These casket plans (5 pages) will be available for download immediately upon checkout.
What's in the file?
Use these plans to craft your own full-sized, standard-width casket. The wood joinery is open to your interpretation as there are many methods any craftsman might employ to join the corners, box moulding, and the lids components. For the novice woodworker, consult a wood joinery book or employ techniques you can find in a furniture builder's handbook to secure the panels and parts in place.
What will you need?
This digital download product includes the digital plans only. You will need to source your own lumber--about 100 board feet, and we recommend using 5/8 to 3/4 plywood for the floor. You will need hinges, latches, and top supports to secure the lids to the box. This design is pictured here with several different options for swing bar style handles. You will need to select the style of handles and build or purchase those components. You will also need to select materials for the upholstery interior.
About the design
We call this design the American Heritage casket because the lid has the common dome or arched shape, but is made with flat panels and does not require a special rounded edge gluing jig.
This dome shape design became popular with the introduction of stamped steel caskets in the 1920s and 1930s during the same manufacturing progress that brought us stamped steel automobiles and refrigerators. Wood casket makers came up with elaborate lid designs to compete with the steel casket makers. While the dome shape with folds and ridges helps improve the stamped steel design for strength and rigidity, achieving the same overall shape with wood proves to be a challenge for even the finest craftsmen & women.
Dimensions
Interior (in): 76 1/4 x 23 3/8 x 15 Exterior (in): 81 x 28 3/4 x 23 7/8
