Adding a Date of Death to a Headstone, How Inscription of Headstones is Done in a Cemetery

If you have ever wondered how dates of deaths get added to headstones in remote cemeteries, well here is how. I happen to be a monument mason and also do stone inscriptions. As a suggestion do not try to add a death date or engrave a headstone if you do not know what you are doing. Without knowing what you are doing it is easy to damage a headstone, so it is better to just contact a professional. I hope this explanation helps.
I am very luck to be able to go to a lot of amazing place, some of these place are remote. This one happened to have a really amazing view.
Special thanks to ‪@jaspershotts7278‬ for filming this for me.
Peace and very best wishes.

[@davidfulton179]

99 years old! That a good run! Also, great work! Patience, skill, and focus at their finest!

[@DonaldWilson]

Thanks a ton and I hope you have an amazing end to the year and epic new one.

[@jpe1]

Not sure why KZbin suggested this, but it was quite interesting, thank you for making it. This is timely for me, because back when my dad died in 1991 my mom had a stone made with his and her names on it, his dates of birth and death, and of course just her date of birth. I didn’t know I could have someone come to the cemetery to sandblast the date in, I assumed I would have to take the stone somewhere to get it updated… nice to know there is an easier option. This video is a timely reminder that I need to get that done for mom’s stone.

[@DonaldWilson]

Well I am glad this video showed up for your and helped you to understand how it is done. I hope you have a great end to the year and an amazing next year as well.

[@rebapuck5061]

The few times it crossed my mind to wonder, I guess I thought the stone was returned to the shop. Thanks for the video. It's amazing the number of interesting subjects on KZbin.

[@DonaldWilson]

In some places where they do not have someone to do it on location they do take it back to a shop. I hope you have an amazing coming year.

[@mikemurdockii5189]

You are very talented sir. Thank you so much for taking time outta your day to show us this. You did a great job!

[@DonaldWilson]

Thank you a ton and I hope you are having an amazing year. Stay epic.

[@tomsmith3045]

Really nice work! I didn't know Lithachrome still existed. I worked doing this about 40 years ago, and except for the double sided tape the process is the same. We'd use old stencil pieces instead of duct tape for the edges. One suggestion? Wear gloves! If you've never had a hose break at the nozzle you're lucky. Leather gloves will give you a second or so protection, without it that blast stream can cut your flesh to the bone just about instantly. Never seen it happen to a hand, but we had a guy almost lose his foot at the ankle when a shop hose broke. Cool to see this process is still so much the same...although I'm sure you're cutting stencil by computer now, not plastic letters on a pneumatic press, or by hand with a knife. Thanks for bringing back the memory!

[@DonaldWilson]

Thank you for taking the time to let me know about the leather gloves. Also yes the stencils are all now cut by computer, we have the stuff laying around from before we switched, but we have used computers now for a while, a machine cuts everything out and for the most part it does a great job. I hope you are doing amazing by the way.

[@ColonelSandersLite]

If you did this 40 years ago, maybe you have an answer to a question that comes to mind - When did using this sort of sandblasting technique become the norm? I'm guessing that before that tech came around, the stones were just being carved by hand or was there a forgotten intermediate technology?

[@tomsmith3045]

@@ColonelSandersLite I think sandblasting went back to the 60s or earlier. When I first saw it done, though, the letters were all hand cut into the stencil. Sometimes we'd still have to duplicate those, you can see old stones with numerals that are hand-made. And we'd have patterns on file that were rolled up reverse carbon images. There were no copy machines, so you'd trace letters on vellum, with carbon paper face up underneath. That put a carbon line on the vellum. Then, you'd run the rubber stencil with gasoline or lacquer thinner, put the vellum on top, and rub with a cloth or bit of leather. That would transfer the image to the stencil, then you'd cut it.

[@tomsmith3045]

@@ColonelSandersLite Before sandblasting, and still used for some things when I watched my grandfather do it, was a pneumatic chisel. We still had those, but I never learned that skill. Granite is so hard, it was never hammer and chisel, but the little pneumatic chisels, with carbide tips even, would cut away at it. I never saw it done for lettering, except for round raised lettering. That was always the pinnacle...very rare. Even with sandblasting you'd have to shape each letter by hand. One mistake, you blow the letter and the stone. Now I'm curious - do people still shape the flowers by hand, with a sandblaster? We used to do that, to make the leaves and petals three dimensional, but a lot of places were just cutting them flat.

