Making a cremation urn

[trackman]

I have been asked to make a urn for a woman. Any of you ever make one an can show picture?

[kmmcrafts]

I've never made them before but my brother does make and sell a few.. I don't actually know his website links.. he sells a little on etsy and it took me a few clicks to figure out his store page.. He actually has some listed on etsy so I'll link to that.. If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to send him a message if needed.. though I'm sure someone here probably has done a few and maybe can answer your questions.. https://www.etsy.com/shop/1920HookandHammer?ref=usf_2020

[Woodmaster1]

 

I am getting ready to make mine but I hate the thought of it. My wife said she wanted the box I made with a rose in it for hers.

[trackman]

I have never seen one in person. So dumb question, how do you do the lid?  Are they sealed up after or screwed on or hinged like normal box?

[Woodmaster1]

I have seen them screwed from the bottom interior size is 1 cubic inch per pound.    I don't intend for my ashes to stay in the box long. I told my daughter to cast the ashes somewhere appropriate.

Edited January 29, 2021 by Woodmaster1

[FrankEV]

JFYI.

If you do not purchase a Urn from the Creamatory, you will  receive the ashes in a cardboard box with the Ashes in a heavy plastic bag (At theat is how I received my Wifes).  The heavy shipping  box I received my wifes ashes in was about 8" x 8"  x 8" and quite heavy.

So basically any appropriatly sized and strength box would work but if there is an intent to bury the Urn, a wood box will probably not be allowed.  Each State has rules about the kind of Urn that is allowed for burial that is why they are usually ceramic of some kind. 

 

 

 

 

[Bill WIlson]

I made one for my Dad's ashes.  That was about 17 years ago.  I don't have any pictures.  We buried it.  I also fabricated a concrete vault to contain the urn.

Will this be an urn for display?  If so, that and your particular set of skills & capabilities would drive the design choice, I would think.  There are all sorts of styles.  Maybe search Google images and pick out something that looks appropriate for your circumstances.

[scrollerpete]

So far I made 3 of them, the first one was a special request from the wife of my best friend. A neighbour went to her place and she saw the urn and wanted one for her husband and one for herself, which I did make them but I  do not like to make them. Here are the puctures

[trackman]

1 hour ago, Bill WIlson said:

 

Will this be an urn for display?  

Yes it will be on display. She wants two. One for each daughter to divide ashes. Then when she goes her ashes will be included with husband/dad’s. Wants dogwood an cardinal on them. An there wedding anniversary. Thanks for all the ideas an information. Can use all the help I can get. 

[Rockytime]

My ashes will go into a couple of Ball or Mason jars then buried with a post hole digger. 

[rjweb]

Mine will probably go out in he trash, lol RJ 

[FrankEV]

5 hours ago, Rockytime said:

My ashes will go into a couple of Ball or Mason jars then buried with a post hole digger. 

That is too much work...dump in any flowing stream, lake, ocean or even dispersed by a fertilizer spreader on the lawn would be OK with me.

Edited January 29, 2021 by FrankEV

[OzarkSawdust]

8 hours ago, scrollerpete said:

So far I made 3 of them, the first one was a special request from the wife of my best friend. A neighbour went to her place and she saw the urn and wanted one for her husband and one for herself, which I did make them but I  do not like to make them. Here are the puctures

Very nice urn. But why did you put my initials on it??? Don't you like me...are you trying to tell me something??   What did I do to you?

[Roberta Moreton]

Straight cremation, no service, no nothing. If you can’t be bothered while I am here, don’t bother when I’m not. Straight from my grandma. 

[Woodmaster1]

10 hours ago, FrankEV said:

That is too much work...dump in any flowing stream, lake, ocean or even dispersed by a fertilizer spreader on the lawn would be OK with me.

I keep telling my wife and daughter to throw my ashes into the drainage ditch from the sewer plant. We call it dirty ditch which eventually flows into Lake Erie.

