Posts Tagged ‘tombstone’

Laser Etched Monument Maintenance

Posted: June 10, 2016 in Granite, Headstone Maintenence, Help, How To, Laser Etching, Memorial Monument, Memorial Monument Inforamtion, MIke's Laser Etching, Monument Care, Online Purchasing, Sartin Memorials, Traditional Monument, Uncategorized
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Polish 2 front and back

As with anything which is sitting out in the weather, it is important to remember to maintain your Laser Etched Memorial Monument. This is an extremely easy thing to do and we recommend that you complete maintenance at least once or twice a year.  It is a very fast and easy process and will only require the following:

-A bottle of Windex

-Several soft cloths (we recommend white washcloths)

-A tube of WHITE Oil-Based Block Printing Ink (*See Below For Ordering Details)

-A razor blade if necessary

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Here at Mike’s Laser Etching, we use Speedball Oil-Based Block Printing Ink as our highlight. It is very important that you be sure that you purchase pure white ink. If you choose to purchase the Speedball brand, the color number you should order is 3553. You can order a tube of Speedball by clicking on the below link:

https://sartinmemorialsblog.com/2014/06/18/order-your-laser-etching-highlight-online/

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elbow-grease (2)

The first step to the 6-12 month maintenance process is to clean the monument with Windex. Liberally spray the Windex over the entire polished area of your monument. Wipe clean using circular motions and don’t be afraid to apply pressure if necessary to clear the polished area of all dirt and debris. If you find that there is tree sap or something else which is not coming off of the monument, carefully use the razor blade to scrape of the substance. Although you do need to be careful not to cut yourself, the razor blade, if used correctly, will not damage the granite.

Once you are sure the monument is free of dirt and grass, it is time to refresh your highlight. First, place several small dots of the ink on the area of the laser etching. You will notice that a little goes a long way when it comes to the highlight. For a 24″ x 12″ Flush Marker with a full laser etched scene, it will take no more than a nickel size dot of ink to cover the full laser etching.

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Once you have the ink on the stone, use your cloth to begin rubbing the highlight into the etched areas in small circular motions. You will immediately see a difference in the brightness of your laser etching. Once all of the laser etchings have been covered, use the cloth to wipe the excess ink off.  After you have removed all of the excess, throw away the cloth. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO WASH THE INK OUT OF THE WASHCLOTHS.

So long as you follow these instructions and consistently maintain your monument, you will be able to enjoy the laser etched monument for years and years to come. Generations through the years will be able to appreciate the beautiful and unique monument you designed for your loved one(s) and that is our goal here at Mike’s Laser Etching/Sartin Memorials.

If you are interested in learning more about our custom laser etched monuments and tiles, call us today at 877-836-0332 or email our sales team at sara@mikeslaseretching.com.

 

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Over the years, laser etching and Jet Black granite monuments have become more popular then the more traditional colors and designs. However, there are still those clients who would like to have a laser etched photo or design included on their loved one’s monument, but who do not care for the dark granite. In order to help these clients to get exactly what they would like, we are now stocking traditional Gray granite monuments with a Jet Black inlay.

These monuments are available in both the traditional companion size (MK58) and the single size (MK56) upright monument.

The Companion Monument is shown below. This monument features a 36″ x 6″ x 24″ upright die and a matching 48″ x 12″ x 6″ rock pitched base. The base is wide enough to allow for the addition of two matching granite flower vases.

Gray w Inlay

The Single Monument is shown below. This monument features a 20″ x 6″ x 24″ upright die and a matching 32″ x 12″ x 6″ rock pitched base. The base is wide enough to allow for the addition of two matching granite flower vases.

Single Gray with Inlay

 

I came across the below monument while browsing online looking for a monument in the shape of a chair to use as an example for a client. Even though everyone here at Mike’s Laser Etching/Sartin Memorials know that we can create just about anything our clients can dream up, this monument is shocking to most of us! This just goes to show that when we say that if you can imagine it, we can create it, we aren’t kidding!

Living Room Monument

Everything on this monument is life size and made of Jet Black Granite. It is set up just like the family’s tv room and instead of carpet, they have added stones on the “floor”. Where the tv was in the family’s real tv room, they have replaced it with an oval monument which lists the information that would typically be found on a monumet: last name, first names, dates of birth, dates of passing, along with several designs that are significant to the family. When the family visits their loved one, they are able to sit on the couches and spend time with one another. Although not the most comfortable, seeing as it is made of hard granite, the family will often bring cushions to place on the couch, so they can sit for a while as they reflect on their lost loved one.

This monument proves that nothing you can imagine is too big!

Anything is possible! To find out more about creating the monument you are seeing in your imagination, please give us a call at 877-836-0332 or email us at sara@mikeslaseretching.com or heather@mikeslaseretching.com for more information! We look forward to working with you to design a beautiful and unique monument for your loved one!

How accurate are the previews that you provide to clients? Does the finished stone actually look like the preview?

We get this question a lot. I think the best way to answer it is to provide a few examples of the preview with a photo of the finished monument.

