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A project I don't want to have to do for Mom...

2K views 7 replies 5 participants last post by  Kentuk55 
#1 ·
Design ideas, gathering requirements, and materials...

So my mom has put 78 years on this earth, and while still quite active and energetic, she is starting to give some thought to what she wants for after she slips off the mortal coil as it were…

She's asked that I build an urn for her…

So I have some ideas that MIGHT work, but then again, might not design wise.

I called funerary directors in her home state (Oregon), and no problem with a properly built DIY urn (good!), they gave me dimensions of 8" long x 6" deep x 4" high interior volume to work with. I can do that…

So the concept is that Mom has 3 sons, each living in distinct regions of the country, myself in Texas, my middle brother in Oregon, and my eldest brother in Oklahoma, although he spent the overwhelming majority of his life in Ohio and considers himself an Ohioan transplanted.

Use the state tree wood from each to build this urn…

Oregon Myrtlewood, not impossible, but not easy to come by in Texas. Mail order a place in Philomath Oregon I am familiar with…

The state tree lumbers from Ohio (Buckeye), and Oklahoma (Eastern Redbud) seem to be considerably difficult to source up. I might have to make my eldest brother and his family move!

Lastly, the wonderful Texas Pecan. Yeah I have lots of that in my shop…

If possible, I am thinking Buckeye pieces for the ends of the box, and the decoration for the top (more on that later…

The top and bottom should be Pecan lumber due to the wide variety of color and grain, and the long sides should be Myrtle Wood, which is a very fine, straight grained wood…

Joinery will be dovetails, and the base and lid will be machined sort of like a raised panel, to have them set snugly inside the box opening such that the glued joint overlaps into the inside sides…

My mom is a devout Christian, and I will include various symbols of her faith on the top out of Buckeye, a cross, the fish, and a dove.

On the front long side, I will get a friend of mine that has a machine that does laser engraving on wood engrave her photo, and the name, dates, and a message on the best face…

Right now there is no time pressure, but I won't be putting it off until there is for sure!

Of course if she has the longevity of her aunt / uncle then we are a LONG time away from seeing her go. My great uncle passed when he was over 100…
 
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#4 ·
I understand why you want to use woods from all your sibling's states, but where did your mother live? Or perhaps a better question, were you and all your siblings born in the same house? Or better, while your folks lived at the same address?
Who will keep the ashes? (in which state?) Then again, if the children are all sharing her ashes, maybe wood from the state that most describes your mother would be a good choice, and make 3 smaller boxes so you can split up the ashes to share.
 
#6 ·
My considers herself an Oregonian. She grew up not too far from the house I lived in when I was in Jr. High / High School. Each of my brothers was born in a different state. My brothers and I need to discuss the urn placement with her to make sure she hasn't changed her mind since the early 80s. She owns a space in a Mosoleum (I know I misspelled that but I have no clue how to spell it… you get the idea…). It's basically a lighted nook behind glass. I have verified with the cemetery that the dimensions will work. They have certain requirements for wooden urns, which are easy enough to meet. No raw finishes or unsealed wood, no natural edges, and sealed to prevent decomposition… Clear gloss Epoxy coat is what they recommend.
 
#7 ·
Ok, I see. So you do have a place where the urn will be placed. I know of some families where the children each wanted a share of the ashes to keep. That's why I was asking

Now I agree with you on using woods from each siblings home.
 
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