How to Make an Old Wooden Casket

This traditional casket shape can be constructed in a six-sided version.

You have probably seen an old movie in which Dracula rises from his casket to rule the night. That classic coffin shape has been a symbol of spooky things for generations. Creating your own old-style wood casket will give you a one-of-a-kind Halloween decoration that is sure to attract attention. Use 3/4-inch cabinet-grade plywood for a casket that is strong but light enough to move easily.

Things You'll Need

• Butcher paper
• Carpenter's square
• Tape measure
• Scissors
• 3/4-inch plywood
• Circular saw
• Drill
• 3/4-inch wood screws
• 1 1/4-inch treated deck screws
• 1/2-inch wood screws
• Seven 2-inch utility hinges
• Nail gun and 1 1/4-inch pin nails
• Wood glue
• Four 4-inch utility handles
• Nylon web clamp or packing strap

Instructions

1. Lie down on a large roll of butcher or art paper and have a friend trace the top of your head, your shoulders, and the bottom of your feet on the paper. Use a carpenter's square to mark straight across the paper 2 inches above your head and 2 inches below your feet. Cut the paper along these lines.

2. Fold the paper in half longways. At the top edge of the paper, make a mark 2 inches from the width of your head. At the bottom edge, make a second mark 2 inches from the width of your feet . Then mark a point 2 inches from the width of your shoulders at their widest point. Use a carpenter's square or other straight edge to draw lines connecting the three marks and cut along the lines. Unfold to reveal a template for an antique coffin sized to fit you. The template should have six sides -- top, bottom, two upper sides, and two lower sides.

3. Trace around the template onto a sheet of 3/4-inch plywood twice and cut out both pieces with a circular saw. Measure from the bottom corner to the shoulder mark and from the top corner to the shoulder mark. Use these measurements to cut four 12-inch- wide side pieces -- two for the upper sides and two for the lower sides.

4. Bevel the ends of all four side pieces with a circular saw by setting the angle of the saw blade to 22 1/2 degrees and cutting right along the edge of the panel.

5. Set the beveled ends of two side pieces, one top and one bottom, together to form a 45-degree angle. Fasten two 2-inch utility hinges to the pieces, bridging the seam on the inside of the angle with 3/4-inch wood screws. Place one hinge 3 inches from the outside and the other 3 inches from the inside. Repeat with the remaining pieces. You now have two side panels.

6. Glue the two side panels to one of the coffin shapes you cut previously, aligning each panel with the outside edge of the coffin shape. Drive screws through the back of the coffin shape into the edge of each panel, one 1 1/4-inch deck screw every 10 inches. Position the panels with the top and bottom ends at the corners of the flat sections at the top and bottom of the casket.

7. Measure the open space along the top and bottom of the coffin and cut plywood pieces 12 inches wide to fit between the side panels. These pieces will serve as the top and bottom of the casket. Glue the edges and screw up through the back of the coffin. Use a pin nail gun to nail the top and bottom pieces into place with 1 1/4-inch pin nails. Wrap a nylon web clamp or packing strap around the coffin and tighten it. Allow the glue to dry overnight.

8. Place the remaining coffin-shaped piece on top of the coffin as a lid. Space three 2-inch utility hinges along the bottom right side, evenly spaced. Screw half of each hinge to the edge of the plywood with 1/2-inch wood screws, and screw the other half of each hinge into the lid of the coffin.

9. Drive 3/4-inch wood screws through the holes in 4-inch utility handles to attach them to the coffin. Attach one handle in the center of each top side panel and one in the center of each bottom side panel.

References

• "Halloween: A Grownup's Guide to Creative Costumes, Devilish décor & Fabulous Festivities"; Joanne O'Sullivan; 2003