[@DonaldWilson]

Yes, but shockingly not that often and it takes a lot of practice before anyone should shape carve a flower. I have only done a couple dozen flowers over multiple years and always practice a little before touching a stone to do one.

[@aaronsaunders6974]

that final touch was handsome

[@DonaldWilson]

Thanks a ton and hope you are having a great start to the year.

[@MikeDial]

I always assumed it was chiseled. Sandblasting makes more sense, I guess. Thanks for clearing this up.

[@DonaldWilson]

I have messed around with a chisel and hammer before on a junk stone, honestly I am super glad we sand blast, it was a lost of work. Nothing but respect for the people that once did it that way. Have an amazing rest of your year.

[@lizchase1375]

Thank you for educating us on the procedure. I always thought the cost was already put into a pre-paid funeral service, but found out it is not. I suppose costs to add a date of death varies.

[@DonaldWilson]

Honestly the entire funeral service industry varies, including cemetery rules. Lot of it has to do with location, local tradition, and the sexton who sets the rules in smaller communities.

[@makeminetexas3494]

I do a lot of genealogy, so I spend a lot of time in cemeteries and I have always wondered about this.

[@DonaldWilson]

Glad this video helped. Hope you are having a great rest of the year.

[@aintquitewright1480]

I knew a guy from West Virginia who did this back in the late 1960's. I was fascinated then and glad I got to see it for myself. Thanks!

[@DonaldWilson]

Thanks a ton and I hope you have an epic year to come.

[@-fuk57]

I've never wondered how this was done but I'm glad that I now know! Thank you for sharing.

[@DonaldWilson]

Glad you enjoyed it and hope you are having an amazing year.

[@REVNUMANEWBERN]

Curious sir, my dads needs to be done, he is in a 2nd slot from floor/ground of a crypt ( facing outside ), would the face aka door of the crypt be pulled out & down to ground level to do this or would it be done at the level it is?? What would be the typical cost for just this?@@DonaldWilson

[@teresamadrid6701]

That's really cool!

[@justadbeer]

Very interesting. I also couldn't help but notice that the deceased passed on my birthday : (

[@DonaldWilson]

That is one reason that doing headstones gives you a lot of introspective, every once in a while you get one with a date you take personal, like your birthday and way more than often you place dates of people younger than you. I hope you have many more years and fill them with joy.

[@nancyzehr3679]

What a cool job! Addin my dad's dates here shortly. It's nice to learn the process. Thanks!

[@DonaldWilson]

It is an interesting job for sure and it really helps to put things in perspective. I hope you have an amazing day.

[@jimbo1959]

An Amazing trade that is very much taken for granted! Great job Don!!

[@DonaldWilson]

Thanks a ton, I hope you are having an amazing year.

[@jimbo1959]

@@DonaldWilson You too!!

[@pattimessenger6214]

Fantastic! I never knew how that was done. It looks great.

[@DonaldWilson]

Thank you a ton

[@w7jhb]

Thanks for sharing this information

[@DonaldWilson]

My pleasure and thanks for the comment. I hope you have a great rest of the year.

[@robertwadeexpertkidsdentist]

Thank you!

[@DonaldWilson]

Not a problem, hope you are having an amazing year.

[@davehue9517]

Thank you for the demonstration.... I have the very same issue on a gravestone and you gave great information

[@DonaldWilson]

I am glad it helped and I hope you are doing amazing, and getting ready for an epic next year.

[@monteirolobato6830]

Lovely job.

[@DonaldWilson]

Thank you, I hope you have a great rest of your year.

[@ChaiLatte13]

I have wondered about this. thank you!

[@DonaldWilson]

Thank you for being amazing, hope you have a great coming year.

[@natalyavalasquez9121]

That’s really cool!

[@DonaldWilson]

Thanks you, hope you are doing epic.

[@oldoldpilgrim7898]

Thank you. I've been curious about that for decades.

[@DonaldWilson]

Glad the video helped and hope you are having a great year.

[@Foxybiker72]

Very neat job indeed

[@DonaldWilson]

Thank you, it is really nice to get out and see places, and I get a lot of perspective from it for sure.

[@karenburns9952]

Very interesting, thankyou!

[@DonaldWilson]

You're welcome. I hope you are having a great year.

[@karenburns9952]

@@DonaldWilson Thankyou. I’m having a great year. Enjoying my garden and family! Staying for away from any “news”, and my friends who watch the news. How’s your year going. This video made me realize that my cousins husband makes tombstones in upstate NY. I’m going to ask him about his technique.

