MUST watch before cleaning Gravestones, by a Stone Carver.
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2024
- This is not a how to video but instead some thoughts to consider before cleaning. David is a professional Gravestone Carver, and endorses a more "hands off approach" as much as possible to preserve the sharpness of the carvings and letters.
"A Graveyard Preservation Primer" by Lynette Strangstad www.amazon.com/Graveyard-Pres...
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Thank you for spreading the word. I go to many cemeteries in southern OH and someone has been hitting them hard with a wire brush. They only scour where the words are so they are after information not preservation. Maybe if enough people share the message it will get to these people and they will try your mirror method instead.
Yes indeed. As a gravestone carver I dont want anyone coming along and wire brushing my stones or any other ridiculous things! Please subscribe and enjoy other videos along the way if you wouldnt mind! Thanks for your encouragement!
Wow! This book he’s talking about is $43 in paperback ($100 hardback)! I’m sure it’s great, but I’m having sticker shock. I thought I’d get it just because I’m interested in old cemeteries and gravestones (but don’t do any cleaning), guess I’ll have to save my pennies.
Yes it’s pricey but you get what you pay for. I paid $50 for mine years ago and never regretted it. I agree though, for the casual interest, it may be too expensive
What a talent you have with stone carving! Gorgeous! Looks so old.
Thank you Maam! To God be the Glory!
haha the ending was hillarious. ive never considered doing gravestone restoration and this randomly popped up on my recommended, but this was super informative!
Thank you so much!
This video is a delight! Thank you for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Everyone needs to start somewhere, it’s possible that everyone can help in some way, we need millions of people to help.
Amen!
Loved your 1700's portrayal! Great info!
Thank you for watching to the end! You are very kind!
Yes, I love the :hands off" and minimal force approach thanks David
Indeed! Thank you so much!
Hands off means generations of people will never remember who is there, no one carries a mirror when just viewing head stones
Here's the relevant section on recommended cleaning solutions from A Graveyard Preservation Primer for anyone curious. This is included directly after a section that emphasizes that old gravestones should not be cleaned just to tidy them up: "Unless a planned treatment requires cleaning for matching a repair or unless biological growth is likely to cause further damage, cleaning is not recommended."
These are listed in order of increasing aggressiveness:
Marble and Limestone:
- Water only
- Nonionic detergent, such as Photo-Flo (available from photographic supply houses for film photography), Triton-X 100, Igepal or Orvus (available from conservation supply houses) and water. Use 1 ounce to 5 gallons of water.
- Vulpex (a soap appropriate for stone cleaning available from conservators' supply houses) and water. Use 1 ounce Vulpex to 1 gallon water.
- Mild, anionic detergent
- Household ammonia (nonsudsy, nonperfumed). Use 1 cup to 4 cups water.
- D/2 Architectural Antimicrobial. Removes biological growth. Start with a solution of 1 part D/2 to 4 parts water. If necessary for stubborn growth, this cleaner can be used at a 1:1 ratio or even full strength.
Soapstone:
- Water only
Slate:
- Water only
- Non-ionic detergent and water (see Marble and Limestone, above)
- D/2 Biological Solution
Sandstone:
- Water only
- Non-ionic detergent and water (see Marble and Limestone, above)
- D/2 Biological Solution
Thank you very helpful
What about granite?
Thank you for the informational video. I just signed up to volunteer for gravestone restoration and I have so much to learn!
There is a lot of well meaning people out there that unfortunately hurt these stones. Lynette's book is still the best resource. You can likely get it at your local library, or buy one. Best money you will spend! Thank you for the kind words!
@@pumpkintown I will look into it. I'll be taking the next class with the local Society for Cemetery Conservation.
@@Nicolemh1813 Also consider joining the Association for Gravestone Studies!
This is extremely informative. You deserve so may more views, people need to learn how to master this correctly!
Thank you Ami please subscribe and share to help this channel out as well!
By golly, I'm gonna buy Lynette's book. I've got a family member's headstone in Scotland that needs some form of cleaning and preservation, or just a complete replacement. It looks to be made of sandstone and is in a cemetery very near a body of salt water. In less than a century it has become nearly illegible.
Bob, yes sir we saw a lot of stones in Scotland as you describe. If it was carved it slate it would hold up much longer. If you ever want me to carve a replacement in slate just let me know. I would leave the original where it is and put the replacement up as the footstone.
