Box for Cremation Ashes

[Ted Calver]

I recently made one for my grandson's cremains. Walnut sides, ebony splines and spalted silver maple divider and lid, walnut and bronze pin hinges a la Rob Cosman, with antique English cast pedestal feet from Lee Valley. 11 3/4" Long, 9 3/4" wide and 8" tall. Not designed to fit standard columbarium niches, because it will reside with his mom. There is a 1 3/4" deep compartment under the lid for photos and memorabilia. Finish is shellac on the interior, Watco medium walnut danish oil on the sides and multiple coats of Minwax antique oil and wipe on poly on the lid. Cup magnet in the lid and steel striker in the top of the side keep the lid closed and a small eyebrow sanded into the top of the front side allow opening the compartment. A small brass plaque (not shown) was added to the interior of the lid.
For your purposes, you could adjust the size and the partition could be omitted and added later when needed.

[Bill Dufour]

Kleenex box. Open top with a flower pot inside. Probably not for live flowers. you do not want it to get wet and rot. Too many connotations if it rots before the eyes of designed resident. Will the finish fade in the light?
Bill D.

Look at about 11:00 for ideas on the book shelf.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVCaghNlCVs

https://www.instagram.com/ghostly.ar...l/C4lS5HBRaRV/

[Mike Henderson]

That's really good work, Ted, and some good ideas. I like what you did for a hinge - Brusso hinges have gotten really expensive.

Thanks for posting that.

Mike

[Mike Henderson]

Kleenex box. Open top with a flower pot inside. Probably not for live flowers. you do not want it to get wet and rot. Too many connotations if it rots before the eyes of designed resident. Will the finish fade in the light?
Bill D.

Look at about 11:00 for ideas on the book shelf.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVCaghNlCVs

https://www.instagram.com/ghostly.ar...l/C4lS5HBRaRV/

Thanks, Bill. I looked at the Instagram posting. Very interesting.

Mike

[Cliff Polubinsky]

Mike,

In this area the remains come from the crematorium in a standard plastic box inside a cardboard box. Most of the urns I've built are sized to take the plastic box rather than the contents. This makes for a larger box but keeps the family from having to handle the plastic bag containing their loved one. I've got one for reference and if you need I can send you the dimensions.

Cliff

[Mike Henderson]

Mike,

In this area the remains come from the crematorium in a standard plastic box inside a cardboard box. Most of the urns I've built are sized to take the plastic box rather than the contents. This makes for a larger box but keeps the family from having to handle the plastic bag containing their loved one. I've got one for reference and if you need I can send you the dimensions.

Cliff

That's good to know. Yes, please send me the dimensions. You can post the dimensions here as information for others who might also need it.

Thanks for offering.

Mike

[Bill Dufour]

Mike that columbarium was designed by Julia Morgan who did a lot of buildings around Berkeley and also designed Hearst Castle. I like her work better then frank wright who made bad roofs.
BillD

[Frederick Skelly]

Yes, please send me the dimensions. You can post the dimensions here as information for others who might also need it.

Yes, this would be helpful. Thank you!

[Maurice Mcmurry]

The I have followed several threads about Memorial Boxes that the woodturners here at SMC have posted. There is some remarkable work back in the wood turners archive.

[Cliff Polubinsky]

With these inside dimensions the cremains box fits nicely.

8 11/16 x 6 13/16 x 4 5/8

These are the inside dimensions of the cardboard box that holds the plastic box.

I can't promise that all crematoriums will use the same box, but with every urn I've built for friends or their loved one the cremains came in the same box.

Cliff

[Mike Henderson]

Thanks, Cliff. Since you alerted me to the way the ashes are handled, I'm going to stop at a mortuary near me and see if they use the same size in this area.

Mike

[Cliff Polubinsky]

Mike,
See if you have a crematorium in your area and go there. You can probably acquire a box to keep for reference. The one I went to didn't charge for it.

Cliff

[Mike Henderson]

Mike,
See if you have a crematorium in your area and go there. You can probably acquire a box to keep for reference. The one I went to didn't charge for it.

Cliff

Good idea. Thanks.

Mike

[Tim Greif]

Here's one I made for my Mother's ashes. Very simple and could have been adapted to a top opening box for interim use. This one had a fixed top and the bottom was screwed onto the sides after the ashes were loaded.
urn.jpg

[Jim Becker]

Mike,

In this area the remains come from the crematorium in a standard plastic box inside a cardboard box. Most of the urns I've built are sized to take the plastic box rather than the contents. This makes for a larger box but keeps the family from having to handle the plastic bag containing their loved one. I've got one for reference and if you need I can send you the dimensions.

Cliff

That's how my parent's cremains are currently housed a few feet from where I am typing this. (still need to arrange for the memorial service and interment at the local National Cemetery) They were handled in Florida and sent north to me.