There will never ever be too many tutorials on tombstone carving. Each stone build is unique, and something new is learned every time.

I think you being "THAT GUY" is why we all watch your videos. that attention to detail if what separates you from the pack.

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching!

such a criminally underrated channel, gatdang

That looks so awesomely real.

Nice stone! One of my favorite techniques is using water and a blowtorch. I tend to get a little heavy handed as I enjoy it a little too much, ha ha! Your paint staining looks great. Thanks for sharing!

The water and blowtorch touch is amazing!

That looks amazing. I’m inspired to try something based on something you said. I’m going to do the spray paint on the stencils, but intentionally too close. It might make a cool effect if the tombstone is so old that that aging has crumbled where the letters were carved.

Yeah, you’re that guy all right… I thought I’d seen it all where these are concerned, yet you somehow managed to improve upon the process IMO. Final look is pretty amazing and I definitely took some notes. 😬 Cheers, Mr Van Oaks!

It looks so good! I'm glad the two washes were slightly different colors. I think that's important with aging. I also think it could have used a small spritzing of a lighter color because sometimes aged stone has some light spots. That or a small amount of light colored dry brushing. But that's just a small nitpick. The finished result looks incredible

@VanOaksProps

9 күн бұрын

Thank you! I used to dry brush over the top but found that it really muted the weathering. Plus I’ve never really seen a similar look on real tombstones.

And this is why we are friends! Outstanding as always!

Wow fantastic 🪦 awesome job

Always make sure to use acrylic or latex based paints. Early in my tombstone making career I made the mistake once of grabbing an oil based paint in my collection because I needed the color. I was using it for weathering, which goes on fine. The problem is any additional paint over it after it dries, does not adhere. So areas that were not touched by the oil paint would get darker and more weathered, while the areas that had oil paint remained the same color.

Hands down the best DIY tombstone tutorials out there. I followed this method a few times now with amazing results. Another great paint to use for the base sealing coat is masonry / foundation paint. Many brands are tintable and you can get them sand already added which adds to the stone look. Not sure how cost effective it is vs. tinting and sanding yourself. It had me at open can, stir and apply haha. Texturing is the fun part for me. I've been applying my aging with sponge brushes and will usually layer the colors several times and dry brush over that with a lighter color to give a sun bleached marble kind of look. Last is hitting it with a clear sealer to protect the colors. This year I plan to do a few new ones as well as redo some of my favorite store bought ones including thickening them and adding PVC sleeves for rebar stakes. So much fun.

@VanOaksProps

15 күн бұрын

Thanks so much!

Great stuff, as usual. I like the lettering enhancement.

Man, I always love your tutorial vids! I need to get back to my workshop...

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

Glad you like them!

Might have to make me one of those plexiglass plates for my Dremel. I find myself having to bridge large gaps sometimes and that would really help out vs doing it with just the router guide like I do now.

Another great project! Your weathering skills are amazing. Thanks for posting!

The next time you're doing an aged tombstone use some cheap black spray paint, but spray it super close. The solvents will eat away the foam and also leave the letters black. The errosion lightly affects the letterform edges, but just enough to look old. Then you can skip all the work of routing, sanding and painting and do something else with those 8 hours. We did a series of 77 numbered tombstones using the spray paint to chemically etch the foam and it saved a weeks worth of time. If you do a lot of aged tombstones and have a sprayer, you can spray your own paint/acetone ratio to tweak the amount of etching. For an alternate look, you can also use the vinyl letters as a mask rather than a stencil. If you place the vinyl letters inside of a taped area and spray the whole area, you get raised leters against a textured relief which works really well even on tombstones not meant to be look old. Another thing you can try if you are texturing a large number of tombstones or wall flats is to mix some acetone into your base coat so you skip the heat texturing, which can be slow for larger areas. If you have to use propane for larger areas, a weed burner attachment lets you cover a lot of ground much faster.

@VanOaksProps

16 күн бұрын

Great tips.

Love the design and epitaph! Thanks again

Just wow. You make it look easy. :)

Awesome job, Derek!

Love it blessings from Australia

Super cool design and I love the epitaph!

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

Glad you like it!

Outstanding work! Keep at it. Cheers!

That is deliciously good! Thanks for sharing!

@VanOaksProps

5 күн бұрын

My pleasure

Stupendous as always!!

Such great techniques. Many thanks for sharing your secrets! 👏

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Looks amazing, you are so talented.

