I realize this is years after your initial post, but I *just* put two gravestones up this morning. Then, an afternoon tornado warning sent 70mph winds through my neighborhood. Had to take the kids and dog into the basement. But the gravestones are unphased. Thank you for this incredible idea.
A template is a great idea. All my tombstones have unique spacing requirements for the rebar, which makes it a pain to set or rearrange the tombstones. I would also recommend, whenever possible, drill before you carve and paint your tombstone. A drilling oops before you've done all that work won't feel nearly as painful. In some areas, it's harder to find thick foam for tombstones, so we resort to laminating a couple layers of thinner stuff. You can notch channels out of your two layers and glue in the PVC as the same time you glue your two layers together, thus avoiding the need to drill altogether.
LOVE this approach. Your comment at the end about not having mounting material on the back and making easier to stack is spot on. I've got a sheet of plywood glued on the back with eye bolts that hold the rebar, but I need two eye bolts and long rebar to accomplish this. By putting the glue IN the whole, rather than on the PVC pipe, you're pushing the glue into the hole instead of the hole pushing the glue down the PVC pipe. This is a great method for mortise and tenon joints in woodworking, also.
Nice! This is much better than what I had done before years ago. Loved the template idea too, so smart. Will be implementing this on the new props this year, Thanks for sharing the idea and how to!
Me: hits "play." Music: Begins Husband, after three notes: "Oh, are you watching another one of your Halloween videos?" Love this one - simple, and full of useful tips. I might have thought to drill holes & use wood dowels, but rebar? Making (and labeling!) a template? Tensioning the rebar by positioning it on the inner part of the template holes? Lining the tombstone holes with PVC? Nope, would never have occured to me. Watching it I was all, "Oh, of course! That makes so much sense! Why didn't I think of this?" Many thanks!
Another great video Derek, and great tip! All of your videos are so impressive, professional, and yet so simple and accessible to anyone! Really well done buddy! Thanks for always sharing and teaching! Cheers🎃👍
This is the method i use but with only one pipe in the center of the tombstone. No need to mess with a template and I've never really had to bother with them twisting in the wind anyway. Thanks for the video
I appreciate your help, I wish I knew about how to anchor my stones 15 years ago when I started making grave markers. I had to go back and add pvc pipes to my old Stones. That being said, please do a video of building pvc pipe's into stones as another option.. I personally build my flat stones out of a 3 one inch layers of foam. The middle layer I cut out slots for the pvc pipe's. I also create much larger tombstones that are 3 to 4 feet wide and 4-5 feet tall & really have to preplan the staking system. I use a combination of scary lady videos and Davis graveyards approach to my staking system. For the staking jig I cut 2 boards with holes and spaced them about a foot apart from each other with 2x4's at each end & I leave a length of PVC pipe between the holes as a added guide. That helps me make sure each stake remain's parallel to each other, Even if the ground is not level. I figure and there's lots of haunters who struggle with staking system's.
I used this method when I initially made my tombstones. It worked ok, but wasn't ideal as I had to pound the rebar into the ground. Once, I actually raptured a pipe in our irrigation system. Needless to say my husband wasn't happy.... So I had to come up with another way to anchor my tombstones. I used long landscape fabric staples and pierced the tombstone at the base and each side, parallel to the ground. I left about and inch of the staple to stick out from the side. Then I used two more staples to anchor the tombstone to the ground, incerting them though the first staple and into the ground at different angles. It's quick and easy and the installation is super quick.
Great idea. Wish I could utilize this method. I've tried similar in the past but I live in a valley and it just shreds tombstones. I end up having to trace and cut the tombstones on plywood and glue it to the back. I then just screw in small garden fence posts to the tombstones and hammer them in from there.
for my tombstones.....i have never waterproofed them...i used the same thick insulation foam he uses in the video, and just use cheap acrylic apple barrel brand paint from walmart (the non gloss 50 cents a bottle kind) i have some from over 17 yrs ago that still look good (snow, rain sun wind) .....last yr was the 1st time i had to just touch up a few edges. if the foam had not been blue or purple you would have never noticed the wear...a few had green foam and looked pretty cool and weathered so i left them be but only took me like 2 minutes a rombstone to touch up the others.
Great project! I'm curious, what diameter size of rebar did you use in your 1/2 inch pex pipe? The smallest I can find is about 10 mm, which won't quite fit inside 1/2 pipe
Wow. This is the exact same method I use. And I mean EXACT. A 2x3 template and rebar. I use electrical conduit for my hole reinforcement. My yard full of tombstones all use the same template. With the rebar tilted just a bit I can even raise up the tombstone a couple inches off the ground if I need to.
