Thread: Build your own coffin.

Originally Posted by Dengue

Don't go getting all super sensitive on us, Colbra. Anyone that is in a grieving process would see the title, and probably not open the thread if the topic was likely to upset them.

After all, this is a forum about wood and making things, and you have raised an interesting topic. This is not a forum intended for support and counselling of grieving woodworkers, although we do a bit of that on the side when asked.

If you look at all the posts in this thread, I think you will agree that black humour is alive and well in Oz, and is a safe way of handling sensitive topics like sex, death, and politics.

Well ...... I hope your right and all others think the same if I am thinking in the wrong direction that would be great also but if not well.........

I did a bit of work for an undertaker some years ago, and asked him the typical questions about waste of brass fittings etc.

He said the handles & 'brass' parts are a high-strength burnable brass-lookalike plastic or some such stuff, when it is going to be cremated, and they do not undo them.

Most of the coffins they used were MDF, with assorted veneers applied.
They bought them in & didn't make their own.

As Stewey says, fittings are some sort of plastic, made to look like wood, brass or silver as required. There was an article in Australian Woodworker in the '80s about them.

A few years ago when visiting the Stirling Council recycle depo in Balcatta looking for a second hand door , there amongst the the odd pieces of furniture, house hold goods and other pieces of junk was for all to see and or contemplate to buy was a complete coffin with lid , hardware and even internal silk or some type of material lining. The only thing missing was a body.
The coffin was there for a couple of weeks before it disappeared, I presume some one bought it.
Cheers
Mac

Originally Posted by rustynail

Scotts, Irish....both interchangable. I'm Welsh!

Blackadder : Have you ever been to Wales, Baldrick?
Baldrick : No, but I've often thought I'd like to.
Blackadder : Well don't, it's a ghastly place. Huge gangs of tough sinewy men roam the valleys terrorising people with their close-harmony singing. You need half a pint of phlegm in your throat just to pronounce the placenames. Never ask for directions in Wales Baldrick, you'll be washing spit out of your hair for a fortnight.

(Black Adder Season 3, Amy and Amiability)

Well that explains the dopey tourists who never seem to know where they are going.

Many moons ago I was a pall bearer for an dear family friend.
Reached down and held on to the handle and use a little excessive force (thinking these handle were at least cast aluminum/etc) and it went crack.
Turns out they were plastic and I broke the damn thing..opps!

Have heard of the undertaker taking off the fittings before cremating or filling in the hole. Not sure they do this now with all the plastic stuff available.

Mate of mine decided to make his own "Big Box"
but before he had a use for it, and to save on storage space, he fitted it out as a grandfather clock.

For a short (very short) time it had pride of place in the Hallway of his house.

It was deemed, by SWMBO, as to morbid so it when the way of many great ideas....OUT, OUT,OUT!!!!


Cheers

Steve

Years ago, the kids' school had a skills auction. I put up a custom-made coffin, which was bought by a local builder/hardware store owner (who also asked for it to be fitted with wine racks). Between the time of the auction and me finishing it, we moved back to Sydney, so there was great interest when I drove down the Hume Highway with a coffin on the roof racks.
It spent some time in his shop window before moving to his bar.

I've always wanted to make my own coffin but I've long believed we should all be re-processed into fertilizer instead of being buried too deep to be recycled by the environment As I'm unlikely to get approval for that idea from the family, I'm going to settle for having my ashes strewn from the top of Blencoe Falls - that way I get to add a little to the environment and the kids will get to see one of my favorite spots Maybe I should make one to sit in the spare room just to store my woodworking mags in

Can't see why the market should be restricted to shop-made coffins - surely they can just provide some minimum specs' for people to work by

As a public service, here are the relevant State and Territory regulations for coffins in Australia. I know you were all dying to know this!!!!

