Suggestions on how to read the "Un-Readable" old stones.
First, like a physician, Do No Harm. Headstones are more fragile than they look.
Avoid touching the readable surface with your hands.
NEVER use any solution with vinegar, citrus juice or other acids.
NEVER use soaps, shaving cream or detergents.
NEVER use sandpaper, aluminum foil, nail files, knives or garden tools
ALWAYS check online to see if anyone else has already transcribed, photographed, rubbed or floured this grave!
Avoid touching the readable surface with your hands.
NEVER use any solution with vinegar, citrus juice or other acids.
NEVER use soaps, shaving cream or detergents.
NEVER use sandpaper, aluminum foil, nail files, knives or garden tools
ALWAYS check online to see if anyone else has already transcribed, photographed, rubbed or floured this grave!
To Rub or Not to Rub. Not to Rub.
Many cemeteries have banned rubbing, with good reason. In some states it is illegal. Fragile stones can be damaged when pressure is applied to the surface (as you would have to do to get a rubbing no matter how gentle you think you are being). For more information and demonstration of this controversial method you may wish to search www.YouTube.com
Photograph Documenting Tips
- For better definition you might spritz the stone with distilled water. Get it in the lettering are. The stone surface will dry first and the letters and numbers will be darkened.
- Black and white photos offer the best readability, but if you use digital you can edit on your PC at home and decide what the best color choice is. Sometimes I even add a light chrome effect that can change angles or depth. Play with the digital software, but always keep the original picture uncorrupted, labeled and stored in a separate file.
- mid-day is recommended, when the sun is a few degrees off of high-noon. But even if not timed perfectly, just being there and getting whatever photo you can is rewarding.
- Cloudy and overcast days usually create good photos, but it does depend on which direction the grave is facing and where the sun it.
- It's kind of amusing, but so often I see two kinds of picture errors: The picture where the photographer is shading the stone, resulting in text being unreadable, and the picture where the photographer's image is reflected in the shiny surface of the stone.
- Stand back and get a picture of the entire family plot, if there is one. Either way, take a photo of the neighboring plots and any landscaping (fences, path or roadway, etc.) so the grave will be found easier next time.
- Always try to get a photograph of the entrance to the cemetery. This is especially important in rural areas, where they may have little marking.
- I met a man who took incredible photographs. This was his technique: " I use a remote flash set on the side to wash out the face of the stone, leaving any writing which is in the stone so it looks black. I am trusting to the camera settings to do their thing. In particular, I use 100ISO, F 11 at 1/320.
- We found photographs of graves my father-in-law took over 50 years ago. We are so happy to have them. Many of those graves are unreadable now. Take the picture. Include yourself, or other family members, especially if you are cleaning the grave, pulling weeds, planting flowers. Print those pictures. Sock them away somewhere. This is your history. Preserve it.
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The Flour Trick
This video shows an interesting technique that uses flour (ground wheat) to enhance the images on the stone. I would suggest if you wanted to try this be sure to use UNBLEACHED flour. I have reservations on the hands and pressure used in this technique, but I believe that Gravestones are meant to be read. The information, the MEMORIAL is what is important. So if you do this make the results public. Transcribe the grave onto a free site like FindAGrave.
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Cleaning Headstones
A soft brush and distilled water is best for gently cleansing a headstone.
No vinegar, citrus juice or other acids, no soaps, shaving cream, detergents, no sandpaper, aluminum foil, nail files, knives or garden tools.
A soft brush and distilled water is best for gently cleansing a headstone.
What about removing moss and lichens? A soft brush and distilled water is best for gently cleansing a headstone.
There is an product I've read about called Wet and Forget. Wet & Forget is non-caustic, non-acidic and contains no bleach. The claim is that you can "Simply apply Wet & Forget to the surface and forget it. There's no rinsing and no scrubbing. Over the next few weeks and months Wet & Forget will work gently with the wind and rain to clean the headstone"
OK. So I found Wet and Forget in the Costco. Picked up a package, read the safety information and returned it immediately to the store. You do not want to get this on you, your pets or in the water supply.
I have since seen the results of Wet and Forget and do not like what I've seen: Streaky white lines across the stones.
Here is a link to the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) and you can decide for yourself about whether you want to use this product.
No vinegar, citrus juice or other acids, no soaps, shaving cream, detergents, no sandpaper, aluminum foil, nail files, knives or garden tools.
A soft brush and distilled water is best for gently cleansing a headstone.
What about removing moss and lichens? A soft brush and distilled water is best for gently cleansing a headstone.
There is an product I've read about called Wet and Forget. Wet & Forget is non-caustic, non-acidic and contains no bleach. The claim is that you can "Simply apply Wet & Forget to the surface and forget it. There's no rinsing and no scrubbing. Over the next few weeks and months Wet & Forget will work gently with the wind and rain to clean the headstone"
OK. So I found Wet and Forget in the Costco. Picked up a package, read the safety information and returned it immediately to the store. You do not want to get this on you, your pets or in the water supply.
I have since seen the results of Wet and Forget and do not like what I've seen: Streaky white lines across the stones.
Here is a link to the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) and you can decide for yourself about whether you want to use this product.
Added Feb 2013. Below you will find a YouTube video on cleaning an old stone with the methods used above.