Anyone here do cremation urns?   Most of the one I've seen have been turned like a large vase.

 

I occasionally (like yesterday) get an inquiry to the WW Club looking to have one made.   I'd be happy to pass along your name (with a 10% agent's fee, of course,  )

i've made a few, but they were boxes with lids.  one hinged, others were loose, but screwed in place.  just a pretty box that they liked, or used some wood that meant something to them.  rule of thumb:  1 cubic inch for each pound of weight.

 

you can get a brass plaque with custom engraving via Amazon for under $20.  name and dates is what i'd put on it.

44 minutes ago, DAB said:

i've made a few, but they were boxes with lids.  one hinged, others were loose, but screwed in place.  just a pretty box that they liked, or used some wood that meant something to them.  rule of thumb:  1 cubic inch for each pound of weight.

 

you can get a brass plaque with custom engraving via Amazon for under $20.  name and dates is what i'd put on it.

Thanks.  I've had brass plates engraved at trophy shops.   It's been many years so I don't remember the cost.

 

Have seen the box type but most I have seen look like a large vase with cap. Many people will glue the cap on once remains are inside and the mortuary will do that for you. Easy to turn one if someone is interested and I know someone who can do threaded lid if needed.

i got a request a few years ago from a good friend to make one for her uncle, who passed away at 44.  quite unexpected.  the family was tight on money, so i donated materials and labor.  no cost to her.  made it special, using exactly 44 pieces of wood, and she liked it a lot.

 

before i started, i looked online for what these kind of things normally cost commercially, and it ranged all over the place, from 100 or so, up to over 900.  depending on how fancy you wanted and how much sellers thought they could get.

 

can't blame them, they deserve to make a buck too.  and if i'm going to use up $100 of lumber (nice mahogany and maple), plus hinges, plus a latch, plus an engraved plaque, and it's going to take me 4-6 hours over the course of a few days, they yeah, i'd charge north of $500 for that too.  but that's the rate for an unknown stranger.

I have only done one and that was for my mother a few years ago. This one comes with a very funny story that my mother would have appreciated. We went to pick up her ashes and they needed to transfer her ashes into the urn I turned. Due to the way I had turned it on the lathe I used a live center at one end and to make that happen I drilled a 3/8” hole in what would be the bottom. Plan was to plug it with a dowel afterward but we sort of got in a hurry and I forgot the dowel. So it’s a very somber moment, the guy comes out to a sitting room and takes the urn while we all wait for him to return. He returns after about 10 minutes carrying the urn, and leaving a small trail of ashes as he walks. He was mortified but my older sister saved the day by remarking “ This is so mom and dad. This is something only Paul and dad would do.” My dad was a turner also. We all laughed until we cried and the guy at the crematorium thought we were nuts. They put an address sticker over the hole, swept up mom and put her back in the urn and we left. We all laugh about it to this day. 
Paul

Edited February 6, 20215 yr by Masonsailor

Wood Magazine published the plans for one a few years ago, pdf file attached.

 

Veterans Urn Plans_WOOD.pdf