For future reference, avoid anything metal when cleaning or detailing headstones. You run the risk of leaving scratch marks in the stone. A hard plastic putty knife will do the same thing, and won't leave marks.

I used this method today 9/2026. Using white paint inside lettering on a black granite stone.  It worked beautifully!

Hello Brian, the headstone looks great! I am a professional cemetery headstone and monument restorer, and I just want to caution your viewers about some things:

1) This method worked wonderfully well because the surface is POLISHED granite. DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT attempt this method on a non-polished surface. Those surfaces are left best for professionals. With a non-polished surface, any paint you get into the letter will 'bleed' into the micro fissures on the outline of the letter, creating one big mess.

2) ALWAYS seek permission before making any change to a marker, even if that change is 'just' a cleaning. In Brian's case, he determined that no one in his family had been there and he wanted to make it look great, which it does now! But families are groups of people with opinions, so there may be problems in changing something that the deed-holder or heir doesn't want changed. (Deed-holder has FINAL say!) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For example, moss and lichen may look like dirt to you, but may look like art and history to someone else. I actually do volunteer work as well as my professional work, but I won't touch any marker until I have received permission from the deed-holder or the heir. If that  information can't be found, I receive permission from the cemetery. If I can't get that, I won't do it. Additionally, many markers may fall into the 'historical' category, and even cleaning them without permission may get you into deep trouble with the local historical societies.

3) ALWAYS educate yourself on cemetery policies. There may be insurance issues, historical issues, burial issues (you don't want to be spray painting when a funeral is in the area), consistency issues (every marker should look the same), etc.

4) I simply love to see people excited about taking care of their loved one's memorials! Ask questions, seek permission, have fun! And call a professional when you need help! Thanks Brian!

You’re very kind for caring for the headstone of your grandparents. Many people don’t take the time to care. I feel every family or even every generation has one person who usually takes up the cause of making their stones clean and remembered. God bless.

I have recently started cleaning headstones and this was my next step in bringing them back.  Thank you for your very detailed video, much appreciated.

A lot of people couldn't do as good a job as this their first time. This young man may be either naturally talented and careful, and/or used to working with his hands. Not to say "don't try this at home!" It's your family's headstone. Respect.

Thanks for your
Video Brian.  The reason lettering no longer lasts is because before 1990s engravers used leaded paint; because of H&S concerns this is no longer allowed.
After watching a similar video I decided to tackle my mother and father's headstone.  I simply painted over the lettering and removed excess with a cloth soaked in paint remover
(Tip: Hold cloth firmly so it doesn't get into lettering)  I was very pleased with final result.  As were other family members.  Total time taken approx 15 minutes

I originally watched this video several years ago when I was first getting into restoring headstones. I tried the molasses and it is still the method I use today. It doesn't hurt the granite and is water soluble, so it's a win-win! Thank you so much for taking the time to create and upload this video. It is very much appreciated.

Thanks for documenting this! The result looks amazing. I'm sure anyone in your extended family who saw it would be very grateful for your work.

A wonderful restoration honoring your heritage! Families are not taking up the torch to care for these memorials. I struggle to care for our family lots. I pray the next generation will take over the caring. You are a blessing 🙏

That was just amazing, you should not have felt bad about the situation. You have honoured your grandparents wonderfully, well done, impressed

Hi Brian. Don't let the naysayer crybabies here bring you down. You did a good job and I feel that you honored your grandparents by doing this. I've seen your headstone in person, as I do a lot of volunteer restoration and repair work in that section of the cemetery.

My great aunt is buried under that pine tree in the background; small white marble stone, with her name and dates hand carved by my great-grandfather. She died of influenza at the age of five, when the Spanish Flu circled the globe. (I won't say the name of the cemetery here) Keep up the good work!

Thanks for this video..I'm feeling confident enough now to do the lettering on my grandmother's headstone..Im sure your family members would be grateful you have brought their stone back to life

i just lettered my Fathers stone and your process worked great! Thank you

Great video.  Job well done.  It was a labor of love to restore the gravestone so that their names and biographical information was readable.

So nice to see a younger family member taking care of those long gone. God bless you.

The sorgum molasses does not need to dry. I apply lithocrome immeaditly after I'm done with the molasses. I allow the paint to dry for about 15 min then take soap and water and a scrub to clean the molasses off then use the cleaner stone to take off paint. Rinse and done.

I tried this proceedure cause I figured I had nothing to lose as you could not read the lettering on my great-grandparents/grandparents grave stone & it turned out AMAZING!  I was so happy!  Make sure to have some hot soapy water on hand (I had to bring mine as no water source at cemetary) cause it does get messy!  Also, do NOT do it on a hot day as the molasses dries too quickly.  I did one side on a warm day & went great but I did the other side on a hot day & had a much tougher time getting the molasses off!  Thank you for posting this video as I am so appreciative!

If I was dead, I wouldn't mind you experimenting with methods of painting my gravestone to show others whether it works or not ;)...haha ...you are awesome...thanks for sharing...and thanks to your great great grandparents!

Remember to always start your spraay pattern off the stone and bring the apray onto the stone. This way, you won't create any runs from starting the paint spray directly onto the stone and then trying to move without getting a run.