Wayne, what chemicals have you used to take the moss and lichens off a stone. There are several of my ancestors stones that are unreadable because of those and I would like very much to clean it off so photos can be made and put in our local historical society. Then folks in the future would have access to them. Thanks in advance for your information. Shirly Roe Mid-Missouri ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharon & Wayne Johnson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 6:43 AM Subject: Re: [MO-CEM] shaving cream on tombstones {was:I HAVE OVER 110 CEMETERY PHOTOS} > Friday, March 03, 2006 > > Dear Listers, > > Having worked as a chemist for a long time and not scientifically > investigated the "shaving cream" issue, I have chosen to avoid the issue for > the sake of simply listing a tombstone. Instead, I have chosen the most > innocuous method of all, LIGHT. Check out the link following: > http://cemeteries.missouri.org/Photo.html#Light . If light is shined > obliquely across the face of an engraved tombstone, shadows will form in the > recessed portion of the engraving and the contrast with the lighted face > makes the lettering just stand out. This is dependent upon sunlight and in > the absence of the Sun, a million candlepower, rechargeable, Q-Light makes > it easy to read, a line at a time. I admit to using untried chemicals when > it is absolutely necessary to clean moss and lichens off of a stone. I have > used it on the stones of my ancestors only. > > > Sincerely yours, > > Wayne Johnson > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Brock Way" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 5:25 AM > Subject: [MO-CEM] shaving cream on tombstones {was:I HAVE OVER 110 CEMETERY > PHOTOS} > > > > I hate to be the one to break the news, but the idea > > that shaving cream harms tombstones is a legend, with > > no basis in reality at all. > > > > The "information" posted in the savinggraves link > > given below is based on a KNOWN HOAX. It is simply a > > copycat of the well known "Ban DHMO" hoax. Anyone who > > is willing to accept the suggestion that shaving cream > > can harm tombstones really should first familarize > > themselves with the original hoax. You can find a > > great "Ban DHMO" site here: > > > > http://www.dhmo.org/ > > > > Just like the 'Ban DHMO' hoax, the 'ban shaving cream' > > hoax works on the same basis...a reliance on the fact > > that people are wholly unfamiliar with chemistry in > > general, and will spend no time at all investigating > > the claims made by the hoax, and instead just blindly > > accept them as fact, and then pass it on to other > > unsuspecting folks - - just like all hoaxes. > > > > But even a cursory investigation into the matter will > > reveal that the claims made against the constituents > > in shaving cream are not just wrong, but are > > ridiculous. For example, from the savinggraves link > > just cited: > > > > "These have many ingredients harmful to tombstones > > (like butane) and in some cases can be abrasive." > > > > Please...butane? Butane is *a gas*. It has a boiling > > point (-0.5 C) that is below the freezing point of > > water (the major constituent of shaving cream), and is > > used as a propellant. Butane is under pressure in the > > can, but when released from the can, is under normal > > pressure of one atmosphere, and is thus volatilized > > long before it could even be applied to the stone. > > > > There are lots of sites all over the internet that > > make all kinds of claims. Some of them cite the > > evidence that shows their claim is true. The rest make > > claims without seeing any need for substantiating > > documentation at all. These latter claims are called > > legends, and like bigfoot and the abominable snowman, > > people believe them. > > > > Ask yourself this question: If shaving cream harms > > tombstones, then where is the evidence that it does? > > Not "where is yet another site that makes the same > > claim", but where is the evidence itself? Has anyone > > ever seen any actual evidence (data, measurements, > > anything)? Of course you haven't, because there isn't > > any. And there isn't any because it is the product of > > a KNOWN HOAX. > > > > I am going to quote E.D. here "There is a great deal > > of > > information out there on caring for old tombstones and > > a lot of misinformation is available." > > > > You said that right...there is a lot of MISINFORMATION > > available. > > > > Brock Way > > Genealogy without documentation is mythology. > > > > > > From: "E.D. Seevers" <[email protected]> > > Subject: RE: [MO-CEM] I HAVE OVER 110 CEMETERY PHOTOS > > Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2006 14:51:29 -0600 > > > > > > > > I don't know how familiar you are with tombstone > > rubbings, but you might > > want to read this article before you do. Many older > > stones are very fragile > > and rubbings can deteriorate them further. There is a > > great deal of > > information out there on caring for old tombstones and > > a lot of > > misinformation is available. The best practice is to > > just be careful and > > remember that future generations may want to view > > these valuable resources > > also. > > > > http://www.savinggraves.com/education/bookshelf/rubbings.htm > > > > The information under this heading is particularly > > useful... A NOTE ABOUT > > SHAVING CREAM, FLOUR OR CHALK. I've found that 3D > > moldings of the stone > > work very well and aluminum foil is great. It can be > > purchased cheaply at > > discount stores. > > > > __________________________________________________ > > Do You Yahoo!? > > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > > http://mail.yahoo.com > > > > > > ==== MO-CEMETERIES Mailing List ==== > > NOTICE: Posting of virus warnings, test messages, chain letters, > political announcements, current events, items for sale, personal messages, > flames, etc. (in other words - spam) is NOT ALLOWED and will be grounds for > removal. Consideration for exceptions, contact Kathleen Burnett > [email protected] > > > > ============================== > > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. > > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > > > > > > > > ==== MO-CEMETERIES Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from this list, send ONLY the word UNSUBSCRIBE to the utility address [email protected] If you are trying to unsubscribe from the Digest list, use the same utility address but change the -L- to a -D- > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > >

Shirly Roe Mid Mo. I would like to discuss ROE data with you. The best way I know to attempt to clear Lichen is to let it freeze and in the depth of winter use stryfoam bricks on it. Will not work once the new growth begins. Does not remove stains and rub gently . try base or blank side first and i hope you have only a few incrusted. I also find the windshield covers with a smooth aluminium side a good reflector at camera time. And Be careful many old markers are loose. Take your fully charged cell phone. Bud.