@@pumpkintown Thank you for your kind offer. I first saw it in 1980. It was in pretty rough shape at that time. It was approximately 14-15 years later that I got to see it the second time. At that time I wrote down the inscription, as it was so worn by weather as to nearly be illegible and did not photograph well. Both times I took pictures, but that was back in the days prior to digital cameras and smart phones, so I would have serious searching to do to find them. That's one promise I've made to myself-get my photographs organized and digitally converted. I don't know when we'll again return. I hope we can make one last trip. It'll be just my sister and myself and we would need to work out all arrangements with the locals who maintain the cemetery. Thank you again.
@@boblinda1738 I hope you get to go back! Thanks for the feedback. Try teh mirror trick if you do get to go back that is in my other video! I wish I knew a stone in Scotland that were to my family! What a blessing!
@@pumpkintown Unfortunately my great grandparents were buried in paupers graves in Glasgow. The grave and marker I mention are that of a spinster aunt and uncle who took care of my grand father for a short time after his father passed away (Cause of death-kicked by a horse). He was a coachman. The aunt and uncle lived on a croft ( a 2-3 acre parcel of ground) where they paid rent to the king of England (shades of Braveheart). The stone and thatch-roofed house was very small with a dirt floor and was also called a croft. I got to see the remains of it in 1980 (actually 1986). The stones from the croft were used to build a "chalet" as the district registrar referred to it. According to her, her ancestors cared for the elderly aunt and in turn the registrar's ancestors were promised the croft/land as compensation. Think is, the land was supposedly own by British nobility, so they would have had to petitioned a deed be drawn up. My father had a cousin who always claimed to have the deed, but he never produced it, as he never had it. I would have loved to have acquired the croft, but it would have meant a modern day feud between the McGregors and the Crawfords/Clan Lindsay. I had my William Wallace claymore and my handmade targe ready to take over, but lol, no way was the airline going to permit me to carry them on board and no way was I going to put them in with our checked bags. Fond memories from longer ago then I sometimes care to admit, or think about. Actually the registrar McGregor was a very pleasant, accommodating and forthcoming person with information on our relatives.
Very informative!
Thank you kindly!
Man , you are so cool. I love history as well especially the colonial times.
Thank you
Never heard of D2, but in Australia I have used Benzalkonium chloride. Leaves no salts residue, and you must spray it on until the stone is saturated, then leave it. If you do not have gentle brushes such as a horse brush, do not touch ANYTHING. Just spray it to soak the entire surface to run-off, then leave it. Sun rain and wind will remove the growth. If I was to use it on old graves, I think a great many could be sprayed in a day. It is safe, It can be used indoors to combat mildew, and it works well inside boats where mold is often a problem.
Having said that--I have never used it on a gravestone, only stone walls, concrete, moldy paintwork, sailing boat decks and building facades--but I think the results would be the same. The growth and molds just fall off in a few weeks.
I would not mind betting D2 contains this benzalkonium chloride or something similarly mild (they use it in eye drops) and wound dressings) as well perhaps as a non-ionic surfactant.
You may be right
Great video. I love you channel and am glad that I found you.
Thank you you too! I subscribed and love your channel!
Thank you so much for this information. I am definitely going to get that book. I am about to plot a cemetery and would love to learn how to clean stones that would be helped by it.
You won’t regret it!
Thanks for the awesome info!
Thank you Becca please subscribe if you would like!
Are there any videos showing the complete layout and carving of traditional stone grave markers?
No sir. Trade secrets!
Watching all your videos . I gotta figure out how to make my lil brother a tombstone. I appreciate all your help.
I have been binge watching your videos all day. You have inspired me to try my hand at this. Thanks for your help. Can you recommend a book that will help me with the dimensions and design of colonial markers and also any books on carving. I spoke to the slate yard I just have to determine the size stone I want. So now I am researching the proper size and proper installation as well as the carving of the stones. Any help would be greatly appreciatedd
You can do it brother
I'm glad you made this video. I just watched to make sure I didn't make a blunder. But most of this is common sense
Indeed! Common sense is becoming less common these days as I am sure you have seen! Thanks for watching and being interested Brandi!
Love this video - thanks!
Thank you!
