How to Build a Coffin
Coffins are a great way to spruce up any haunted house or Halloween-themed party. They are relatively easy to build and provide a wealth of scare tactics that are limited only by the builder's imagination. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Cardboard
- Duct tape
- 1/4 inch plywood
- Black paint
- Screwdriver
- Screws
- Two cabinet hinges
Instructions
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1
Measure the space you are using and any props or people that need to fit inside. This will determine the size of your coffin. Most will be approximately 7 feet long by 3 feet wide.
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2
Gather your plywood or cardboard. Measure the materials and cut to the appropriate lengths. You should have the base and lid be 7 feet by 3 feet. Then the long sides be 7 feet long and 3 feet high. The height can be more or less, depending on who or what is inside. Finally, cut the short sides, making them 3 feet in width, and the height exactly the same as the long sides.
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3
Attach the sides to the base. If you are using carboard, simply attach them using lots of duct tape. If you are using plywood, use L brackets on the inside of the coffin.The L brackets will hold the sides onto the base with small screws.
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4
Drill the L brackets onto the base where the sides will meet the base. Use two for each side or "wall". The coffin should resemble a box with an open top at this point. Now, attach one L bracket to each corner, so you are attaching one side to another. This will add stability.
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5
Set your plywood or cardboard "lid" on top of the coffin. Determine which side will act as the "hinge" and which side will open.
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6
Secure the "hinge side". For cardboard, use a good amount of duct tape, since it will be opening and closing regularly. For plywood, use two cabinet hinges. Attach them on the inside of the coffin. Screw each wing of the hinge in place, one wing onto the lid, one wing onto the interior side. They should be spaced about 3 feet apart.
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7
Attach a small piece of scrap wood to to the inside of the coffin where the lid closes. The wood should be screwed into place, and strong enough to support the weight of the lid. Without this, the lid could just fall into the coffin.
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8
Paint it, usually black, or otherwise weather it to give it a degree of realism. A broken lid is an opportunity for a scare with a hand reaching out of it.
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Tips & Warnings
The safest way to display your coffin is laying it on the ground as opposed to propping it vertically.
Add ambiance. Make the inside and surrounding area spooky with draped clothes and a fog machines.
Never trap someone in a coffin, they could suffocate.