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

Thanks so much 😊

Looks so good! The detail! UGH! I wish! haha. You really do inspire and make me feel like I wanna get up and make something cool. Thanks for sharing!

@VanOaksProps

12 күн бұрын

You can do it!

Perfect!

That looks amazing😊

If you don't have a dremel/routing tool, you can 'engrave' an epitaph by using a stick on stencil that covers the 'high' areas and spraying it with spray paint, intentionally letting it eat away what's uncovered. This gives a more rounded depression, but it's good for very old looking stones. This method is also extremely good for making large faux brick walls because the 'grout' is very realistic.

NOICE!

Looks awesome!

That turned out awesome!!

@VanOaksProps

16 күн бұрын

Thank you!

Thank you for coming home to Halloween.

Another great video, cheers!

@VanOaksProps

16 күн бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

Looks great. I really need to make some new ones. I made a few several years ago but they didn't last the season, due to heavy wind and the wrong kind of glue.

Great job as always!

@VanOaksProps

16 күн бұрын

Thank you!

Awesome stuff as always bro!!

Another great looking prop! Thanks again!

Awesome Job!!! That's Amazing Details!!!! Thank You For Showing A Different Way Of Making Tombstones!!! 👏👍💯😃👊😎

@VanOaksProps

13 күн бұрын

My pleasure!!

Excellent video as always. Thank you!

@VanOaksProps

6 күн бұрын

My pleasure!

I'm late to the part but love the final product, as always!

@VanOaksProps

15 күн бұрын

Thanks!

I never get tired of seeing Tombstone videos. I was surprised that you went with a different brand of masonry sealer. Normally, I've seen you use Drylock. Also, what do you recommend for weatherproofing the finish? And, did you add PVC to the base for mounting over rebar? Thanks for sharing.

@VanOaksProps

15 күн бұрын

If you’re using drylok or latex paint you don’t need an additional sealer. As for mounting, this tombstone is going to have some additional animatronics and so the base & installation will be a bit different.

Can't wait to see it in person on our annual pilgrimage to see your decorations each Halloween. It's a good excuse to make the trek from Woodland Hills out there so we can see your house and then get ribs from Doctor Hogly Wogly's Tyler Texas BBQ! ;-)

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

This one is for a subscriber, so it won’t be at our place. But you’re welcome to come by to see the “regulars” in our cemetery.

Always inspired by these, but struggle with fhe closed cell foam supply in the UK. Best availability seems to be foil backed and more costly than habing another child.😊

Thank you for another great video. Have you ever made a video about making the rotary base plate? I feel like, while not a spectacular, crowd pleasing piece of information, this would be a game changer. I'd love to make one....or if you sell them, buy one. :)

@VanOaksProps

16 күн бұрын

Thank you! I do sell them in my etsy shop and there's a link to them in the video description.

Great video! Unfortunately I missed the live… if you actually see this… Why masonry sealer and not just latex paint?

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

Because of the texture & body of the paint. You could use latex paint too, I just prefer the Drylok

@joen8529

17 күн бұрын

@@VanOaksProps Oh, nice! That’s great thinking. Thanks for the response man, I appreciate it!

I was expecting the white dry brush at the end.

@VanOaksProps

16 күн бұрын

That's how I'd done it in the past, but I've stopped because it takes away all the characters in the paint wash

👍

Great tutorial as usual! Wondering if you have any tips on creating realistic lichen to add to a tombstone?

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

I’ve been meaning to try this idea I had where you’d put a drop of acrylic paint on the tombstone and then blow on it through a straw to get it to fan out. I haven’t tried it but I think it could work with some practice.

I came for the props, but damn, do you have a great voice! I imagine people tell you that all the time-curious if you do voice acting.

@VanOaksProps

16 күн бұрын

Thank you! I’m not a voice actor but I’m open to the opportunity.

It would great if you could let us also know things like which glue you use.

@VanOaksProps

16 күн бұрын

Links in the video description.

@NOYFB982

16 күн бұрын

@@VanOaksProps You rock! Thank you!! Love your work.

As always, amazing. What is the width dimensions on your vinyl cutter?

@VanOaksProps

16 күн бұрын

12 inch

Very nice. I get so many great tips here. I thought you had an X-Carve, why use the Dremel instead of the X-Carve?

@VanOaksProps

15 күн бұрын

The dremel is faster for me.

I’m also the guy who likes to over think the details, and should consider the 10’ rule, but often focuses on the 10” instead.