[@londonkyguy]

That is a lot of careful work .

[@DonaldWilson]

Thanks, I hope you are doing amazing.

[@drockjr]

Hey, thank you for this. Super neat

[@DonaldWilson]

Thanks a ton, hope you are having an amazing year.

[@drockjr]

Would you recommend polishing or washing or scrubbing or any clean-up if needed? Or is it straight-up good to go?

[@mitchd949]

Interesting! I had wondered if some sort of carbide tipped, router-like tool was used. Nice demonstration.

[@DonaldWilson]

Thank you it is a interesting job, glad you enjoyed the video.

[@sherryjohnson2152]

That was excellent work, it came out perfect.

[@DonaldWilson]

thanks a ton, hope you have an amazing end to this year and even better next year.

[@sherryjohnson2152]

@@DonaldWilson thank you, i hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a great new year ☺

[@johnjacquard5095]

I do this. Very enjoyable work

[@DonaldWilson]

It is a super nice job and it does give you a lot of time to reflect. I hope you have an amazing rest of your year.

[@Kevin04102]

Cedar Crest Cemetery looks to be a beautiful place, as is your work.

[@DonaldWilson]

It is a super tranquil place with really good views, so not a bad place to spend a day for sure.

[@janisi9262]

Thank you; I've always wondered about this and had just assumed that the stone was taken to the manufacturer and a drilling process was utilized. I was very wrong.

[@DonaldWilson]

Well I glad this video helped, I hope you have an amazing coming year.

[@cuckooclockebay6828]

Fantastic video could you please tell me what type of hammer is used to hammer in lead lettering on a headstone and what weight would you suggest thanks

[@maryreed5463]

For years I've wondered how this process works.

[@DonaldWilson]

Yah it has changed from the days of the chisel, glad this helped you see how it is done. Stay epic

[@crowznest438]

I did wonder that exact thing.

[@DonaldWilson]

Glad that this video helped. Hope you have an amazing rest of your year.

[@madmansprinkles]

This is the second time in my life, randomly, finding out someone has (had), the same birth date as me! (minus the year ofc) Wild that YT just suggested this out of the blue .-.

[@DonaldWilson]

Interesting and I hope life is going amazing for you. Maybe it is a sign to do something big with your time while you still have it.

[@pmccoy8924]

Always wondered how this was performed in the field.

[@DonaldWilson]

Glad this video helped and I hope you have a great rest of your year.

[@ned_mograph5957]

Great video! Thanks for sharing! I'm doing my first sandblasting engraving project and was wondering 1. what brand of stencil filler you use when your in your shop? 2. What brand/grit sand do you load into your sandblaster?

[@DonaldWilson]

3 M for the stencil filler, we use multiple blasting mediums, but mostly Stone Blast 1500 36/60 Grit. I often though also use the sand from the recycling system from our shop booths. Hope this helps.

[@irmajasso-mendez4333]

How do you correct wrong yr of death w/o redoing whole stone? They put 2013 but should be 2019. Got a quote for $250 for one number! Any idea fir a home job? Its on black granite w painted white numbers. We thought maybe convert the 3 to a 9 w a dremel tool. You think or not? What type of white paint would we use to be consistent.

[@REVNUMANEWBERN]

IF it's the engravers fault let them redo it at THEIR cost, but if someone gave them the wrong year well then............@@irmajasso-mendez4333

[@jimthesoundman8641]

@@irmajasso-mendez4333 I think the only correct way is to sandblast out a square, glue in a square that fills in that space to make it flush and level again, then re-sandblast the correct number. The original company should be willing to correct their own mistake if they made it, if not, take them to small claims court. You could probably rig up a homemade stencil and homemade sandblast kit, or try to do it with a dremel, but I'm certain it will look like a hot mess when you are finished, and your botch job will be there for all eternity. Is that really how you want your loved one to be remembered?

[@irmajasso-mendez4333]

@@jimthesoundman8641 just saw your advise. Thk you. No of course not, wouldn't want a hot mess. The sm claims court idea...can you elaborate if fault of error is unverifiable.

[@chrisgalang4381]

Hi! Great work. Question, can you share the details of compressor you use? Thanks!

[@DonaldWilson]

Yes, when I go in this week I will get the info on all the stuff I use. I am just waiting till it thaws here in Colorado to do more inscriptions also.

[@Shootingstarcomics]

Yesterday I went to the graveyard with my mom and she asked me how they were going to add the date of death, we talked about it a minute and then BOOM! this video pops up.

