Thread: need some tips

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well here in wonderful kentucky we have REALLY incredibly hard ground, like next to impossible to stake stuff in. I watered it, it rained, my neighbor watered it, and we're still having problems getting our tombstones into the ground (made from plywood and painted over with V wedges of wood at the bottom to get them in) and I was wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks on getting our tombstones to stand up and be able to withstand pretty strong winds without falling over. Thanks in advance!!!

Put a brick on each side thats how I do it.

Rebar...Sort of done a modified Terra way...I actual build my stone then take a large LONG drill bit and run it through the center of the stone...once you hammer the rebar in you slide the stone right over it and it goes nowhere...I use 3/8" pvc and 3/8" rebar it makes for a very tight fit and its been great...had my stones up for about 2 weeks or so with some REALLY heavy winds (Good ol' Chicago Wind) and they haven't budged...

I use conduit beat into the ground.Then PVC attatched to headstone with zipties and hotglue.Slide pvc over conduit.Same Chicago wind out by me.

if you are using plywood, then I would get some pipe well not sure what they are called, but they are u-shaped with two extended rectangles that have holes for screws. connect them to your plywood then use rebar, your chances are much better with rebar, smaller surface, easier to penetrate the ground, get your self a good sledgehammer too.

I use re-bar and zip ties (Black ones) to stake my tombstones in the ground.....

You could also build the bases up and leave an opening in the back to slide bricks into.

I use a metal thing(ok thing is what I use when I don't know the name)I am assuming it is a stake of some sorts.I pre hammer(so to speak)with this thing so that whatever I am putting into the ground will go easier.I hammer it in pull it out and hammer either pvc-rebarb-dowels whatever I am using to secure the prop or tombstone.

We're on solid rock - this is what we did:

Run PVC pipe along the back of your tomstones (upright), or if you make them, have the PVC in the core of the tombstone.

Cut out plywood triangles - about 9-12" per side is good enough. Drill 8" bolts up through the plywood on one side so that when the plywood is flat on the ground, you can slide the PVC pipe from your tombstone over the bolts.

Paint the plywood and a big rock black. Set the rock on the plywood, behind your tombstone. Give a big middle finger to Mother Nature.

Stacy

Similar problem here in Las Vegas: it's all fill dirt and rocks and clay, and torrential winds...I've done PVC and rebar on Styrofoam headstones, but the wind just is so hard through here that if it can't tear the tombstone off of the stake, it tears the tombstone to bits until what's left is no longer an effective sail. I gave up after a few years of that and do it all in my garage now. I've always wanted to do some monster mud 'stones to see how well they stand up, but haven't found the time.