Lesson 3.1 - Casket Materials and Finishes

A heavy decorative material characterized by some type of raised design. An exterior material found on cloth covered caskets

Brocade

A heavy durable cotton fabric with a short (1/8th inch or less), thick, velvety nap on one side; woven cloth with a suede-like appearance with a nap of less than 1/8th inch

Doeskin (Moleskin)

A material consisting of extremely fine filaments of glass embed in various resins

Fiberglass

Made by uniting superimposed layers of different materials

Laminates

A synthetic or natural organic material shaped when soft and then hardened

Plastic

The finish created when base metal is coated by another metal via an electrolytic process; it is identified when used in casket construction by the term "deposit" as in "copper deposit."

Plated finish

A woven cloth with a nap exceeding 1/8th of an inch; aka high pile fabric

Plush

A time set aside for friends and relatives to pay respect for the deceased prior to the funeral serivce

Visitation

Created by gluing a thin, outer layer of wood of superior or excellent grain to an inferior wood

Wood veneer

A metal casket finish which uses a abrasive material to create a design into the finish

brushed

What is the most expensive method of production of bronze caskets?

cast bronze

An exterior casket finish in which the metal is coated with a substance that wrinkles when it dries

crinkled finish

Which heavy durable casket exterior fabric has a short nap of less than 1/8th inch?

doeskin (moleskin)

What types of wood are class II?

fir pine oak cherry mahogany

A casket which has a dull, lusterless surface is said to have this finish

matte

Non-ferrous metal caskets are measured in these units, rather than gauge

ounces per square foot

List the wood species which are considered to be softwoods.

pine redwood cedar

Casket exterior material which has a nap of over 1/8 inch is?

plush

What types of wood are class III?

poplar maples birch

The type of finish on a wood casket which has a some luster, but not a high luster

semi-gloss finish

What is the composition of a galvanized metal casket?

steel that has been coated in zinc

List two types of laminate caskets.

wood veneer artificial laminates

Identify the three types of cloth used in casket exteriors.

1. doeskin 2. canvas 3. broadcloth

What is the thickest steel used for casket construction?

16 gauge

Name the three gauges of metal used for casket construction?

16, 18, & 20

Which grade of stainless steel is of higher quality?

300 series

Which of the following metals is non-magnetic: 16 gauge steel, 400 series stainless steel or 300 series stainless steel?

300 series stainless steel

A casket finish that uses a vinyl or photo-produced simulated wood finish to give the impression of a higher quality wood

Artificial laminate

How is austenitic stainless steel different from ferritic?

Austenitic has nickel, is non-magnetic, and has a higher quality while ferritic is composed mostly of iron and carbon and of lower quality.

A twilled, napped, woolen or worsted fabric with a smooth lustrous face and dense texture; a fabric usually made of cotton, silk, or rayon woven in a plain or rib weave with a soft semi-gloss finish

Broadcloth

A metal alloy consisting of 90% copper with tin and sometimes zinc comprising the other 10%

Bronze

Bare metal is scratched with an abrasive material and then finished until a smooth high gloss is obtained

Brushed finish

A casket which is sold for the purpose of interring or entombing with the dead human remains

Burial casket

A firm, closely woven cotton fabric; an easily recognized and durable textile

Canvas

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 (FTC). A case or receptacle in which human remains are placed for protection, practical utility, and a suitable memory picture; Any box or container 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.

Casket

Molten bronze poured into a mold and allowed to cool

Cast bronze

A form of rust protection in which a magnesium bar is placed on the bottom of a ferrous casket as a protection from corrosion; used as a marketing device to sell caskets

Cathodic protection

A case or receptacle for dead human remains which is anthropoidal in shape

Coffin

Particles of wood bonded together with waterproof glue; the different types are distinguished by the size and shape of the particles of wood used; aka particle board, pressed board, fiberboard, hardboard.

Composition board

A malleable, ductile, metallic element having a characteristic reddish brown color

Copper

A casket made from a core of copper metal to which copper ions are combined by an electrolytic process

Copper deposit

An environmentally safe casket which is designed for encasing dead human remains for cremation

Cremation casket

An exterior casket finish in which the metal is coated with a substance that wrinkles as it dries; usually used on less expensive caskets.

Crinkled finish

To ornament with raised work: to raise relief from surface: material having designs raised above the surface

Embossed

A range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding together wood strands, particles, fibers or veneers with adhesives to form composite materials; sometimes referred to as composite wood or manufactured wood products.

Engineered wood

Any metal formed from iron (steel or stainless steel)

Ferrous metal

Particles of wood bonded together with waterproof glue; the different types are distinguished by the size and shape of the particles of wood used; aka particle board, pressed board, fiberboard, hardboard

Fiberboard/composition board

A service commemorating the deceased with the body present (as opposed to a memorial ceremony or service at which the body is NOT present.)

