Wood/Metal Caskets

Toe pinchers

When coffins were introduced into America, what else were they called?

Casket FTC definition

A rigid container, which is designed for the encasement of human remains, and which is usually constructed of wood, metal, or like material, and ornamented and lined with fabric.

Casket

A case or receptacle in which human remains are placed for protection, practical utility, and a suitable memory picture; any box or co Tao er of one or more parts in which a dead human body is placed prior to interment, entombment, or cremation which may or may not be permanently interred, entombed, or cremated with the dead human remains.

Burial casket

What else is a traditional casket called?

Cremation casket

A casket manufactured with easily combustible materials for the cremation of human remains following funeral service events.

Ceremonial (rental) casket

A casket designed to be re-used for multiple funeral service events typically with a removable liner to facilitate the cremation or other disposition of human remains following funeral service events.

Green casket

A casket free from hazardous materials that is also biodegradable.

Cloth covered casket

Made from a base material which can be as simple as corrugated fiberboard or pressed wood which is covered with a layer of cloth.

Veneer casket

A fine wood veneer is placed over a less expensive particle board under structure and given a beautiful finish.

Wood, metal, plastic, fiberglass

Which materials are used in casket shell construction?

Wood

A natural material that provides a beautiful and warm appearance.

Decay of wood

The result of the activities of wood destroying fungi.

Solid wood

All components made of the same species of wood.

Hardwood, softwood

List two types of solid wood.

Tannic acid

Chief among the extractive present in woods. Also referred to as tannins.

Kiln dried wood

Wood that has had its moisture content lowered to around 5% to 6% and is immune to decay unless subjected to future moisture.

Birch, cherry, mahogany, maple, oak, poplar, walnut

List the types of hardwood caskets (7).

Birch

Closed grain, heavy white wood. Durable, often seen in kitchen cabinets.

Cherry

Closed grain, heavy white wood, usually stained red. High gloss finish.

Maple

Light in color, closed grained wood, may be stained any color, and found in bowling alley lanes.

Oak

Strong and durable light wood used in the manufacture of fine furniture.

Pine

Light colored softwood noted for its twig-knots. Low cost.

Poplar (cottonwood, tulip tree, willow)

Soft white wood that stains well.

Walnut

Expensive brown wood, second to mahogany.

Selected hardwood (Salix)

A casket constructed from many different species of wood.

Pine, cedar, spruce

List the types of softwood caskets (3).

Mahogany

Which type of hardwood is usually the most expensive?

Oak

What is the best selling type of wood casket in the U.S.?

Deciduous trees

What is hardwood made from?

Coniferous trees

What is softwood made from?

Composite or manufactured wood

Engineered wood is also known as what?

Laminates, wood by-products

List the two common types of engineered wood.

Laminating

Process of binding different layers of different materials with two distinct varieties.

Wood veneer, artificial veneer

List the two common types of laminated wood.

Wood veneer

Created by gluing a thin layer of wood of superior value or excellent grain to an inferior wood base.

Artificial veneer

Taking a digital image of wood grain and printing it onto a large sticker, sticking it to the engineered wood.

Corrugated fiberboard, composition board, plywood

List the three common types of wood by-products.

Corrugated fiberboard

Made of wood or plant fibers compressed into sheets and have folds that alternate. Cardboard used to construct lightweight, inexpensive caskets.

Composition board

Bonding particles of wood together with waterproof adhesive.

Plywood

Thin sheets of wood glued together so that the grains are at right angles to one another. Used in shipping containers to ship bodies.

Metal, more protective

What is the most popular type of casket sold in the U.S.? Why?

Steel

What is the most popular type of metal casket type sold in the U.S.?

Ferrous

A metal that is formed from iron.

Steel, stainless steel

Give two examples of ferrous metals.

Gauge

Number of sheets of metal necessary to equal one inch.

United States Standard Gauge

What is gauge often referred to as?

20, 18, 16

What are the most common gauges used in casket construction?

Lower, thicker

The ___ the gauge, the ___ the metal.

Steel

A metal alloy consisting mainly of iron and carbon.

409 or martensitic stainless steel

400 Series is also referred to as what?

304 or austenitic stainless steel

300 Series is also referred to as what?

Stainless steel

A metal alloy of steel that contains chromium and sometimes nickel.

Resistance to rust

Why is stainless steel preferred over steel?

11% chromium

What must steel have to become stainless steel?

400 Series, 300 Series

What are the two types of stainless steel used by casket manufacturers?

12% chromium, no nickel, magnetic

Describe 400 Series.

18% chromium, 8% nickel, higher grade

Describe 300 Series.

200 Series

Not used in casket construction, but is a higher grade of stainless steel found in the exhaust systems of high-end automobiles.

Galvanized

Steel that has been coated with zinc for increased resistance to rust.

Sherardizing

Applied by imbedding in zinc powder at 300 degrees Celsius.

Non-ferrous

Any metal which is not formed from iron.

Copper, bronze

List two examples of non-ferrous metals.

Ounces per square foot: brown and sharpe gauge

How are non-ferrous metals measured?

Gauge

How are ferrous metals measured?

Will not rust

What is the benefit of copper caskets?

Wrought copper, copper deposit

What two types of copper are used by casket manufacturers?

Wrought copper

Copper metal rolled into sheets in which a casket is stamped out of.

Copper deposit

A core of copper metal that has been submerged in a solution and, by electrolysis, has more copper ions attached to it.

Copper

A malleable, ductile, metallic element with a characteristic reddish brown color.

Bronze

An alloy of copper sometimes referred to as precious or semi-precious metal. Stronger and more durable than copper and steel.

Wrought bronze, cast bronze

What two types of bronze are used by casket manufacturers?

Wrought bronze

Bronze metal rolled into sheets in which a casket is stamped out of.

Cast bronze

Molten bronze is poured into a mold and cooled. The ultimate premium.

Promethean

Batesville Casket’s most expensive casket that can be purchased. A 48 oz bronze casket coated in 24 carat gold with a velvet interior.

Polymer

A compound, similar in appearance to plastic that has a high molecular weight creating an extremely durable substance.

Fiberglass

A material consisting of extremely fine filaments of glass embedded in various resins.

Cast

Most expensive method in which molten metal is poured into a mold, allowed to cool, and then removed from the mold.

Stamped

Hardware production method of lesser expense whereby the casket hardware sections are pressed out on a hydraulic press.

Plastic extrusion molding

A method of molding plastic by injecting molten plastic into a die.

Nickel

The 300 Series stainless steel casket is rendered non-magnetic due to the presence of what?