I did. It was a commission piece I did around the same time that I was making this video. Its since moved on to it's new home, but if you want to learn more about how I make my tombstones you should check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/IEAAqlxw0IQ/v-deo.html
@@VanOaksProps I have a hand made spooky wooden two story house that is white with a red roof. I dripped hot wax all down on it and stuck on some plastic greenery on it. Makes it look creepy. Insulation tape is alittle bit on the windows, a sgin saying; " Stay Out!" with green lighting inside. I'm waiting for my second Jason then will maybe make a short video with pictures making it look like the Jason's are alive. I scored and got a REAL COLLECTORS JASON DOLL with some of his skeleton showing in spots and the best quality one !!! The thing will probably take forever to come. They have gone for $600. In the past and more which I think is crazy. But they only made a small number of them. When I bought mine there were only 2 of lesser quality and one best quality left....They really wanted to sell them so I got mine for close to $100. --- Not bad .
My left hand is different from my right as a result of a rare birth defect so I do everything right handed so that it doesn't distract from the learning.
Dollar Store tombstones are typically beaded foam and are a bit more fragile than pink/blue foam. Hollywood Haunter has a great video on using Dollar Store tombstones that might be helpful: ua-cam.com/video/OpCAfhXtQn0/v-deo.html
How thick are the tombstones in this video? It seems the template is a 1x3 but it looks like it sticks out beyond the foam thickness in the video. Are the tombstones actually 2" thick? I'm trying to make sure this will work with the PVC and bit sizes shown for a 2" thick foam.
My store bought tombstones stood up to wind fine with the stakes they came with but they still suffered from the wind in a way I doubt this helps much with: when the wind couldn't blow my tombstones away it simply broke 2/3. I don't like foam tombstones at all.
A lot of the issue is with the type of foam and thickness. Most store bought tombstones are made of EPS (bead foam) and are roughly 1" thick. So they're at a deficit before you've gotten them home. Using foam like the kind I did in the video will definitely improve your odds, since it's expanded (XPS) foam and is 2" thick. So it's dense and rigid.
honestly I just get a shovel, drive it into my yard in a line the same width of the tombstone and about the width of the head, use the shovel for leverage to peel back the turf, and wedge the tombstone into the gap. I find it looks more natural because it's actually wedged into the ground.
@@VanOaksProps when the wind is strong enough, the bottom of the tombstones are still in the ground. the rest of the tombstone, however.. yet to be found.
I have been using rebar for 15 years now we have 14 mile an hour winds today not a wiggle out of my stones
That's awesome. Good to know this works even in high winds.
Paul what exactly do you use cut a piece of small rebar stick in the ground with the hammer 🔨 and then stab it into the Styrofoam??
I realize this is years after your initial post, but I *just* put two gravestones up this morning. Then, an afternoon tornado warning sent 70mph winds through my neighborhood. Had to take the kids and dog into the basement. But the gravestones are unphased. Thank you for this incredible idea.
A template is a great idea. All my tombstones have unique spacing requirements for the rebar, which makes it a pain to set or rearrange the tombstones.
I would also recommend, whenever possible, drill before you carve and paint your tombstone. A drilling oops before you've done all that work won't feel nearly as painful.
In some areas, it's harder to find thick foam for tombstones, so we resort to laminating a couple layers of thinner stuff. You can notch channels out of your two layers and glue in the PVC as the same time you glue your two layers together, thus avoiding the need to drill altogether.
LOVE this approach. Your comment at the end about not having mounting material on the back and making easier to stack is spot on. I've got a sheet of plywood glued on the back with eye bolts that hold the rebar, but I need two eye bolts and long rebar to accomplish this.
By putting the glue IN the whole, rather than on the PVC pipe, you're pushing the glue into the hole instead of the hole pushing the glue down the PVC pipe. This is a great method for mortise and tenon joints in woodworking, also.
I can’t wait to see what he uses. It’ll help me from having to steal real tombstones for my display. My back can’t take it anymore. 😂😂
😆 🤣 😁
Is this guy a genius or what!!! Thank you so much
Another good one! This is the first tutorial I have seen suggesting using a template for marking out the PVC and the accompanying rebar. Well done!
Thanks buddy! It’s a big time saver especially if you like to change your mind and want to try different tombstones in different locations.
Nice! This is much better than what I had done before years ago. Loved the template idea too, so smart. Will be implementing this on the new props this year, Thanks for sharing the idea and how to!
Glad it was helpful!
