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Re-filling gold text on engraved marble
Hi Folks
A customer has asked me to refurbish an engraved black marble gravestone where the original gold infill has all but faded away.
I’ve done this many times on engraved brass or silver plaques, but never on the marble.
Any tips on what paint to use (I want to avoid leafing), and is there any special technique I should know about?
Cheers
Martin
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14 Replies
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Martin,
We do quite a few grave markers & would always use Windsor & Newton Acrylic gold – Series 3. This seems to be very outdoor durable & have not had any problems with it. I use a sponge & rub the paint into the marble in circular motions. Be liberal with the paint. Then I use a stainless steel blade to remove any excess paint. When it’s dry, I use the blade again to remove paint from the face of the marble, now you’re left with your new gold lettering.hope this is of help to you.
Dale.
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Like Dale we do a good number of headstones too, granite though.
We always use oneshot enamels, again have been very reliable and durable outdoors.
Providing there is a polished surface on the stone, slap the gold in the letters as described above but then when its completely dry (48 hours or so) go over any overspill with a cuttlefish bone. Its tough enough to remove the excess paint but wont damage the polished surface. I know its sounds far fetched but I picked this tip up from a brush guy and it works….. really!
Andy
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Forgot to say – thats the soft "chalky" side of the cuttlefish bone not the hard shell like bit.
Andy
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Now you tell me
here is me went and ruined my great Grandmothers headstone! -
Well, that’s the paint sorted, but where the hell do you buy a cuttlefish bone?
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The pet shop John, it’s what budgies chew on.
We buy kilo bags from Combined Masonry Supplies, but we go through a fair amount.
Andy
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Brilliant! Thanks for the info guys – I,m just wrestling with the budgie as we speak….
Martin -
Hmmm
That will explain why all the crows sit on my grans headstone then, and here was me thinking it was because she was a witch 😕 -
Seriously doubt that acrylic paint would be up to the job, in the long term.
It will go green with age and frost will affect adhesion.
One-shot would be much better. I have done these and a quick wipe up to the edge of the letters with a cloth wrapped tightly over your thumb means you don’t have to go back. Just move the cloth a small bit each time to get to a clean bit. Hope that makes sense. -
Harry,
we’ve some jobs done for 6 or 7 years now with the acrylic & they look pretty much like day one. Possible a little duller after this length of time. Certain paints have a higher permanence rating than others. -
Years since I used it but I’m surprised, Dale.
anytime I used the metallic series without a varnish it went green, even indoors.
Its metallic look was never really that impressive IMO. Maybe they have improved the formulation.This stuff, while expensive is brilliant, the Sovereign Gold is the closest thing to Gold Leaf I have found.
decoratingdirect.co.uk -
I’ve never come across it before, but after reading about it, it looks the business. I’ll give it a go!
"I will try anything once, said the Nun to the Bishop!"
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You can get it from MRCB in Dublin, Dale.
Be prepared for Toxic Wallet Shock though.mrcb.ie
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Thanks for that Harry.
I think I have bought things from them a long while back.
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