks at Wal Mart and they have some that have different tips.

I too use the solder iron and in a well vented area. It is hot and can melt your foam fast.

I burn all my foam in the garage but I have the window and/or door open and usually wear a respirator. The wind is usually blowing enough that I don't need a fan. Try a little and you will quickly find out you need as much ventilation as possible. The fumes are FAR from colorless, odorless, and tasteless.

Use a JUNKY soldering iron. It will be completely useless afterwards for any real work other than melting foam. There's 25-watt and 40-watt stick irons everywhere. Go check Big Lots or dollar stores.

I've been pissed when using mine because the tip is huge and fat, and you can't get any fine details. So I replaced the tip with a 10p nail. Works wonderfully. It would be wise to get two irons, and have one with a thick tip and one with a fine tip. Use the thick tip to do the bulk of the work, and the thin tip to clean up edges and sharpen the details.

Also, a really long and thin tip will help you make really good looking cracks. I hold the iron by the wire, and try to drag the iron's tip across the stone. Makes it very random and natural.

I used to use a soldering iron, but Harbor Freight has a woodburning/soldering kit for about $5 or $6 that comes with all sorts of attachments. I really like the exacto knife tip because you can get really fine cracks and detailing with the ease of a heated blade.

Oh no, I just bought a dremmel but now it looks like I'm heading to Harbor Freight!! lol