Instead of a dedicated palm router, could you use your Dremel with the plunger router attachment to cut in those base pieces?

@VanOaksProps

6 күн бұрын

I don’t think they make decorative bits like those for rotary tools, but if you had the desire to create that look using a rotary tool you absolutely could.

@rickarchambault4756

4 күн бұрын

They do have some smaller decorative bits on Amazon but I'm not sure they'd be as good.

When will you have the 5” carving plate back in stock?

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

Just updated the listing. They’re back in stock.

Curious about the hot wire table. Did you make that or buy it?

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

I won it from the nice folks at hotwirefoamfactory.com

Do you have instructions on how you made your guide for your dremmel?

@VanOaksProps

12 күн бұрын

I don’t. But they’re available in my Etsy store. Https://vanoaksprops.etsy.com

@vanoaksprops. Are you running workshops at Mid Summer Scream again?

@VanOaksProps

12 күн бұрын

Yep! The workshop classes & schedule will be announced soon.

@lawnmut81woo

12 күн бұрын

Awesome. Looking forward to the show. Let me know if you need help with any of the workshops.

Would a heat gun work instead of the blowtorch?

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

It can, but it may take a bit longer. You’ll definitely want to test it out first.

What size Dremel bit did you use for carving?

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

It’s the #194

What is the typeface you're using? I'm always on the hunt for good looking tombstone typefaces (not the cheesy "creepy" ones)

@VanOaksProps

10 күн бұрын

I don’t recall but it’s nothing fancy.

Waiting for the day when you get a CnC for efficiency

@VanOaksProps

15 күн бұрын

I had one, but I didn’t find it to be as efficient as just hand carving with a rotary tool.

Would you be so kind to tell me where I can buy the foam to make these tombstones. I looked at HomeDepot and can’t seem to find. Can you provide information please. Love your work

@VanOaksProps

16 күн бұрын

I’d check Lowe’s. They had it near me.

Like it..! ! Pewq

Happy to see you back in Halloween mode

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

Gotta change it up so that I don’t get burnt out on either of my favorites.

So I'm looking to make a wall in my room to replicate the look of a Galaxy's Edge stone wall. I'm thinking of using this method. However, I'm curious to know if this method with give the foam a solid coat that feels like stone. Ive heard tile mortar works great for hardcoating foam, but i also dont want to lose any of that stone detail that comes from the water and torch method. Any recommendations? Thanks for sharing.

@VanOaksProps

Күн бұрын

You could follow this exact method and use the same masonry sealer (Drylok Original) to paint it and give it that stone-like texture. Plus you can have the Drylok tinted to a sandy color of your choosing.

@603VIL

Күн бұрын

@VanOaksProps Looking into this as we speak. Yeah, I'm seeing that it comes in a sand or beige color. I think the sand color will be a perfect color for the base. Thanks a ton!

@VanOaksProps

Күн бұрын

@@603VIL or you can just get white and pick a color swatch from the wall and they’ll tint it for you.

Hello, great job - I like your 👓Brille - what model and Brand is it? Cheers Mario

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

Thanks! They're from Fytoo and the style is called "noyes." Here's a link: shrsl.com/4kikp

@QUEERPASSBAYERN

17 күн бұрын

Thanx - ordered 2 🤓😉

I thought you used dryloc to paint with.

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

That’s correct

Do sell the epitaphs cut in the vinyl? Or do I have the files so we can download them and print them ourselves? You know give back to the community.

@VanOaksProps

17 күн бұрын

I don’t currently.

@glennharris5043

10 күн бұрын

@@VanOaksProps what brand vinyl cutter are you using so I can buy one?

@VanOaksProps

10 күн бұрын

@@glennharris5043 I really like the Silhouette Cameo. I bought it over 10 years ago and use it a ton and it’s still working flawlessly.

@glennharris5043

9 күн бұрын

@@VanOaksProps I can only find the cameo 5 so it will have to do. Thank you.

What size width is your cutter 12” 24”?

@VanOaksProps

6 күн бұрын

It’s the 16” hotwirefoamfactory.com/K03DPV-16in_Pro_Vari_HeatKit.html

@deadmansgully9789

6 күн бұрын

@@VanOaksProps lol I meant the vinyl cutter width. But thanks for the foam cutter information.

@VanOaksProps

6 күн бұрын

@@deadmansgully9789 ahh. It’s the 12” silhouette cameo