Me: hits "play." Music: Begins Husband, after three notes: "Oh, are you watching another one of your Halloween videos?" Love this one - simple, and full of useful tips. I might have thought to drill holes & use wood dowels, but rebar? Making (and labeling!) a template? Tensioning the rebar by positioning it on the inner part of the template holes? Lining the tombstone holes with PVC? Nope, would never have occured to me. Watching it I was all, "Oh, of course! That makes so much sense! Why didn't I think of this?" Many thanks!
Glad you found it useful!
Dude u rock. This is saving me so much time and materials. I really appreciate it.
Another great video Derek, and great tip! All of your videos are so impressive, professional, and yet so simple and accessible to anyone! Really well done buddy! Thanks for always sharing and teaching! Cheers🎃👍
Thanks guys!
I'm so glad I saw this before starting to build my tombstones for next year!
It’s a big time saver.
I find that affixing long wooden stakes to the back works well.
This is the method i use but with only one pipe in the center of the tombstone. No need to mess with a template and I've never really had to bother with them twisting in the wind anyway. Thanks for the video
Thanks for sharing
I appreciate your help, I wish I knew about how to anchor my stones 15 years ago when I started making grave markers. I had to go back and add pvc pipes to my old Stones.
That being said, please do a video of building pvc pipe's into stones as another option..
I personally build my flat stones out of a 3 one inch layers of foam. The middle layer I cut out slots for the pvc pipe's.
I also create much larger tombstones that are 3 to 4 feet wide and 4-5 feet tall & really have to preplan the staking system.
I use a combination of scary lady videos and Davis graveyards approach to my staking system.
For the staking jig I cut 2 boards with holes and spaced them about a foot apart from each other with 2x4's at each end & I leave a length of PVC pipe between the holes as a added guide. That helps me make sure each stake remain's parallel to each other, Even if the ground is not level.
I figure and there's lots of haunters who struggle with staking system's.
I used this method when I initially made my tombstones. It worked ok, but wasn't ideal as I had to pound the rebar into the ground. Once, I actually raptured a pipe in our irrigation system. Needless to say my husband wasn't happy....
So I had to come up with another way to anchor my tombstones. I used long landscape fabric staples and pierced the tombstone at the base and each side, parallel to the ground. I left about and inch of the staple to stick out from the side. Then I used two more staples to anchor the tombstone to the ground, incerting them though the first staple and into the ground at different angles.
It's quick and easy and the installation is super quick.
Thanks for the tip!
@@VanOaksProps No, thank you! Your videos are awesome! Can't wait to try some of these technics this year.
My brain can't quite visualize what you're explaining. Specifically the piercing that you did of the tombstone.
Such great tutorial videos and explanations! Thanks for sharing all your tips and tricks, absolutely love all of these tips, THANK YOU!
WE LOVE YOUR CHANNEL
I love your music!
Great idea. Wish I could utilize this method. I've tried similar in the past but I live in a valley and it just shreds tombstones. I end up having to trace and cut the tombstones on plywood and glue it to the back. I then just screw in small garden fence posts to the tombstones and hammer them in from there.
That's a great method, too!
Can't wait Derek!
Great video
Fantastic channel
Stay happy healthy and fluid
Perfect Derek!
Thanks so much
Another amazing technique to share. Thanks as always!
Thanks buddy!
Awesome idea thanks for sharing 💀🎃
Excellent thank you so much
I live in Florida and we have lots of rain even during the Halloween season do you have any videos for whether proof Halloween outdoor decorations?
This is the only one currently.
Okay and where can I purchase that waterproof stuff?
for my tombstones.....i have never waterproofed them...i used the same thick insulation foam he uses in the video, and just use cheap acrylic apple barrel brand paint from walmart (the non gloss 50 cents a bottle kind) i have some from over 17 yrs ago that still look good (snow, rain sun wind) .....last yr was the 1st time i had to just touch up a few edges. if the foam had not been blue or purple you would have never noticed the wear...a few had green foam and looked pretty cool and weathered so i left them be but only took me like 2 minutes a rombstone to touch up the others.
Great video as always! Where are you getting 2” foam in California?
There’s a few places. Foam mart, Haunters Foam, and a supply company out in Ontario who’s name I can recall at the moment.
I can't help but think this might have to be from my wind comment on your rocking tombstone video. 🤣. Great video thank you
Quite possibly!
amazing. Keep them up bro!
Thanks!
Nice thinking using a template! Great video!
Thanks!
Thats how I do mine. Thanks for sharing
You bet
Great project! I'm curious, what diameter size of rebar did you use in your 1/2 inch pex pipe? The smallest I can find is about 10 mm, which won't quite fit inside 1/2 pipe
3/8" x 12" rebar inside of standard 1/2" PVC, not pex.
