DIY Coffins
Everything has become expensive these days. Even dying is expensive. The coffin alone can take up a huge chunk of the funeral expenses, and you will have to shell out at least a thousand dollars for an ordinary coffin. There are people who consider coffins too expensive and this is why they want to they get their coffins ready even before they die. And since funeral expenses can make you pay through the nose with all the preparations needed, you can probably save money when you opt for DIY coffins. What’s great about making your own coffin or hiring a woodworker to do it is that you can have a beautiful coffin without having to spend so much for it. A little knowledge on wood working skills is the only thing needed to get you started.
Choosing Between Solid Wood and Veneer Plywood
DIY coffins are more than just custom-made pieces; they also come from your own efforts in woodworking. You can seek the help of a friend who knows a bit about woodwork if you are unsure of what to do. The best kind of material to use for DIY coffins is solid wood. You need to have the right kind of tools and acquire more advanced skills in making coffins to do well at it. But if you cannot seem to create a casket or coffin out of solid wood, another alternative is the veneer plywood, which can be easier to use in building coffins than solid wood. Moreover, using veneered plywood does not require a lot of complex procedures such as milling and gluing of the edges. And if you are looking for affordability and availability, this can be an excellent choice.
Five Basic Steps to Making DIY Coffins
These steps are based on the use of veneered plywood, being the easiest and least complex to use when building DIY coffins. There are five basic steps involved in making coffins:
- Cut the sides, including the ends and lid areas
- Apply hardwood strips or veneer tape to every exposed edge
- Attach the sides and ends to form into a box
- Cut and set up the bottom
- Do the trimmings and protective finishing
The thing about veneered plywood though is that it is not as durable as a solid wood material because of its thin-layered surface, which may result to splintering, when not cut or trimmed properly using a saw blade. With basic cutting skills, you can do a good job of making your coffin and you might even come up with a beautifully designed coffin.