beginner in stone

[David Stephens <sms2@xxxxxxx>]

George,

It was good to here that someone else is working on this type of project;
and with such success. I have taken some geology classes, and I believe the
stone to be white marble, but how would I tell if it is Vermont, white
marble? Just experience, right?  The stone was set in the early 1900's, in
Tennessee. Did they have machines back then that did the lettering?

I did get to talk with someone here today that offers a class, on
"Restoration and Maintenance of Natural Stone, Ceramic Tile, Terrazzo,
(what is that?) and Concrete." Do you think this should be something I
should start with, if I intend to go beyond anything besides my own
families tombstones?

I have found no classes on lettering or engraving on stone, as I had hoped
I would. Everyone I have talked with here says buy a new stone. It's not
the same. These stones are 6-8 inches square pointed on top, around 4 feet
tall, and sitting on a hollow marble square. Althought they are not overly
ornate, they are very beautiful. Especially compared to the stones that are
mass produced today.

Perhaps there is room in this small town for someone, like me, who wants to
help preserve the past, for future ancesters, as I do. "A thing of beauty
is a joy forever." Most people couldn't afford such a stone at todays
prices, anyway.  How do you arrive at a fee, when restoring a stone? Can a
stone be restored cheaper than buying one of comparable size and design?

I bought something called Stone Medic Gel Clean, from the stone place
today, has anyone ever heard of it? And if so, does it work.

-Assuming that you have a soft stone, you can work on it with very simple
tools.

If the letters are still visible, can I use a dremel drill, or will that
just destroy the few remaining word outlines?

-I need to back up here and ask some more questions.

-Are you hoping to just resharpen the lettering? Are the letters V-sunk into
the stone , or are they raised above the surface? Is the surface your
looking at smooth or very rough? Are you thinking of removing a panel with
old lettering?

I think cleaning and reshaping the lettering would work fine. The letters
are not raised, so is the other alternative, V-sunk? The surface is smooth,
but if it was polished long ago, it is no longer. Rain falling through a
cedar tree, have added black and green streaks, which is making the
lettering even harder to see.

Thanks for helping me out on this.  Michael gave me some really good info.
on books, but I work at a library and we do not have anything except a
small book on letters by Gill. I will try Amazon, to see if they have
something there.

I am really enjoying the "stone site," and hope to be able to learn enough
to help someone else someday, in return.

Better close for now,
The Beginner,
Sheila Stephens