This page contains information regarding my view on making cremation urns, product specifics, and frequently asked questions. Why my keepsake and pet urns are a good choice. Assistance in the selection of a pet/keepsake urn, individual, or companion urn. I also provide more clarification on the stability of my cremation vessels, general urn specs, and details on how to fill a crematory urn. If you still have questions, please feel free to contact me here.
My View on Cremation Urn Making
Making crematory urns is a natural adaptation of my sculpture, as proportion and form are the main focus. The patterning, tones, and colors are all a product of the wood itself. I use this approach to create a high quality vessel that is functional, unique, and offers a wide array of shapes, sizes, proportions, and colors. Each piece is an original, and I strive for people think of it more as sculpture.
Why choose one of my cremation urns?
I began making cremation urns because I felt that the majority of options on the market lacked an element of uniqueness. Additionally, I believe that there is great interest in having an urn that is high quality and one of a kind. I also sought to create some urns for ashes that are subtle and would blend into any setting. I offer a product that is proportioned well, with a simple and beautiful shape. My cremation urns are sculpture and are unique, no two of which are exactly alike. All vessels are completely organic and reclaimed from Southern domestic hardwoods. The majority of these trees have reached the end of their lifecycle. Lastly, each urn is handmade and meant to honor the lives of whom they memorialize.
Sizing of the Urns for Ashes
How large of an urn do I need?
The general rule of thumb is 1 cubic inch of ash is produced per pound. So for example 180 lbs = 180 cubic inches.
This is an approximation, since the amount of cremated remains (cremains) are based more on bone size and bone density rather than weight. The rule of thumb will get you close but it is possible for the actual amount to be slightly over or under. That being said, I generally like to suggest that a purchaser would err on the conservative side and select an crematory vessel that is a bit larger than what the calculation gives. If you are still wondering how big of an urn do I need? Please Refer to my blog post here for a more elaborate answer, as there are other questions that will help steer you in the right direction for urn selection.
Why are there so many sizes of urns?
I don’t set out to make an urn with an exact size in mind. I put a block of wood on the lathe and create what form looks the best to me, and the size of the urn works out however it does.
With that in mind there are a few general categories of cremation urns that I do make.
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Openings and Bases of My Cremation Urns
Does the urn seal and how large is the opening?
All of the cremation urns I make have finials (that function as the lid) that are hand-threaded into the body of the urn. Once the finial has been screwed onto the vessel, it is closed and there is no need to use silicon or epoxy to seal the lid. Currently the finials are made either out of African Blackwood or American Persimmon as those species are dense and fine grained enough cut a quality thread. I prefer to work exclusively out of American hardwoods. However, for this purpose there are very few species of American hardwoods that will cut a quality thread, so the blackwood is a nice alternative.
The opening sizes on the urns vary, but they range from 3/4″ to 1-1/4″ in diameter.
How stable is a turned wooden urn, will it tip over?
It is a pretty complicated question, though in general I view the urns to be stable and I will not list any item for sale that I believe has undue risk of tipping over.
That being said some turned wooden urn shapes are more naturally stable than others, i.e. having the bulk of their volume in the lower half of the vessel. So if you the purchaser would like to err on the side of caution, then choose a shape that has the widest points at or below the midheight area of the vessel.
Filling
How do you fill one of my cremation urns?
Ideally you would have your cremation urn ready so that whomever you are dealing with for the cremation services would be able to fill the urn for you. That, however, is not always the case, and that filling your urn can either be emotionally challenging or a task that you may prefer not to do.
In the advent that you would prefer someone else to handle the filling of the burial urn, if you are able to, contact the providers of the cremation services and ask if they would handle filling the urn for you. You may also be able to contact a local funeral home and see if they would provide that service for you as well. I don’t think that I have ever heard of one refusing to do the filling.
If you are inclined to fill the urn yourself, there are a few videos on YouTube that might give you some good ideas as far as handling the cremated remains in their current crematory containers and how to transfer them to your new vessel. I ship all of my cremation urns with a disposable funnel should you want to do it yourself. If you need further help, please feel free to contact me.
Ordering
How do I go about ordering an urn?
Click on the picture of the urn you are interested and follow the “order now” link to fill out ordering information. I will follow up with your inquiry to make sure the item you requested is available, resolve any questions, and to verify shipping details.
Otherwise… additional Ordering information can be found in my resource section here. Please read through the item selection information as well.
Other Questions regarding Cremation Urns…
What does the Bible say about keeping ashes?
Refer to my blog post on what does the bible say about keeping ashes. It looks into the issues of being “clean” in the Bible in relation to cremation.
Is there a negative connection with cremation and the cleansing of impurity?
Refer to my blog post on what the bible says about cremation. It examines other verses that deal with the cleansing of impurity.
Wondering what does the bible say about cremation?
This is the main article encompassing on the bible and what it says about cremation. The bible doesn’t declare definitively anything positive or negative about cremation. That being said, take a look at all the verses I was able to find and what the bible says our ultimate destination is. It also addresses whether God can resurrect our bodies if they have been cremated.
What are all the Pet Cremation Costs?
A pet urn is just part of the overall cost of cremation for your pet. If you want to know what to expect and what additional costs there are (aside from the urn) take a look at my page that covers all the costs of pet cremation.
Cremation Urns additional Information and Specifications
Opening sizes: 3/4″ – 1-1/4″ in diameter
Bottom sizes: roughly 25%-33% of urn diameter; usually around 2″ in diameter for most sized urns.
Wall thickness: 1/8″ – 1/4″ (thicker walls generally on larger urns)
**Wall thickness expands slightly closer to give the bottom more weight.
Finial and insert material are made of African Blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon) or American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
Each piece is signed on the bottom along with a cooresponding species mark, as well as an urn number (e.g. U.11)
Things to Know about Wood
Color and tone variations – Wood is a natural product, which means that no two trees have exactly the same tone and color. There are subtle variations; one section of wood can be darker or lighter than another, even in the same tree. In most cases the variation is too subtle to draw attention to, but it does occur. Color in wood can also change due to ultraviolet light exposure. In extreme cases, black cherry, for example develops “tan lines” on the wood if something is covering the wood.
The good news is that this is more of an issue in furniture, rather than turned work. The thing to note is the item may change its color over its lifetime depending. The degree of change depends on the amount of ultraviolet light exposure (i.e. sunlight). Most species tend to slightly darken and deepen in color, with a few having their color lightening up a bit. Species that change the most are Red Mulberry, starting at a highlighter yellow and changing to a deep red brown. Black Cherry also will darken a lot over its lifetime if it gets sun exposure.
Finish – I use all Danish oil as the finish on all of my urns. I build finishes which leaves the urns sealed well. Additionally, it greatly improves the urns’ tactile quality and the evenness of sheen.