 

BOUKNIGHT 24″ x 14″ India Black Flush Marker with Sandblasted Gold Lettering & Laser Etched Lettering and Design Preview:

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BOUKNIGHT 24″ x 14″ India Black Flush Marker with Sandblasted Gold Lettering & Laser Etched Lettering and Design Completed Monument:

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PROCTOR Single Upright Carnation Pink with Custom Rose in Heart with Sandblasted Lettering Preview

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PROCTOR Single Upright Carnation Pink with Custom Rose in Heart with Sandblasted Lettering Complete Monument:

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CHANDLER 24″ x 12″ Forest Green Flush Marker with Pine Cone Design and Sandblasted Lettering Preview:

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CHANDLER 24″ x 12″ Forest Green Flush Marker with Pine Cone Design and Sandblasted Lettering Complete Monument:

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CARRIER Single Jet Black Upright with Custom Laser Etched Design and Lettering Preview:

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CARRIER Single Jet Black Upright with Custom Laser Etched Design and Lettering Completed Monument:

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DUTTON Single Gray Upright with Sandblasted Lettering and Custom Design Preview:

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DUTTON Single Gray Upright with Sandblasted Lettering and Custom Design Completed Monument:

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STRAWBRIDGE MK80 24″ x 24″ Jet Black Upright with Custom Beveled Edges and Laser Etched Lettering and Design Preview:

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STRAWBRIDGE MK80 24″ x 24″ Jet Black Upright with Custom Beveled Edges and Laser Etched Lettering and Design Completed Monument:

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It has recently been brought to our attention that some clients are having a hard time viewing the “Laser Fonts” page of our website at http://www.mikeslaseretching.com/laser_fonts.html

In order to ensure that all clients can view the available fonts in order to select the font that best fits the overall design they are looking for, we have included the font options below. Please review each font and advise which one you would like to see on your preview. If there are several fonts that you like and you are not sure which one to go with, please let us know and we will create and forward a preview using each of the fonts you’ve chosen.

We have also been informed that clients are having the same issue with being able to view the Laser Designs, Sandblasting Fonts and Sandblasting Designs. In order to ensure everyone can view these and choose from them accordingly, we will be posting each of these to a blog as well. Please look for these to be posted here on our blog within the next few days. In the meantime, if you need to view one of these pages and are unable to do so on the website, please contact us at info@mlestones.com and we will forward you the images to your email.

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For more information on our products, visit our website at http://www.mikeslaseretching.com and browse our inventory, clearance and special pages. You can also call us toll free at 877-836-0332 or email us at info@mlestones.com to obtain additional information or to request a FREE preview.

We hope to hear from you soon and look forward to working with you to create a beautiful, unique memorial monument for yourself and/or your loved one!

 

If you are concerned about placing an order online, or you have had problems with the quality of another company’s products, please be sure to read our Memorial Warranty! There’s no better way to ensure our client’s are satisfied than offering a warranty to repair or replace any issues with their monument!
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This is the completed monument for:

Jane Brooks Trice, Cheryl Trice March & Christopher Lee March

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Here is the completed monument for Anton Tracy Buckheit! Feel free to share the link with your friends and family. Keep in mind that this picture was taken before the stone was installed in the cemetery.

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There is a large variety of designs which can be laser etched or sandblasted onto your monument. The type of design you can use depends on the type of monument you have chosen. To find out which method must be used on your monument, please read the following blog:

https://mikeslaseretchingsartinmemorials.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/question-of-the-week-what-color-granite-should-i-choose-for-my-monument/

To review our Sandblasting Designs, please click the following link, which will take you to the Sandblasting Designs page of our website.

http://www.mikeslaseretching.com/traditional_designs.html

To review our Laser Etched Designs, please click the following link, which will take you to the Laser Etched Designs page of our website.

http://www.mikeslaseretching.com/laser_designs.html

Please keep in mind that all monuments which can be laser etched, can also be sandblasted. You are only limited when your monument requires only sandblasting.

If you have any questions regarding designing your monument, or to get started placing your order today, please call us at 877-836-0332 or send us an email at info@mlestones.com.

Over the past decade, the amount of products available for online purchasing has increased from 20% to 98%. Even things that you would not think possible can now be purchased online. Everything from DVD’s to clothes to groceries can be purchased online and delivered to your door!

Monuments are no exception to this. Mike’s Laser Etching/Sartin Memorials offers monuments which are available for purchase online. Although there are some people who prefer to physically go to the monument dealer, many people prefer to contact us through email. 

When you choose to work with the monument dealer in person, you must take time out of your day to drive to the monument dealer’s office. Once there, you then sit in the office while the graphic artist designs the monument. When you work with us online, you simply provide us with the product number of the monument you wish to purchase, along with the information to be included on the monument and any design numbers you would like added. We will take the information and create a preview, which is then emailed to you for review. If there is something you are not satisfied with, you simply have to respond to the email with the changes you would made. The updates will be made to the preview and we will forward it to you for approval.

If there are several family members who have come together to purchase the monument, and who all want a say in what the monument looks like, designing the monument online is much more convenient then trying to find a time when everyone can make it to the office together. Each person can advise the graphic artist as to what they would like the monument to look like and the graphic artist can take all of the suggestions and create a preview which will best satisfy everyone involved. By working through email, each person can take their time to review the previews and talk with each other about what they like or don’t like.

In addition to the convenience of ordering a monument online, there is also a money aspect. All of our customers will notice that the prices we offer are lower than most other local or online monument dealers. We order our monument directly from Europe and Asia, rather than working with a wholesale dealer in the United States. By cutting out the “middle man”, we pay a lower price. This allows us to pass the savings on to our clients. We also frequently offer online specials and clearances, so it is always good to take a look at our website, http://www.mikeslaseretching.com, to see what specials we are currently offering.

No matter where in the United States you live, Mike’s Laser Etching/Sartin Memorials can work with you to create a unique and beautiful memorial for you loved one! Contact us today to get started on designing your monument!