[scrollerpete]

On 1/29/2021 at 7:46 PM, OzarkSawdust said:

Very nice urn. But why did you put my initials on it??? Don't you like me...are you trying to tell me something??   What did I do to you?

That was what his wife wanted.

[OCtoolguy]

On 1/29/2021 at 9:14 AM, Rockytime said:

My ashes will go into a couple of Ball or Mason jars then buried with a post hole digger. 

I'm with you Les, we drink a log of coffee so I'm thinking a 3 lb. coffee can should suffice. Or maybe 2 2 lb.ers. 

[trackman]

Seeing how we have gotten on what we want for last wishes. I told my wife I want my 6 feet of land. Only land that the bank can’t take from me lol

[Rockytime]

My mother insisted my wife and I have a headstone because she insisted that we cannot be cremated. So she had one put in place. Since we had purchased cremation plans years ago a posthole digger should suffice. That's my wife at the stone. She thinks it's morbid. I think it's cool.

[CharleyL]

I made 4 urns a couple of years ago, sized to fit the plastic egg that cat cremation remains come back in, so the sides are 5" X 5" outside and about 1/2" thick. The top and bottom are slightly larger to allow for the molding cut around the edges. These were made from mahogany with mitered corners and cross grained splines inserted in each corner top to bottom. I used 4  #6 stainless screws pocket holed from the inside to attach the top, one screw in the center of each side. The bottom is also attached with the same screws, but counterbored up  from the  bottom. Two of these (on opposite sides) are off center to make the bottom only fit on one way. I made two inserts with center holes the diameter needed to keep the bottom and top of the plastic egg container centered in the urn after the egg had been installed.

Two of these urns were intended for my last two cats, who were both very special, but when making something, I frequently make extras to assure that I can get the quantity that I want without errors or last step finishing nightmares. After completion I had decided to give the remaining two away. One went to my neighbor who had a cat that survived 26 years. The remaining spare urn has just sat in my shop for the last two years.

Last week I donated this last urn for a very close friend, who had contracted COVID-19 a few days before Christmas, became ill on January 4 with severe breathing problems and ended up in the hospital. He seemed to be doing well for about a week, but then he got progressively worse and died on January 16 at the age of 68.

He had played Santa Claus for the local park every year for the last 6 years, and he was the best Santa, both in his manor and appearance, that I've ever seen in my lifetime. He had the hair and beard for it too. His girl friend played Mrs. Santa and the two worked together very well. 

His family has decided to divide his remains and they have purchased two full size urns from the Funeral Home. His girl friend has has been offered some of his remains, so a cat urn should be large enough for her share, and she has gratefully accepted this last urn from me. It couldn't have gone for a better purpose.

I will be printing a small photo of him in his Santa outfit, along with some text being decided by his girl friend, sized to fit on the face side of this urn. This photo will be plastic laminated and then attached to the face side of the urn some time later.

The train in the photo is located in our town park, and I met Keith while I was driving this train 4 years ago. He was not only Santa there, but the train and carousel maintenance man and bus driver too. 

Charley

 

Edited February 1, 2021 by CharleyL

[rjweb]

Beautiful work Charley, RJ 

[meflick]

@CharleyL I am sorry for the loss of your friend. It is very nice of you to help his girlfriend with an Urn. I’m sure he would appreciate knowing you helped her during this time, prayers said for you all.

[Woodmaster1]

On 1/31/2021 at 6:07 PM, octoolguy said:

I'm with you Les, we drink a log of coffee so I'm thinking a 3 lb. coffee can should suffice. Or maybe 2 2 lb.ers. 

Are you sure that would be legal in California with all their regulations.

[OCtoolguy]

1 minute ago, Woodmaster1 said:

Are you sure that would be legal in California with all their regulations.

Once I'm dead, who cares?

 

[Be_O_Be]

Made one for a friend a few years back using the 1lb=1cu.in. rule. Russian Orthodox cross on the front & some of his favorite things on the back. He liked the water so I secured the top with a Spanish windlass.