NSW	Public Health (Disposal of Bodies) Regulation 2002 Guidelines for the Funeral Industry	i. Standards for Coffins The regulation does not specify standards for coffins other than requiring that they have a securely fitting lid. The Regulation spells out the requirements for body bags – type of material, thickness, size of bag.
SA	South Australia - Cremation Regulations 2001	Section 9 Coffins (1) A funeral director or other person arranging for the cremation of the remains of a deceased must ensure that the coffin to be used for the cremation— (a) is constructed of timber or material derived from timber that will not release organochlorines during incineration in a crematorium; and (b) is constructed so that it will not distort or collapse on being subjected to the kind of handling to which a coffin is likely to be subjected during the normal course of events leading up to a cremation (including handling when damp); and (c) does not have cross pieces projecting from its base; and (d) subject to subregulation (2), is lined internally with impervious material that is at least 100 µm thick and of such a nature as to prevent the leakage of body fluids from the coffin; and (e) subject to subregulation (3), contains only material suitable for combustion in the course of a cremation; and (f) bears a name plate or inscription stating the family name and at least one other name of the deceased whose remains are to be cremated in the coffin. Maximum penalty: $2,500. (2) A coffin need not be lined with impervious material if— (a) the body, when placed in the coffin, is completely enclosed in a bag made of impervious material at least 100 µm thick; and (b) the bag is effectively sealed so as to prevent leakage of body fluids from the body into the coffin. (3) Materials that are not suitable for combustion in the course of a cremation may be used on the exterior of a coffin if they can be removed easily prior to cremation.
VIC	Victorian Cemeteries and Crematoria Regulations 2005	Part 5 – CREMATION 16. Requirements for enclose of body remains and body parts A person must not bring bodily remains or body parts to be cremated into a public cemetery, or convey those remains or body parts within a public cemetery, unless those remains or body parts are enclosed in a coffin, container or receptacle – (a) with a flat base: and (b) that is clean and hygienic; and (c) that is constructed of wood, or other substantial material that is combustible and that will not – (i) impede the cremation process; or (ii) cause damage to the cremator; and (d) that will not give rise to noxious emissions when burnt; and (e) from which neither offensive or noxious emissions nor matter from the bodily remains or body parts will escape. 17. Inspection of coffins and containers If bodily remains or body parts are to be cremated in a crematorium at a public cemetery for which a cemetery trust is responsible pursuant to cremation authorisation or a cremation approval, or in the case of body parts, pursuant to an authority under section 150 of the Act, a cemetery trust may inspect any coffin, container or other receptacle containing those remains or body parts and the contents of that coffin, container or receptacle if the cemetery trust is of the opinion that the coffin, container or other receptacle or its contents could – (a) impede the cremation process; or (b) cause damage to the cremator
ACT	Cemeteries and Crematoria (Code of Practice) Approval 2007	Burial - Subsection 7(1)(d) requires that the human remains are in a coffin, casket or other container approved by the chief health officer under subsection 7(2). The chief health officer has approved, as Notifiable Instrument NI2004-332 Cemeteries and Crematoria (Containers for Burial) Approval 2004, that a coffin, casket or other container is approved for the burial of human remains if it complies with certain minimum requirements. These minimum requirements are that it: (a) not leak liquids or gases; (b) be securely closed before transportation to the burial site up to and including committal to the ground; (c) be constructed so as not distort or collapse when handled during the normal course of events leading up to burial (including handling when damp); or (d) otherwise, be approved in writing by the chief health officer. 14.4 Any coffin constructed of metal or having a metal internal liner or other metal insert is not acceptable for burial. Cremation - 15.2 The requirements for cremation of human remains are specified in section 8 of the Regulations. Subsection 8(1)(d) requires that the human remains are in a coffin, casket or other container approved by the chief health officer under subsection 8(2). The chief health officer has approved, as Notifiable Instrument NI2004-333 Cemeteries and Crematoria (Containers for Cremation) Approval 2004, that a coffin, casket or other container is approved for the burial of human remains if it complies with certain minimum requirements. These minimum requirements are that it: (a) be made from a material that will minimise the release of organochlorines during incineration in a crematorium; (b) not leak liquids or gases; (c) be securely closed before transportation to the cremation site up to and including cremation; (d) be constructed so as not distort or collapse when handled during the normal course of events leading up to cremation (including handling when damp); (e) be made out of material that is suitable for combustion during cremation; or (f) otherwise, be approved in writing by the chief health officer. 15.3 Any coffin constructed of metal or having a metal internal liner or other metal insert is not acceptable for cremation.
TAS	Burial and Cremation (Handling of Human Remains) Regulations 2005	25. Coffin construction (1) A person arranging for the interment or cremation of human remains must ensure that the coffin used for the interment or cremation is – (a) impervious so as to prevent the escape of bodily discharges, contaminants or infectious materials; and (b) of sufficiently robust construction to enable the coffin and the human remains to be disposed of in accordance with the Act. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units. (2) A manager may refuse to accept a coffin for cremation if, in his or her opinion, it is made from, or contains, any material which is likely to – (a) damage any equipment in the crematorium; or (b) be injurious to public health or public safety.
QLD	Cremations Act 2003 Regulations 2003	No mention of coffin requirements in their Act or in their Regulations
WA	Cremations Act 1929 WA Cremations Regulations 1954	No mention of coffin requirements in their Act or in their Regulations

There is no legal reason why you can't make your own coffin, the problem is that no one will bury you in it as it was not made by one of the accepted fraturnity, it is a mafia like industry I looked into this some years ago as I was going to set up a casket manufacturing shop. I was told to go right ahead but no one in the industry will use them, it is a well and truly closed industry and as said above if it was not made by certain manufacturers it will never be put in the ground

being in a related industry a few facts that I know about.
All cadavers for cremation shall be enclosed in body bags (read very heavy duty black plastic rubbish type bags.

Coffins before cremation have all hardware removed. This includes name tag (this goes on urn/container) back to undertaker.
Handles, trim etc are plastic, once removed they are stored for later 'disposal' me thinks recycled is a better word.

A retort (crematorium burner) burns arond 900* celcius There aint much left. Metal body parts are interesting to look at

In my previous country the consumers got wise to the hardware scam and the undertakers could only charge a hire fee for them.
Regards