How to Make a Casket Coffin

To have just what you want for your loved one, build a custom-made casket.

Caskets, while beautiful and a touching way to bid farewell to a lost loved one, can be a heavy financial burden on a grief-stricken family. To cut costs, a casket can easily be commissioned from a professional woodworker or it can be handmade. This not only saves money, but allows for personalization for the dearly departed.

Things You'll Need

• Hardwood veneer plywood, 4-feet by 8-feet sheets, 3/4-inch thick
• Hardwood veneer plywood, 4-feet by 8-feet sheets, 1/2-inch thick
• Veneer edging tape to match the plywood
• Table saw
• Table saw blade for cutting veneered wood or melamine-coated sheets
• Screws
• Drill
• Tapered plugs
• Hinges
• Yardstick
• Framing square
• Wood glue
• Vices
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Draw the design for the casket. Measure the person for whom you are making it to obtain accurate dimensions. Make the measurements 4 inches wider than the span of her shoulders and 5 inches longer than her standing height. For depth, measure around the largest part of her body and add 12 inches to accommodate her body and any padding material that may be added.

2. Mark your designs on the sheets of plywood. Fit your table saw with the veneer blade and cut out your pieces. Use the 3/4-inch pieces for the sides and lid; the 1/2-inch piece for the bottom.

3. Fit your drill with the small drill bit and make pilot holes for the screws along the edges of the pieces. These will be used to help guide the screws to put the casket together. Be sure to keep the holes evenly spaced along the width of the wood.

4. Fit the pieces together. Ensure all of your pieces are square (fit together perfectly), using the framing square. Once they are square, glue and screw the sides together.

5. Place the bottom into the casket and adhere it in place with glue and screws. Secure the bottom of the casket with the vices to prevent any accidental movement. Allow the glue to dry completely.

6. Mark the lid where you want to place the hinges. Affix the top of the hinge into place, using small screws. Fit it against the casket and use the same screws to attach it to the main body of the casket. Add glue to make it secure, if desired. Allow it to dry.

7. Add the veneer edging tape to the joints on the outside to give the casket a decorative touch. Put the tapering plugs onto the exposed screws to help them blend into the casket. Finish the casket by adding decorative touches, if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Handle power tools with care. Mishandling can lead to serious injury.

• When working with glue, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area.

References

• Mother Earth News - Steve Maxwell (April/May 2003): Homemade Caskets: You can Make a Coffin