I’m going to try and make a box for the memorial display, and subsequent interment, of my father-in-law’s ashes next month. It’ll be simple, black walnut, but I just realized I’m not sure what type of lid-fitting I should make. It’s going in the ground, not being kept on a mantle or anything. It doesn’t seem right to just have something loose on there, but….I dunno. Suggestions? Maybe some kind of tight-fitting sliding dovetail?
forestgirl — you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can’t take the forest out of the girl 😉
Edited 6/28/2007 12:50 pm by forestgirl
Replies
FG, the only thing that comes to my mind is some sort of sliding catch or lock. It seems that FWW had recent article on hidden latches. Maybe it was puzzle boxes.
I am sorry to hear about your father in law.
Steve
Jamie,
The box I made for my son's ashes was a simple dovetailed box, with a raised panel let into grooves around the top. The flat bottom was glued and screwed into a rabbet, after the ashes were placed inside.
The ashes came from the crematory in a plastic bag, inside a plastic case. I removed them from the bag, which meant that the box itself had to be well sealed.
Regards,
Ray
Ray, thanks for the info. A raised panel would be very attractive. So sad to hear about the loss of your son.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
FG,
You're welcome.
It's a tough thing to lose a child. I'm not sure if it's been harder for us,(his parents,) or his brother.
Regarding your FIL's wishes; my dad fortunately made it clear to us what his desires were, before he died. After the rather elaborate funeral of his sister, he'd told us he didn't want any of that fancy stuff. "Like the Duke said", he told us in a terrific impression of John Wayne, "Just read a few words... from the Book."
Ray
Ray, losing a child must be the hardest thing. Although I have no children, I do have a grandchild by marriage, and I can't imagine losing him.
I think Nick's on the right track with the arrangements for his dad. Pop valued his extended family a great deal, and loved the big gathering we had each year from his 100th BD through this year, his 102nd. He knew his lineage backwards and forwards, and could tell you about it all! No funeral, he made that clear -- cremation, but I think the memorial would sit well with him.
I think Nick's going to put the box out with Pop's "102 with Lots to Do" cap sitting on top. He loved that cap!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Glue it on?
John W.
FG ,
I just made one for my FIL as well , the top was fitted into a groove on 3 sides . It was a tight fitting and stayed shut .
FYI ,,, My FILs will also be buried and we were told they had a metal box to place the wood one in , we gave them the dimensions of the wood box , and they will make sure it fits.
dusty
Dusty, thanks for the idea and the info. I didn't know about the metal box, so I've asked Nick to find out if there might be a "standard size" to work to. Condolences on the loss of your FIL.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Do what you feel comfortable with, tough choices. When my mother was cremated the interment spot(my future grave site) was used. I had the sexton pour a hollow foundation for my headstone. Mom now resides there waiting for me. And simply poured into the mini vault.
Just do what is comforting to you.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Thanks, Bruce. It looks like Pop's death starts the transition to cremation for the rest of the family, so his place provides room for the rest of us. The box I'm making is as much for the memorial service as anything.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 6/28/2007 12:58 pm by forestgirl
If the container is for a memorial service also, just do your best. My Mom was a simple person and didn't want any fusses made. No funeral, no wake, no nothing. Her wishes angered some and relieved others, Just do what would make your Father in law happy and be content in that.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
"Just do what would make your Father in law happy...." That makes it more difficult, not less, ROFL. He was pretty hard to please, which became a joke of sorts after awhile. He got plenty of latitude, though. Hard to argue with someone who had to support his entire family from the age of 15 years, and lived to be 102!!!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Well ! Take comfort in getting the last word. Ironically, it would probably make Him chuckle. We crusty bull headed people really have a hidden soft side that we don't like to show.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
FG ,
With permission from my wife and my FIL ( he loved having his picture taken) here is a look at how the box looked . I had posted in the Cafe under the title " A hard box to make "
hope this gives you some direction .
dusty
Thanks so much, Dusty, it's a sweet little box. Gives me some ideas, I'm going to ponder on it for awhile.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Dusty, may I ask, what was the thickness of the stock you used? The dimensions Nick wants me to work to are 4.25" x 8.75" x 7". Do you think 5/8" thick would be OK?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
The box itself was made out of 13/16" , the lid was planed down to like 9/16" or 5/8" . you can see a sprinkling of Birdseye on the lid .
Mine was larger but 5/8" should give you room depending on the joinery used.
I made it to fit the container that came from the cremation services , I did not want to remove or disturb the remains .
The cemetery that will bury the container will use some form of concrete vault to house the wood box , not a metal box as I stated .
dusty
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