[@DonaldWilson]

It is strange how life works out that way. I hope you are having a great finish to the year.

[@rcnelson]

Obviously the taping won't work in winter weather like we have around here. Does the blaster wait until spring?

[@DonaldWilson]

Yah once it gets to cold we can not do any sand blasting outside of in shop, there is way to much of a chance for something to go wrong. One of the biggest things is like you said, once it is to cold the tape or adhesive will not stick.

[@StonesAndSand]

For no larger nozzle than you're using, it would be a lot easier with a 3/8" blast hose (from Marco). I can't stand trying to fight a 1/2" hose in that position because it always feels like it wants to slip out of my hand.

[@DonaldWilson]

I do agree a larger hose would probably feel better under control. Thanks for the info.

[@MondoMiami]

You need to work out more.

[@dunebuggy1286]

Nice. I might have missed it, but what type of media do you use for blasting?

[@DonaldWilson]

We use multiple blasting mediums, but mostly Stone Blast 1500 36/60 Grit. I often though also use the sand from the recycling system from our shop booths. Hope this helps.

[@truthsayers8725]

we will be adding my dad's dates to his and my mom's stone in a very short time, as he is dealing with hospice right now. thanks for showing this

[@DonaldWilson]

Sorry your family is going through that. I really hope you all the best.

[@ninefingermining8694]

What do you use for your blasting What material ?

[@DonaldWilson]

Sand or Blasting aluminum oxide. Most of the times I use the recycled stuff from one of the blasting booths.

[@rickbrown4039]

Great job man . Did that job for over 40 years .

[@DonaldWilson]

It is an interesting job for sure, you get a lot of perspective and time to think. I hope you are doing amazing.

[@rickbrown4039]

@@DonaldWilson I have retired now and enjoying watching others do these jobs . Keep up the good work 👍🏻👍🏻

[@chrisorr8378]

What size portable sandblaster do you have?

[@DonaldWilson]

Hi, sorry it took so long to get back to you. In cemeteries I use a small 20 gallon portable, and thank goodness it has wheels. One of the biggest issues I face is hose length, because the compressor is in the back of a pickup. I also lay down a blanket on a lot of jobs to capture the sand to pure back into a bucket and filter it later for reuse. I the shop a large hopper tank is used and the whole thing is done differently.

[@dennisk5818]

Nice to know video. And here I thought you used small chisels and hammers, like the ancients did. 😁

[@DonaldWilson]

I am going to be honest I have tried it on a random junk stone with a hammer and chisel and I have nothing but respect for the fact people once did that. I hope you have a great rest of your year.

[@dennisk5818]

I was pulling your leg. Does your industry still use manual lettering? @@DonaldWilson

[@SGDeGalvez]

i see granite tombstones in the graveyard from 1890 that look perfectly modern. Do you know how they would have done this prior to sandblasting?

[@DonaldWilson]

It may sound funny, but we still have some of the old hammer and chisels laying around, there are also some older dyes for lettering and numbers, but they also would be hammered. We still use hammer and chisels, not for full lettering though. I would also like to say the level of skill of old work varies greatly, but some of the most amazing work I have seen is old stone work. I love to look at the way they cut designs, often it is better than you could expect from a modern mason with a sandblaster.

[@SGDeGalvez]

@@DonaldWilson thank you

[@anonz975]

Question -- if someone is ordering a granite headstone what should they look for regarding the depth of the lettering so it lasts? By that I mean what do we ask for when ordering?

[@DonaldWilson]

Hi, the depth of the lettering changes based on the size of letter and the color it will be, For black lettering or natural unpainted the lettering should be deep and comes to a V shape when done currently, on white and Gold lettering it is more shallow, and is only blasted to a U shape. In all case but ledger plates the blast should be deep enough to have a wall and should look crisp. Most of doing it correctly is based on a lot of seeing it done, and you of course practice before touching a persons stone.

[@anonz975]

@@DonaldWilson Thank you! I won't be engraving anything but I want to eventually have a granite headstone made for placement in the woods behind my rural home (for the cremains of me and my dogs) and want it to be legible for a very long time. It would be natural lettering with a Roman style font (I am not a fan of modern designs).

[@DonaldWilson]

@@anonz975 If done right they can engrave it to a deep V and leave it with no paint. When done perfect it looks very sharp, and with endure time very well. Also hope you and you dog play in many field in the afterlife. Peace and have a great one.

