Tombstone Carving: Weathering - part 1 

Thanks for this video..but I am a novice so seeing an extra video with you actually going thru the steps of the tracing pattern, dremmelling it out etc, woud be sooo beneficial for me! Its these details that a beginner like me needs your hints and tips and tricks. Also, any lettering techniques could be shown as well..a few different ways you said, but can you show us too? These videos could be quick and labled beginners so other viewers who are already semi-pros wouldnt have to watch.

Despite the fact that this video is 5 years old I have to point out that this skull is the most amazing Dremel job I've ever seen. Maybe I don't get out much, but that is perfection! I'm happy when I get a straight letter E!

To get images and lettering on your stones.. Print it in reverse using ONLY a laser printer. Place the reversed image on the foam, use an regular iron set on a low heat and go over the lettering and images for a few seconds.. slowly peel the page and the image will be ironed on to the foam. Practice makes perfect.

I've rushed my tombstones in the past but after tis I'm going to take my time and try to achieve that same realistic look you've got there. Great job. Hugely informative. Rich

Instead of etching the cracks with a knife, I use acetone and a small brush. Use it sparingly so the acetone doesn't eat through the tombstone more than you want. Great video

This looks amazing! Great job. Thx

I loveed the tooling with the cracks very realistic with just the right amount of erosion and chipping.

You do awesome work 8D Your tombstone look amazing. looking forward to part 2 8D

I almost can't believe that skull was done by hand. Excellent work.

Great tutorial, excellent technique. On to part two, thanks. ~Matt

That's sweet, it looks great

Thank you for sharing your skills, you're very talented.

Excellent tutorial!!! Can't wait for the rest! Thanks so much for sharing your techniques! New subscriber here!

Looks great

Very nice work.

Bwaaa! If only I didn't put down my base coat just last night I would have been able to use some of your techniques! Great tutorial Austin!

Nice tutorial and detailed info ^o^

Awesome tutorial!

Still a great video SK. I watch both parts to brush up. No pun intended.

Nice job

Thanks for the tips. Some of them are new. I hunt down a lot of these Halloween prop videos looking for tips. Your stones look great. Couple of tips for you, if stone is going outside drill holes in the bottom for the cheap 1/2" pvc and glue it in, use rebar as stakes. When making that skull and cross bones next time try carbon paper, it helps things go by a bit faster.

Great video, with excellent explanations! I'm just curious as to which tool you used to make the skull head's edges smooth and round after using the dremel to make the main shape of the skull. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your techniques!

You are correct, and thank you for pointing out this error. EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) foam is the white beady type foam. While many people do use this type of foam for tombstones, and with great success, I do not. I use XPS (Extruded Polystyrene) for my tombstones. I do however plan on attempting a few stones with EPS in the future as it is (at least in my area) much less expensive.

Hey SK, loved the video can you tell me what kind of airbrush you use in your painting techniques? I don't have one but have wanted one for a long time. Do you have any recommendations?

Have you ever thought about selling your Tombstones, because they look factory made. Your videos are fantastic!!!!!

A haet gun lightly along those rough edges smoothes them out and get rid of the sharp edges.

I love your work! You are an inspiration. I also LOVE your shirt. ...where did you get it? I had a grim reaper in my yard this year l put together based on that old etching.

Hello SKAustin. What do you call the material that you use for it? Sorry for my bad English, but nice greetings from Germany.

I love my heat gun and a spray bottle for texturing. It is much easier to control.

I have been looking for a font that looks JUST like that! Do you know what font it was??? THANKS!

Oh man ok! It doesn't really help that both start with "EX" I do indeed have EXTRUDED foam, which was the 30 dollar version. So far it's working well, but I've only just started. Thanks for the quick reply, but mostly thanks for all of the awesome videos! I'm getting a lot of inspiration for other props for my graveyard as well!

skills :D

Will you ever be back on RU-vid?

Hi SK. In this comment you say you use EPS, but in the video you say you are using XPS. I bought EPS foam (35 dollars for 2inx4ftx8ft from lowes, XPS foam is about 33 dollars for the same dimensions from Home Depot. Could you clarify? Thanks!

What knife is that? It looks like a SwissChamp, but it doesn't seem quite thick enough for that.

Would not think u would spray paint it?

Spray paint eats away the foam.