Use of Bronze for Making Headstones

Many different types of headstones made with different types of materials offer varied number of features. Generally, granite being a harder stone is the most commonly used material for making headstones and monuments. The choice of granite as headstone or tombstone gained popularity in the early 40’s. Many companies use efficient computer stencil cutting machines for designing and lettering on granite. This allows a higher level of volume output and greater accuracy in making monuments headstones. But, there are a number of other options which are widely used for making affordable markers which can be placed over or next to graves at the site of burial in a cemetery. Marble offers a more durable choice of making a headstone. Since it is a harder rock, it is considered to be the best option for carving and sculpting. Skilled artisans and sculptors use different types of tools for making beautiful and crafted lettering and symbols on the headstones and tombstones. Headstone made in marble offers beautiful remembrance of your loved ones who no longer exist in the world. Marble headstone requires special care and maintenance because of its vulnerability to elements like molds and fungus that usually grow on porous stone surface.

The most appealing feature of slate is its texture. Engraving can be done very easily on the slate and letter carving can be highlighted by painting on it. However due to its softness, it does not survive for long and often has a tendency to flake or crack. But it is the one of the most affordable markers that can be used as headstones or tombstones. These days, use of bronze (metal) for making headstones can be seen everywhere because of its great potential features. Bronze can be made into any shape and form and are actually blended with other metal alloys like copper, tin, lead and zinc. The making of bronze headstone or monuments involve the placing of small bronze fragments in a pot and exposing them to intense heat and temperature at around 2200 degrees which results in melting down of the metal. After the metal completely melts down and becomes liquid in form, it is poured into the molding and kept for sometime to cool down.

The finishing part of the metal consists of removing the imperfections created by the molding process. Small grinders are used for removing the minor imperfections and for the rounding of the edges. Polishing of letters and giving artistic touches to the finished bronze marker is done in the last stage of the process. Several coatings of brown oxide paint are done on the marker. After drying up of the paint, a special solvent is used to remove the raised areas of the marker. Several coatings of lacquer are also applied on the marker for the final finished look. There are many online and offline headstone and tombstone manufacturers and suppliers who offer different types of bronze grave markers and other stone material markers which can also be customized as per the requirement of the customer.