[@anonz975]

@@DonaldWilson Thank you! :)

[@carldaniels4827]

I have a question related to engraving headstones. When the person's name is added WHY is the name in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS? This thought travels the same idea that is on birth certificate, drivers license, home title, insurance, marriage license, social security card, taxes, vehicle title,, excetera?

[@DonaldWilson]

I honestly am not sure why it is done that way, it seems to just be the norm. Interesting question though. I will try asking around and see if someone has a good answer to that.

[@REVNUMANEWBERN]

Curious sir, my dads needs to be done, he is in a 2nd slot from floor/ground of a crypt, would the face aka door of the crypt be pulled out & down to ground level to do this or would it be done at the level it is?? What would be the typical cost for just this?

[@DonaldWilson]

Hi, if it is a stone plate, it would be likely done just like this. I have done inscriptions on columbarium and other crypt surfaces before and never needed them taken down, so unless there is something strange about the placement they should be able to do it in place. I am honestly not really sure what companies charge for me when I get sent out, I receive a work order and upon completion I get paid from $250-350 depending somewhat on where I have to travel, they also cover my fuel and expenses. I think for people doing it in town it is less because they are not driving all over the state to do services.

[@REVNUMANEWBERN]

Thank you so much for your response@@DonaldWilson

[@barrymarshall110]

How would you change what is already there, like if a child’s name on the back of a headstone was misspelled?

[@DonaldWilson]

That is a serious mistake, a proof is usually sent out for approval before a headstone is blasted because what ever is done is in stone. For the company I do them for, they would likely pull the stone and resurface it, or if needed replace the whole stone. Some companies will try to use a filler and redo a area, but a filler will never last as long as a stone and anyone right up on it might be able to tell.

[@g-bgcg]

Not a big fan of the abbreviated month vs a smaller font with the entire word spelled out but I guess that is a preference of the purchaser or person laid to rest. The design of the entire gravestone is gorgeous. Thanks for the video.

[@DonaldWilson]

All of that is done by the design team, with the family or from pre approval from the purchaser, but I agree. I like the full word more, thank you for the compliment and I hope you are having a great end to your year.

[@israelgonzalez171]

Which air compressor you use and cfm/psi???

[@DonaldWilson]

I use a variety of compressors, but I blast at 40-60 PSI depending on design and lettering.

[@robertmorgan8104]

99 years old!

[@DonaldWilson]

A long and I hope very happy life.

[@Alex-Mouse]

I also worked in a granite workshop, making tombstones. We made portraits and drawings by hand. And letters too.

[@DonaldWilson]

Very cool. I hope you enjoy what you do, it can be a really fun and fulfilling job, especially when you get to make something really nice.

[@kentuckylady2990]

I have often wondered how it was done

[@DonaldWilson]

Glad this video helped you with knowing how it is done.

[@user-qf6eq3dw5z]

Is it harder to do if the stone is in an upright position?

[@DonaldWilson]

Not really, you just need to make sure to tape everything well, and I like to have a tarp on the ground around it to collect the sand, it ends up all over so you also need to sweep off the headstones around it more, but in the shop we blast all the stone upright.

[@JUST_ONE_ID10T]

My gandma's date of death is missing from her headstone. My aunt never called to have it done and now my aunt has passed away.

[@DonaldWilson]

If you know who had the contract company wise, call them and explain the situation. I would hope after hearing the situation they would do it.

[@JUST_ONE_ID10T]

@@DonaldWilson That is the issue I have no idea who had the contract.

[@Scott_Middlebrook]

What cfm compressor did you use for this?

[@DonaldWilson]

We use 40-60 PSI, which using a flow rate calculator it indicated it to be 20.63. I honestly do not know if the calculation is correct though. On most in cemetery stuff I keep it around 40 PSI, most because I worry about blow offs or other damage to a stone.

[@Scott_Middlebrook]

@@DonaldWilsonwhat horsepower is the compressor motor? Love the vids

[@razorbackfan2011]

How would someone get into this? Would this be good for someone who is disabled to do for some side money?

[@DonaldWilson]

Normally you contact a headstone company and see if they have an opening. Almost all areas have a headstone company, monument company, or other mason type company and they basically have to train you on junk stones before you can do anything. This is often about developing a relationship with a company ahead of time. You can also just buy a sandblaster. safety gear, and some cheap materials to practice, then just work for your self. Sometime I get paid for a job on an hourly and sometimes a company just needs it done, then I get a portion of the contracts I do. This is often for remote areas, but I like those the most. You can contact an area and see if they need death date inscriptions, often these contracts are way behind, especially for small rural areas. I hope this helps you out.