Funeral ceremony

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

Galvanized

A measurement of thickness of metals; the number of sheets of metal necessary to equal approximately one inch of thickness

Gauge

A funeral service, religious or otherwise, conducted at the grave

Graveside service

A sprayed finish that has the appearance of small indentations in the metal (as if struck by a ballpeen hammer); the "indentations" are in the paint and appear as the paint dries; usually found on inexpensive caskets

Hammertone finish

Any tough, heavy timber with a compact texture; any deciduous tree (any tree that loses its leaves annually.)

Hardwood

3 classes of wood and years they'll hold up

I: 20-25 years II: 10-20 years III: up to 10 years

A disposition of human remains by burial without formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the body present, except for a graveside service

Immediate burial

A finish used on casket exteriors that is free of gloss; dull, lusterless surface; no shine or gloss

Matte (Flat) finish

A ceremony commemoriating the deceased without the body present

Memorial service

Any metal which is not formed from iron; copper and bronze are the two most commonly used non-ferrous metals in casket/urn/vault construction

Non-ferrous metal

Thin sheet of wood glued together so that the grains are at right angles to one another; an odd number of sheets will be used so that the grain on the front and back will always run the same direction

Plywood

A surface made smooth and glossy usually be friction: brought to a highly developed, finished, or refined state: burnished

Polished (Gloss) finish

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

Polymer

A casket constructed from many different species of wood (ex: poplar, cottonwood); sometimes referred to as salix or willow; the component parts of a single casket will not necessarily be constructed of the same species of wood

Salix/select hardwood

A type of semi-luster or semi-gloss casket finish that is smooth with well-defined fine lines or striations

Satin finish

A low-luster finish

Semi-gloss finish

Any light, easily cut wood; cone-bearing or coniferous tree

Softwood

A product that, excepting some hardware components, is made from lumber cut into boards from the trunk of a tree; the casket shell has no components formed from wood by-products

Solid wood (aka Solid hardwood)

A metal alloy of steel, chromium, and sometimes nickel which is used in casket construction; noted for its ability to resist rust

Stainless steel

A metal alloy consisting mainly of iron and carbon; used in caskets it is low in carbon which keeps it soft (mild) and malleable; commercial steel contains carbon in an amount up to 1.7% as an essential alloying constituent. May be referred to as carbon steel based upon the percentage of carbon in the alloy

Steel

Describe how cathodic protection works.

When corrosion begins, a magnesium bar on the bottom of the casket is "sacrificed" thru electrical charge via an electrode wire connected to casket shell. As magnesium oxidizes (rusts) more easily than the iron in the steel, the formation of rust on the casket shell is prevented (until the bar is used up).

Bronze metal rolled into sheets

Wrought bronze

Copper metal rolled into sheets

Wrought copper

What effect(s) does the addition of nickel into stainless steel have on the casket?

additional corrosion resistance; renders alloy non-magnetically attractive; and allows stronger weld

List the wood species which are considered to be hardwoods.

birch cherry oak maple poplar mahogany walnut

Casket material which has raised designs on the cloth material

brocade

Which metal, due to its durability and cost, is considered the premier metal casket?

bronze

Differentiate between a coffin and a casket.

coffin is six sidedcasket is rectangular

Particles of wood bonded together to construct a lightweight inexpensive casket is known as?

composition board (hardboard)

Which metal used in casket construction is not an alloy?

copper

Identify the two metals used in casket construction which are non-ferrous?

copper and bronze

Bronze is an alloy of?

copper and some tin 90% zinc 10%

What does the term wrought copper casket mean?

copper metal rolled into sheets

List the species of wood casket which are considered the most durable.

cypress walnut chestnut redwood

What types of wood are class I?

cypress walnut chestnut redwood

A casket finish which has a high reflective quality and highly developed finish

gloss finish

A sprayed finish that has the appearance of small indentations in the metal

hammer tone finish

Those caskets which are made by uniting superimposed layers of different materials.

laminates

Crinkled finishes are usually applied to what type of caskets? (more expensive or less expensive?)

less expensive

A finish which uses electrolytic process to coat a base metal

plated

Another name for select hardwood.

salix

Name two types of ferrous material used for casket construction?

steel & stainless steel

Stainless steel is an alloy of?

steel, chromium, and sometimes nickel

A casket such as an "Aron" (Orthodox Jewish casket) which has no stain or protective varnish applied

unfinish

Which species of wood is the most costly raw material for casket production?

walnut

The casket term which describes a type of casket finish in which a thin strip of superior grain wood is glue to a lesser quality wood

wood veneer