Sandblasting Monuments: How Does it Work?
At St. Charles Monuments, we believe a beautiful memorial can go a long way in reminding friends and family about the beauty of life. With each headstone, we do our best to create something that will speak to the power of their contributions throughout life. Although selecting a monument for a loved one can be an emotionally draining process, it’s comforting to know that a headstone will be a lasting testament to one’s life. All of our monument specials are sandblasted to deliver incredible detail on each headstone.
4 Part Sandblasting Process for Monuments
1. Image Rendering
Before the sandblasting process can officially begin, the artist must first be able to envision the final product. Our headstone company accomplishes this by using CAD software.
There are normally several elements of a standard monument. For example, the individual’s name, date of birth and date of death are all standard. Additionally, some people also choose to include a brief epitaph or description of their relationships.
We use CAD software to create a fully detailed image of the headstone.
2. Template Creation and Application
Completing this step successfully is especially important to completing the rest of the process. Using the image that they created in the first phase, our monument design artists print a template for the gravestone. To do this, they use a specialized printer.
The stencil that the printer creates is not fully detailed; the printer only weakens the material on the stencil. To finish the stencil, the artist must use a special pen to pick away the material covering the lettering and patterns. Our headstone company takes care to create this stencil with the highest standards for accuracy.
After the stencil has been created, it must subsequently be applied to the uncut monument.
3. Sandblasting
After the stencil is glued on to the stone and the design and names picked the stone is then placed into a sand blast booth, where a person is outside the booth. That person is the one who shapes and cuts into the stone with the sand. When applying extreme heat levels to specific parts of the monument, the letters, dates and patterns begin to take shape. This focused heat will deliver incredible detail by removing the polished layers of the granite to reveal the unpolished granite. Deeper sections of granite are sandblasted more than other, more shallow areas to create contrast. By taking this approach, our headstone company can create the most detailed designs in a calculated manner.
4. Add Detail By Hand
Though the sandblasting machine will complete the majority of the work, it cannot contribute the level of detail that the human eye can perceive. Finally, our monument artists add the rest of the detail by using specific hand tools to achieve the desired level of depth after the sandblasting process is completed. This hands-on process is the final step that our headstone company takes in providing monuments with unparalleled levels of detail.
Limitations of Sandblasting Monuments
While the sandblasting process is thorough and can accomplish quite a lot, it cannot capture all complex designs. Some images are too detailed to fully recreate on a monument with the sandblasting machine, and must be recreated using hand tools instead. For example, sandblasting cannot recreate pictures representing the likeness of an individual, or other complex images.
Contact St. Charles Monuments Today
St. Charles Monuments is a headstone company that provides headstones for cemeteries throughout Long Island. We can create monuments of various sizes, designs, shapes and styles. Contact us for more information about ordering or pre-planning a monument.