[@Chrissy-py6ir]

My grandmother had her d.o.b. at 1898, the d.o.d. was prefilled at 19(blank) when her husband passed away, but she died in 2000. How would the 19 be filled in to be 20?

[@DonaldWilson]

Hi sadly this does happen, so the method I have seen happen is where a mix of granite dusk or marble is selected to match the stone as closely as possible then, mixed with super glue to do a fill in and build up then surface it down. Do not do this yourself. Contact the company that did the stone and ask them to do a fill in. They may even now have a special product for this specific thing. After it is fixed you should be able to have them place her date. If they can not fix it, they should consider replacement.

[@Chrissy-py6ir]

@@DonaldWilsonthanx…you do commendable work.

[@Juddieb]

What classes are recommended to get started in this career?

[@DonaldWilson]

Most people who start have a little experience with sand blasting, and then a mason, monument mason, or headstone technician works with you on everything, till you can actually do it correctly. This mostly involves knowing someone, or just goon going into a headstone company and seeing it they are looking to train and hire someone, this often means starting as part of a set crew, which is physical labor, some measurements, and leveling of the foundations.

[@Stubones999]

I heard that 3M stopped making that etching material... and the only other place is somewhere in China (of course)...

[@DonaldWilson]

This is what I understand currently. I can find out who we are currently going through for you if you want. The Headstone Industry currently seems to be having some crazy stuff going on, with backlogs and difficulties getting basic supplies. Hope you are doing amazing.

[@robertwadeexpertkidsdentist]

How could I learn to do that

[@DonaldWilson]

You can buy a sand blaster and gear and start practicing a little. To get work doing it contact a local headstone company and see if they have an opening and do custom sandblasting. Most crew start as set crew while they learn to do the sandblasting.

[@evanosburn718]

I wiped my camera lens 10 times while Watchung this video

[@DonaldWilson]

Sand blasting is dusty, but I also had to put a shield piece over my lens to protect it from damage, which might have also contributed to it being not as clear. I hope you have an amazing year though.

[@blondiegirl5460]

Can a family headstone be reused?

[@DonaldWilson]

This depends on what you mean, in some cases an additional person can be added to a marker, but to give you a correct answer I would have to know more. Also at the end of the day the Sexton of a graveyard is the one who makes all the rules and at the end of the day the are in charge of what is allowed.

[@Schwtz]

Everyone has their own techniques, I just feel using all duct tape could be problematic considering how thin it is, It does work though, I don't recommend inexperience individuals to start out that way though. Im just throwing my 2cents, normally once the stencil is down, I glue the outside edges, take "scrape stencil that i use over and over again" line em up around the Main stencil that has date of death / whatever , patch over the lines(gaps), then i might throw some duct tape around the sides if im covering something up.... Also when im engraving on site, ill bring glue and put on the frost so itll stick, i have not tried your method yet though, What kind of double tape do you use 3m?.. Good video though.

[@DonaldWilson]

I 100% agree if you have not don a few headstones you should be very careful using duct tape. Most of the duct tape used was used to cover information on the headstone out of respect. Under the area I am blasting is covered for the most part by the stencil material, but for sure if I stopped for even a little bit I would blast right through. I do not think someone should watch my video and decide to just blast a headstone fore sure though. I wanted to show them how head stones get do in remote areas. Before we are allowed to do anything at the place I work for we have to do it on already damaged headstones without mistake, before we can touch a real anything. It takes time and practice, and once a mistake is made, it is in stone. I understand you already do inscriptions, so this is not at you, but for anyone reading this. If you do not already know how to inscribe a head stone, do not start on a loved ones randomly. I will check which one we use currently and get back to you.

[@mynamesjudge]

How does one get into this line of work?

[@DonaldWilson]

You can contact a headstone company and see if they have an opening. Most of the time you start as a set crew and learn how to blast stones, then after you have that down, they teach you hand sandblasting and shape carving.

[@mynamesjudge]

@@DonaldWilson Cool, thanks. I might look into that.

[@donnamariedelana2002]

Donald what is cost to add date of death thank you .

[@DonaldWilson]

The range where I live is around $350 - $600, but that involves a lot of factors, like distance and anything strange. Because prices are rising so quickly currently, I can not say how long this would be accurate.

[@donnamariedelana2002]

Thank you !

[@jjluv7008]

Have you ever busted a head stone with the mallet?

