Much of the lettering and ornamentation that adorns memorials today is created by the artistic process of sand-carving. Workers prepare the memorial for sand-carving by applying a coat of rubber to the surface to be carved. Next, the design to be sand-carved is transferred to the rubber from a full-size tracing prepared by the drafting department. Craftsmen known as “stencil cutters” cut the rubber along the lines of the design and peel away portions of the rubber, transforming the blank rubber sheet into a working stencil.

The memorial and stencil is now moved over conveyors into one of the sand-carving booths. The operator stands behind a shielded opening, directing a stream of abrasive that is blown under pressure of about one hundred pounds per square inch. When the abrasive strikes the rubber, it merely bounces off; but where the rubber has been cut away, the abrasive etches the pattern into the granite. This one-step method is used to produce letters and other two-dimensional designs. Although sand-carving has reduced the need for hand-cut letters, it has not eliminated the artistry required to produce fine lettering. Rock of Ages’ expert sand-carvers produce deeply sunk lettering with sharply defined edges.

To create three-dimensional ornamentation, such as flowers, the process may be repeated several times. Some areas previously exposed are masked and new areas are exposed. The memorial is returned to the sand-carving booth, where fine steel-shot abrasive is used to create rounded edges and delicate details that closely resemble hand carving.

Not only does sand-carving cut the granite, but also it changes the appearance of its surface by highlighting the lighter aspects of the stone. In contrast, the polishing process darkens the stone. By combining polished surfaces with sand-carved lettering and ornamentation, beautiful contrasts are obtained that aid in design. This same principle is exploited in the process of etching. A skilled engraver begins with a polished granite surface; black granites, because they yield the greatest contrast, are best suited for etching. The engraver uses a diamond-tipped engraving tool to selectively remove some of the polished areas, creating the design from the contrast obtained between the darker polished surface and the lighter “scratched” areas. Master etchers create photo-quality portraiture using this technique.