My husband is a chemist and he says it's actually the oils in shaving cream that are harmful to the older, porous stones because it gets into those pores and can't be removed. This can eventually discolor the stones that are white sandstone. I wouldn't try it on any of the sandstone markers that are so prevalent in Tennessee. If you'd really like to see the effects of this, take some shaving cream and try it on your sidewalk or garage floor. It leaves a noticeable discoloration after only a few minutes. The longer it's there, the more it collects dirt, etc. and gets darker with time. I think the best advice is that which was given earlier (sorry I don't remember who). Go and check with the local funeral home or monument co. They are very knowledgeable about the stones and can tell you the best way to care for the stones which are usually from a local quarry. Let's face it, headstones are a part of our history that we'd like to preserve the best way we can. So many graves went unmarked, so if the family took the time and hard-earned money to place a marker, we should respect that. And as a cautionary point, in some states it's illegal to take rubbings or put anything on older stones. Donna Brock Way <[email protected]> wrote: The information on shaving cream from the savinggraves site is nothing more than pseudoscientific babble. It is the fully paranoid fears of some folks who have clearly never studied either organic chemistry or geology. Their analysis of the actions of stearic acid (for example) is fundamentally flawed both in terms of simple logic and from a chemistry point-of-view. For example, the site equates hydrochloric acid (a mineral acid that is one of the strongest acids on the planet) with stearic acid (an organic acid the strength of which is so weak that it cannot even be measured in aqueous solution, but has to be approximated by interpolation from its acid series) - this is a fallacy. Furthermore, it ignores the fact that the stearic acid is pH balanced with the addition of a base. Etc., etc. Did you ever wonder why NOBODY has ever shown even the slightest shred of *scientific* evidence to support the notion that shaving cream harms tombstones? It is because there ISN'T ANY! Please, ignore the stories about how a friend of someone's aunt Edna put shaving cream on a tombstone and it exploded, and let's leave the scientific analysis of chemical weathering of stone monuments to the scientists, and not to those who clearly have no professional training, but who have only unfounded fears. Brock Way From: "macbetty" Subject: reading tombstones I have received two different sights , both saying pretty much the same thing thank you Nelda and Delbert the only safe way is to use reflected sun light. (USE A MIRROR) Never apply anything to a stone. Sometimes a video shows the writing better then a normal camera. Cemetery Conservation and Tombstone Care http://www.progenealogists.com/tombstonecare.htm Good article on why not to use shaving cream (or really any other substance) http://www.savinggraves.org/education/bookshelf/shavingcream.htm __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ==== TNMARION Mailing List ==== *********************************************************************** PLEASE NOTE: This list is for queries and replies, comments, requests for help, and other genealogical related information that is of interest to researchers having a connection or a possible connection to Marion County, Tennessee. There is no soliciting or advertising of any item or service for sale allowed. Betty McBee - list administrator-- [email protected] . Marion County Web Site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnmario2/ *********************************************************************** ============================== New! Family Tree Maker 2005. Build your tree and search for your ancestors at the same time. Share your tree with family and friends. Learn more: http://landing.ancestry.com/familytreemaker/2005/tour.aspx?sourceid=14599&targetid=5429