[@DonaldWilson]

Thank god no, it could happen though, then the whole stone would need to be replaced.

[@Kardall]

My grandmother passed away in 2019 before Covid... her date of birth is still not in her headstone... I thought it was like, take the headstone out and put it into a machine to carve it etc., but this makes it look like the company that manages all this stuff is just lazy or something... :/

[@DonaldWilson]

I am sorry to hear you are going through that, have you contacted them directly to let them know you are expecting it to be done would be my only question. Second, most but not all companies have someone who does onsite engravings, some companies really do end up having to come pull the stone and blast it in a booth, most should have someone who can onsite engrave though. Contact them and explain your situation, because a lot of engraving is put on pause over winter, mostly because there can be issues once it gets super cold, like the design rubber not sticking to the stone and other risks. I hope the best for you and hope they take care of you.

[@Kardall]

@@DonaldWilson Thank you. I believe the family that lives out there (she was interned across Canada) have been informing us and my father has been working with them. But it's kind of rough when we are so far away. There are the two sides of my father's family in that cemetery now, and the one side that visits quite frequently often check up on the others for us so. I believe we are being kept in the loop. I know dad went back a few months ago because his father passed and I believe he tried to talk to the cemetery company about it or whoever is required regarding it. It's just really frustrating that it has taken 4 years for this to happen. I mean, how often would it happen that the family never knows, and the final date is not put on? Do you have any idea of what % of headstones may be in this state? Like 1% per cemetery?

[@rupe53]

@@Kardall At the risk of pointing out the obvious side of business, travel time adds up and I would bet they cover a fair distance so grouping jobs by town or county, plus so many customers per day, is how scheduling gets done. I had inscriptions added to a family stone (prior to Covid) and even though their shop was only a few hundred yards from the cemetery, the earliest they could do was a bit over 6 weeks. Another part of me says that in some areas this may be a dying art, so a subcontractor is out there running ragged doing jobs for a shop that is now just a sales / storefront. (with a good location) Basically, the guy has more work than he can handle out in the field and jobs stack up. On their end... it's just another business day.

[@flyingmoose]

I would recommend that you clean your camera lens, the video looks all fogged.

[@DonaldWilson]

I probably should clean my lens, but while sand blasting it often does get dusty, I also had to film with a protective cover over my camera to protect the lens from being damaged by sand from the sand blasting, which might not have helped. I hope you are doing amazing though.

[@flyingmoose]

@@DonaldWilson thanks for your reply. I’ve seen blank spaces for dates on gravestones and always wondered how they match the font.

[@DonaldWilson]

A person from a design team goes out and takes a rubbing with a large piece of paper, it is kind of like carbon paper and it takes the design and font so the design team can match it, after that they send out a proof for the family to approve it before a rubber is made, during the process the font is checked multiple time, some fonts are custom and take longer to match, but all that is done before hand by a design team. Once in a great while I get asked to take a rubbing if I am in a cemetery where a headstone needs to be matched, but not very often.

[@markkillion8980]

It there ever a requirement to “capture” the spent sand?

[@DonaldWilson]

Not really, I lay down a tarp to catch the sand most of the time anyway so I can reuse it, the sand I use for the most part is collected from our booth and has already been used.

[@Susan70003]

The new numbers appeared larger than the previous numbers. Is it optical illusion because it was freshly painted and the old numbers were faded? Or was there a slight size difference? Ball park in 2023 what price for having one death date sand blasted in? I won't hold you to it. I don't know what state you are in. Tia

[@DonaldWilson]

I am in Colorado, the lettering is the same, new lettering often looks more crisp and that makes it look different. A copy is pulled from the stone, then a computer matches the lettering. A design is made and checked against records, then it is sent to the family or commissioner of the piece to approve. After that I go to the location and check it again before blasting. I personally do not setup my jobs, but cost is based on many things. First did the company do the stone originally and do the keep that stone in stock incase of complete disaster, next location can add a good amount of money to costs. A very basic inscription like a date cost as low as $300, depending on it being close geographically and simple. Sometime people want full pieces on a boulder or other stone, that costs much more.

[@Susan70003]

@@DonaldWilson Thank you for the detailed reply. So much to know.

[@carsten4594]

Same number of letters and numbers but the new ones do not line up with the older ones.

[@DonaldWilson]

If you look at the area of a 1 compared to the 0, they do not take up the same space at all, which makes things shift.

