Use only non-invasive methods. Rubbings of old stones, made of marble, slate or sandstone, make the stones start to fall apart, she explained. Granite stones are more durable, but are vulnerable to salt, weed killers and other chemicals, she said.
Most national parks and historical sites have banned gravestone rubbing, McClellan said. Copyright Geauga County Maple Leaf. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Terms of Use. Many taphophiles enjoy headstone rubbing as a hobby. The practice of creating headstone rubbings can truly be a way to show honor and respect to the dead. Still, repeated rubbings can harm the monuments. The best rule of thumb is to ask before you rub. Photographs are so detailed that it can negate the need for rubbing a headstone.
But… the digital photograph, while valuable as its own form of art, is not the same as a physical reproduction via rubbing. That piece of paper was in contact with that headstone. Always get permission and follow the rules. Before leaving home, check that it is okay to make a gravestone rubbing. Call the cemetery office or check on their website. In other words, get permission.
Gather your needed items before you leave home. See below for a supply list. Find the gravestone. Find a Grave is a valuable resource to help you discover cemeteries and specific graves. Clean the gravestone. Begin by using a soft brush to take off the easiest dirt build-up, and if needed, spray with water and wipe gently.
Only clean enough to show the distinct features on the headstone. Avoid scrubbing or any action that would damage the stone. You will want to cut off any extra paper. Leave a little edge around the back of the headstone. The edge makes it much easier for you to tape it in place and give the paper some stability. Avoid taping over any eroded areas of the stone.
The tape will lift out crumbling stone when you remove it. Start rubbing. You can use wax, crayon, charcoal, or chalk. Start from the outer edge of the grave marker and work your way inward. Make sure you get text and patterns as you rub. You will continue rubbing until the design depth is to your liking. There are ways to display it.
You can attach it to a stiff cardstock, frame it, tack it directly to your wall, or scan it into your computer. Pictured above, you see a complete grave rubbing kit that has everything you need to do a rubbing. Do not do a tombstone rubbing on any stone that is wobbly, flaking, chipping, crumbling or otherwise unstable.
Take a photograph instead. If allowed, clean the tombstone with plain water and a soft-bristle natural or nylon brush. Scrub the stone from the bottom up to avoid further streaking and staining. Flush well with water when you are done. Again, do not do this on a stone that is crumbling, chipping or flaking. Cut a piece of plain white paper, butcher paper, rice paper or Pellon interfacing material to a size slightly larger than the tombstone.
You can obtain rice paper from art supply stores and Pellon from craft and fabric shops. Tape the paper or fabric to the gravestone. If you have someone with you to assist, then you may prefer to have them hold the paper to avoid any possible damage from using tape.
Using rubbing wax, a large crayon, charcoal, or chalk, gently start to rub along the outside edges of your paper or material, carefully working your way in. Or you may choose to begin at the top and work your way down the tombstone.
Rub lightly to start with, and then apply more pressure to darken in the design if it suits you. Be very careful and gentle so as not to damage the tombstone.
If you used chalk for your grave rubbing, then carefully spray the paper with a chalk spray such as Krylon. Hairspray is another alternative, but whichever you choose be very careful not to get any on the tombstone.
When the rubbing is done, carefully remove it from the tombstone and trim the edges to suit your liking.
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