Thank you so very much ,ur very helpful as I really want to just clean up some headstones nearby a relaxing peaceful activity I feel
Excellent!
omg i love your videos so much!!
Thank you kindly
Thank yo uso much for your expert advice!!
Thank you for watching!
Your videos are awesome. Your credentials are flawless. Id love to see a video of clips of you starting with the raw stone and going through the steps of creating a headstone.
@@SarahYellowtail Thank you Peggy!
When I retired from the Army I bought a fix er upper house in East Tennessee. After a week of replacing ceiling dry wall I had had enough. I said out loud "I'm going to hire a professional." One of the neighborhood boys who was helping heard me. His reply was "Shit Fire Son! all you need to be a professional around here is a pick truck with a few tools in the back," :) What makes a Cemetery restoration professional?
Ideally, one who is endorsed by the Association for Gravestone studies. Otherwise, You will have to be the judge of that sir. The main question should be asked " Am I a professional?" Thanks for the question
I sure enjoyed this video! Im in the process of wanting to clean my great grandmothers stone. Now, im not sure I can. 😮i will ee about finding Lynette's book. Thank you!
If you take d2 and Spray it only and dont abraid the surface of the stone with anything, you shoudl be fine. Spray and walk away/ Come back in a few weeks and spray again if needed. If the stone is a modern granite and sandblasted you can lightly scrub with soft bristle brush. Hand carved letters are shallower and need to be treated more delicately.
@@pumpkintown thanks!
Thank you!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching
Fantastic tutorial! Thank you so much. New subscriber!
Verona, thank you kindly! I hope to get back to Gravestone videos soon! Stay tuned!
@@pumpkintown My family has a cemetery over 100 years old. When I say that, it is a community cemetery but over half has family buried there. My 2x Great-Grandfather donated the land & helped to build the church on site. The doors still remain unlocked for those who seek solitude. We get together once a year to clean up the grounds & do necessary repairs etc. I have been researching the safest ways to clean Gravestones so that future generations can visit & learn about their roots. My next project is to start writing down the stories of the family members there to preserve their memories. We were supposed to have a family reunion last August with over 900 people attending but Covid stopped us. We are a large family & we have amazing communication with each other. The original land is just down the road & he also donated part of it in front of the lake now named in his honour so that the families in that area always had access to the water & could fish etc. There is a community hall on site & it’s used often for family get togethers. My contribution to preserving our family history is the best way to honour my 2x Great-Grandparents. Show us some more preservation techniques. ♥️
@@veronamartin5285 Amen! You are doing a valuable deed! Please keep up the good work!
Do you know who to contact to help preserve a table top tombstone from the early 1800s.
Tina Utter of East Guilford NY she is on Facebook
Well dang. Here I was thinking you were just a Model A guy. Very interesting.
No sir I am just a stone carver who just happens to be learning about model
As! Love every minute of working on them! Stones and model as!
Dont know if you can get back with me, but in my family cemetery, we have some above ground coffin boxes that sit on top of the ground. These are from the 1700s. The flat tops are so weathered that the writing has all but dissapeared. You can barely make out the names on the stones when you rub some chalk across the names.Have several ideas, but am not sure about the best way to overcome this. My goal is to somehow reletter the tops to their original lettering. I have ask several opinions, but so far, nothing I care to use. These boxes look like some kind of concrete. I am no pilgrim here and am 68 years old. Some of these boxes are tilted far over on the side, and they will have to be leveled. Anyway I am asking questions here, to get your opinion.
Have you seen my other 2 videos on how to read illegible gravestones? This one may help you with the flat ledger stone see this link ruclips.net/video/Z1zlKvz0jVo/видео.html
Also send me pictures to my email at david@pumpkintownprimitives.com
I really like D2.
Shhhhh it’s starting to woo me as well…
Where is this cemetery?
I am very interested in the graves with all of the large slabs of stone. Looks very unusual!
I will send you a FB Message with that info!
Wet and forget is another more available cleaner recommended for cleaning gravestones
Ill have to look it up! That sounds very agreeable to me
👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks Carl, Please subscribe!
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"Clorox" isn't the problem, chlorine bleach in general is.
D2 or nothing is only recommended
@@pumpkintown I have seen other videos where other supposedly safe products are used, but D2 seems to be the only one everyone agrees upon.