One of the things that I try to teach is that under any circumstances you should never, ever leave anything on a stone for the next rain to wash off. -----Original Message----- From: scotstout@aol.com [mailto:scotstout@aol.com] Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 7:55 PM To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [INPCRP] stone rubbing thanks sharon and others. that's very helpful and informative. regarding reading difficult tombstones, i have tried two solutions that work well for me. 1. i use photoshop to increase the contrast of the photographic image -- that usually works unless the stone has a lot of stains. 2. when at the cemetery, rather than use the big-no-no-shaving-cream, my cousins brought white corn meal & rubbed it gently over the stone. of course, it went into the depressions and made the stone very easy to read as well as photograph. and the rain washes it out and it decomposes, being 100% organic. (please tell me that was ok to do.) scot -----Original Message----- From: Sharon Howell <sshowell@indy.net> To: INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 18:36:48 -0500 Subject: Re: [INPCRP] stone rubbing Lightweight Pellon or similar non-woven interfacing from a fabric store is best to use. Sheets of plain newsprint have also been used, but they can tear easily. Use a wax made for cemetery rubbings or a fat crayon held with it's long side against the stone. Chalk can be used, but it will rub off. I'd take preservative spray or hair spray to spray the paper done with chalk, after removing it from the stone, but before rolling it up to put in the car. The best way to attach the paper to the stone is to have the paper big enough wrap all the way around the stone -- tape the paper to itself. A second way is to have one person hold and another person rub. Anytime anything is taped to the stone, it had the potential of damaging the stone when removed. Therefore, I would only use low-tack painter's tape (the blue stuff) and CAREFULLY take it off as soon as the rubbing is done. I used the rubbing I did as a background to a display case for Halloween. I have photos of all my ancestors' stones. Easier to store, and sometimes easier to read, especially if there are lichens on the stone. Sharon Howell ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== This list is for discussion of topics related to the Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project only. Please do not send genealogical queries through this list. The surname and geographic Mailing Lists on Rootsweb at http://lists.rootsweb.com are a better venue. Thank you. ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== Blessed are the Elderly, for they remember what we will never know.