[@Krgw2023]

They would be equal in width with a Monospaced font @@DonaldWilson

[@jeffclark5268]

I like how the name is covered up for privacy…on this publicly viewable headstone.

[@DonaldWilson]

I understand you, I just never had filmed doing one before and was not sure what was best to do. I just went with covering it, which might have been over cautious. Stay epic though.

[@terryhodges5850]

Not to be a troll but the cameraman put you between us and the work you were doing and you kind of skipped over some things by cutting them out which doesn't help when you're trying to use this video as a learning tool thank you have a nice day

[@DonaldWilson]

Very good point and When spring comes here and I will get a better one. Is there anything specific you felt needed a better explanation or was it mostly just editing and not getting unblocked video of the process?

[@jeffvanhook2482]

How come the lettering isn't the same size as being born lettering ?

[@DonaldWilson]

The lettering is longer because zeros are wider than ones, the design is done before I get involved and is always what the family approved. I also though it looked strange and checked it multiple times before getting started.

[@t.texastimmy1022]

Yeah, they botched to job on my mother's DOD

[@DonaldWilson]

What company botched the date on your moms, I am surprised they did not send out a preview for approval first.

[@t.texastimmy1022]

@@DonaldWilson the date was accurate, it was just etched too shallow / had to call the back out

[@CadeMuraski]

I dont get it

[@DonaldWilson]

Not a ton to explain, it is the engraving of a death date on a headstone. Hope you are having an amazing year.

[@markgearing]

Didn’t quite make 100 years. Still, not a bad innings.

[@DonaldWilson]

I hope they lived a good life, we all can tell it was a long one. I hope you have an amazing rest of the year and a better one next year.

[@rococoblue]

😂 I'm making mine out of wood and the side of a headboard just to annoy the rich.

[@DonaldWilson]

Most cemeteries have sextons to map the graves and they run almost everything in there cemetery, talk to them to get the rules before, because some place might let you, but most will have specific rules.

[@writerjmd]

No gloves? That sand has to bounce back on your hands.

[@DonaldWilson]

It does and for a while it stung a little, I preferred the feel of control, but for safety reasons I now wear gloves.

[@writerjmd]

I've done a little sandblasting and obviously if it takes away stone, it will take off skin!!! Nice video

[@13donstalos]

I would ruin the stone. Guaranteed.

[@DonaldWilson]

If yuo did this for a living you would get practice first before doing a stone and I would almost bet you would do fine.

[@ryanryan3473]

Dude! Clean your lens

[@DonaldWilson]

I had to put a protective cover over it, sand blasting will damage the lens. Sorry that it effected the clarity

[@40HDR]

I thought that headstones were made after the death of the person. What am I missing here? Did a person who was alive have there head stone made and placed before they died, then got buried, then the death date was added? Some one fill me in...................

[@DonaldWilson]

Some people buy headstones pre need and have them placed, in this case, it was a husband and wife headstone, where one had already passed. The other persons info was added without a death date, then when they passed, it is added. In many cases you are correct though and a head stone is made after a person has died, then the whole thing is done in the shop. Often though with married couples one person dies and the other has a headstone placed, and when they pass, only the death date for them needs added.

[@40HDR]

Thank you for this explanation. @@DonaldWilson

[@kima.7148]

Can you help explain a matter to me regarding placing the death date on a granite slab? The funeral home in charge of doing the death date for my Dad’s granite slab have yet to do the engraving. Monday will be a year when he passed away. The slab was part of the total of funeral package purchased two years prior to his death (packages purchased for himself and my mother (she is still living). Both granite slabs were done and placed at graveside in the small central Georgia (USA) so they have their names and birthdates. We have inquired several times and have only been told they are backlogged on this. Why should it take so long to go and place a death date on my Dad’s granite slab? How long do it take to go and do this work when the funeral home people in charge of doing the work and the cemetery are less than five miles? Approximately how long a period of time did it take you to do this one? That’s all that is needed for my Dad’s grave! It truly saddens me to see no death date being placed on his grave when I visit and like I said it is a year on 10/9 - which is this coming Monday. 🥲. When you can, thanks so much for your response as maybe I’m not understanding. I appreciate it.

[@DonaldWilson]

There is a large back log in most of the headstone industry and often it takes more time than it should before someone is sent out. They may be having a hard time getting the rubber you see me using in this video, it is what the design or date is on and becomes the template. Sadly it is currently in short supply, and in some cases the people doing the inscriptions are 1 - 2 year behind on catching up. Make sure to stay on them and I hope they get to yours soon