Wow. This is the exact same method I use. And I mean EXACT. A 2x3 template and rebar. I use electrical conduit for my hole reinforcement. My yard full of tombstones all use the same template. With the rebar tilted just a bit I can even raise up the tombstone a couple inches off the ground if I need to.
Yeah. It's a great method. I kick myself for not using it sooner.
Great tip, thank you!
Thanks for checking out the video!
I am so terrified to drill into my tombstones but this is by far the best way to secure the tombstones I think.
Wow, did you also make that incredible Master Gracey tombstone behind you? I would love to see more on that!
I did. It was a commission piece I did around the same time that I was making this video. Its since moved on to it's new home, but if you want to learn more about how I make my tombstones you should check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/IEAAqlxw0IQ/v-deo.html
Brilliant!!!!! Where did you get that hat?
The hat is a blank New Era baseball cap and the patch comes from Creepyco.com
Even though my very little miniature GraveYard will stay inside I want it as protected as possible...Thank you!!
You're very welcome!
@@VanOaksProps I have a hand made spooky wooden two story house that is white with a red roof. I dripped hot wax all down on it and stuck on some plastic greenery on it.
Makes it look creepy.
Insulation tape is alittle bit on the windows, a sgin saying; " Stay Out!" with green lighting inside.
I'm waiting for my second Jason then will maybe make a short video with pictures making it look like the Jason's are alive. I scored and got a REAL COLLECTORS JASON DOLL with some of his skeleton showing in spots and the best quality one !!! The thing will probably take forever to come. They have gone for $600. In the past and more which I think is crazy. But they only made a small number of them.
When I bought mine there were only 2 of lesser quality and one best quality left....They really wanted to sell them so I got mine for close to $100. --- Not bad .
Genius 🤩
Thanks!
Love your videos. Question why do you only use one hand?
My left hand is different from my right as a result of a rare birth defect so I do everything right handed so that it doesn't distract from the learning.
I never would have noticed. So many times people are using the other hand to hold the camera.
Yep. Using both hands also has a tendency to block the camera from being able to see, unless you film from the front.
Ive been wantint to do this but I have some dollar store sandwiched ones. Would this mess up the beaded foam?
Dollar Store tombstones are typically beaded foam and are a bit more fragile than pink/blue foam. Hollywood Haunter has a great video on using Dollar Store tombstones that might be helpful: ua-cam.com/video/OpCAfhXtQn0/v-deo.html
How thick are the tombstones in this video? It seems the template is a 1x3 but it looks like it sticks out beyond the foam thickness in the video. Are the tombstones actually 2" thick? I'm trying to make sure this will work with the PVC and bit sizes shown for a 2" thick foam.
It’s 2” foam.
@@VanOaksProps Thank you. Super helpful. I think you also sell finished stuff on Etsy too?
Yep! Vanoaksprops.Etsy.com
@@VanOaksProps awesome I'll check that out too! I assume that PVC you are using is schedule 40?
That’s correct.
This topic is on my episode list for when I launch my channel too lol. I wonder if our methods are similar.
How'd we do? Same approach?
As a fellow Californian, I cannot thank you ENOUGH for this video! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching.
My store bought tombstones stood up to wind fine with the stakes they came with but they still suffered from the wind in a way I doubt this helps much with: when the wind couldn't blow my tombstones away it simply broke 2/3. I don't like foam tombstones at all.
A lot of the issue is with the type of foam and thickness. Most store bought tombstones are made of EPS (bead foam) and are roughly 1" thick. So they're at a deficit before you've gotten them home. Using foam like the kind I did in the video will definitely improve your odds, since it's expanded (XPS) foam and is 2" thick. So it's dense and rigid.
I don’t get it. If you drill 10” deep and you have 20” pvc, how is that sitting flush?
You cut it into two pieces. Drill two holes.
how long is the rebar?
Roughly 14-16”
I want to see it already i my out. Lol and they reining in Florida almost every day to
The wait is over! What'd you think?
Another great info video 👌✌️
@@Alexanderfuentes1589 Thanks!!
honestly I just get a shovel, drive it into my yard in a line the same width of the tombstone and about the width of the head, use the shovel for leverage to peel back the turf, and wedge the tombstone into the gap. I find it looks more natural because it's actually wedged into the ground.
I love that. How do they do in the wind?
@@VanOaksProps when the wind is strong enough, the bottom of the tombstones are still in the ground. the rest of the tombstone, however.. yet to be found.
@@VanOaksProps walmart tombstones.
I want to do this but I'm scared of hitting a gas or water pipe 😢
It's definitely important to know where those things are before doing this.
I thought it said waterproof.lol