My wife and I have just completed the necessary arrangements for us leaving the this world. This included purchasing a cemetery plot(in a 18th century graveyard), a grey granite headstone, and cremation. I'm building our boxes to hold our ashes using simplicity as my guide. I'm using some very local walnut, that I've had air drying for 25+ years in my loft. The box is getting dovetailed, with a sliding lid, and closed with a rosehead nail through the lid. Our goal was to decrease the burden, of our passing, to our two children!

I hope it is a VERY long time until you need to use them. 

I need to get our wills and other documents updated as well as come up with some urns for our ashes. Tough to face this stuff, but really necessary.

Beautiful! 

What are the dimensions?  I think I read (maybe here on TPW) the recommendation is 1 cubic inch per pound.

1 minute ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I need to get our wills and other documents updated as well as come up with some urns for our ashes. Tough to face this stuff, but really necessary.

My brother passed rather suddenly in 2021 just shy of 80.  But he planned well - he had a draft of his obit done as well as arrangements for burial at the VA cemetery.

15 minutes ago, JimM said:

Beautiful! 

What are the dimensions?  I think I read (maybe here on TPW) the recommendation is 1 cubic inch per pound.

 

i've heard the same thing.

 

i made a matching pair for my parents of some cherry that was special to them (came off the old tree farm).

 

i later made one for myself and my wife (now passed) out of some cherry wood i bought.  have the plot next to my parents.  when my time comes, someone will get a trip up to Cody, WY with the box and both our remains inside to bury them.

 

nice work.

23 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I need to get our wills and other documents updated as well as come up with some urns for our ashes. Tough to face this stuff, but really necessary.

I hear people say all the the time, "He/she died without a will."    This is incorrect, they died without making their own will, so the state made one for them.  Called the laws of intestacy.   If it's not what they wanted, too late.

1 hour ago, JimM said:

Beautiful! 

What are the dimensions?  I think I read (maybe here on TPW) the recommendation is 1 cubic inch per pound.

Yes, that's exactly what the recommendations are! My boxes are 8 1/2 X 6 1/2 X 4 1/2". Should be plenty of room.

Tough subject to think and talk about but a reality for us all.

 

However, excellent work Rick and a fitting tribute to one of your life's passions.

 

Thanks for sharing and the reality check.

On 3/28/2025 at 2:58 PM, kmealy said:

I hear people say all the the time, "He/she died without a will."    This is incorrect, they died without making their own will, so the state made one for them.  Called the laws of intestacy.   If it's not what they wanted, too late.

My mother used beneficiary deeds for the bulk of her assets - so although she also had a will, we never had to execute it. 

 

Beneficiary deeds are fantastically convenient for the heirs, no delays from probate, assets belong to the heirs as of the date and time on the death certificate.  My mom learned a little about them when her father died, but then had trouble setting up her own - her estate lawyer denied all knowledge that such things existed.  I suggested she talk to her stockbroker instead  He was very helpful.

Boxes are dovetailed together and awaiting the fitting of the lids and bottoms tomorrow. Once this is done, I'll do the finishing on them and use two final coats of a polyurethane. I hadn't done any work with walnut in awhile and forgot how precise you had to be with fitting the dovetails together.... it's very unforgiving! A softwood and walnut would always go together easily when dovetailing.

Beautiful craftsmanship Rick.

Boxes are almost ready. A little clean up with a plane and then some light sanding.

2 hours ago, FrederickH said:

Boxes are almost ready. A little clean up with a plane and then some light sanding.

Those are really nice. The design reminds me of old time candle boxes 

8 minutes ago, lew said:

Those are really nice. The design reminds me of old time candle boxes 

Thanks. That's the look that I was going for. Simple and effective!

Love it!

7 hours ago, FrederickH said:

Boxes are almost ready. A little clean up with a plane and then some light sanding.

Most excellent Rick!

Final coat(s) of oil-based poly is on and drying. I always use a fan to help with the drying process. I'll let them sit for a couple of days, before lightly rubbing them down, and then it's up to our attic to await their intended purpose!

Well done Rick. Hope the dust accumulates on them before they need to be put into service. Thanks for sharing this part of your life.

Nice job. Don't think attic is a good storage place . The heat will take a toll on finishes .