My first homemade tombstone in progress

**upNsmoke** · 10-09-2010,04:46 PM

Figured I should finally start getting things done for this halloween. I need to go out and get some more supplies so this is as far as i've gotten so far. Here is a couple of pictures of work in progress for my first attempt at a homemade tombstone. It's a pretty simple shape and design. I didn't want to get to in over my head and screw too much up on my first one lol.

I'm using 2 inch foam double stacked. It's 30 inches wide and 28 inches high. I like the look when they're thicker and I plan on doing something on both sides so I can just reverse it each year if I want something different. I'm too cheap to buy drylock so i'm going with joint compound instead and I think I can get more depth and texture with joint compound.

**magic8697** · 10-09-2010,05:01 PM

very cool cant wait to see the finished product

**WindyCityCouple** · 10-09-2010,05:01 PM

Looks great! What are you using to shave it?

But without Duralock I think any rain is gonna mess up your project. Water proff it baby!!

**GobbyGruesome** · 10-09-2010,05:07 PM

Wow, those look pretty good already! I'm hoping to get a start on mine this weekend.

**upNsmoke** · 10-09-2010,05:11 PM

I'm using a styrofoam cutter for the detail that I picked up at Michaels for $5. It's like this one except maroon which had a slightly bigger opening than the one pictured http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pub...Dyp9N6EJ-e8WZA

I unfortunately have to put everything out on Halloween and bring everything in on Halloween so rain isn't an issue for me.

**blackfog** · 10-09-2010,05:17 PM

Very nice! Didn't know they made a styrofoam cutter. I made my first batch and have to cut the bases and glue the pvc pipe to them and paint them. They are fun to make. Can't wait to finish them though.

**DaveintheGrave** · 10-09-2010,05:36 PM

Wow! That thing is HUGE! Looks great!

**upNsmoke** · 10-09-2010,08:05 PM

Originally Posted by blackfog

Very nice! Didn't know they made a styrofoam cutter. I made my first batch and have to cut the bases and glue the pvc pipe to them and paint them. They are fun to make. Can't wait to finish them though.

They are fun to make so far

They also make a styrofoam wand like a soldering iron but i'm sure less heat with just a tip on it that i'm going to pick up for doing the scroll work. I used and exacto knife to do the couple of cracks in the middle and I think the other thing will make it alot faster, cleaner, and easier. I'll update once I try it out and get further

**Gatordave** · 10-09-2010,08:13 PM

I made some several years ago. Here is a tip for what it may be worth. To keep them standing, I slid in about 1/2 in diameter PVC pipe up into the tombstone. If you notch the end in point (upside down "v"), you can basically screw it into the styrofoam. Then I just drive some wrought iron rods into the ground (I found 2 foot ones in Home Depot) then slide the tombstone and PVC right over it. The PVC will keep it from breaking the styrofoam and it will not blow over or move on you. Plus, very easy to just lift it off. I had first tried just sliding the foam over the rod but of course it broke off at first wind. Then I thought of using the pvc.