Casket Types

Composition board

(Fiberboard, Particleboard or Pressed board) Particles of wood bonded together with waterproof glue. The different types of distinguished by the size of the particles of wood used.

Artificial laminates

(Vinyl) Adhered to wood or wood by-products.

Types of Stainless steel

1. 400 Series 2. 300 Series 3. 200 Series

Distinguish between the terms Coffin and Casket:

1. A coffin is a utilitarian devise for conveyance of the body to the grave. 2. A casket is utilitarian but also esthetically pleasing to be used during the funeral and to convey the body to the grave.

Veneer Caskets

1. A fine wood veneer is placed over a less expensive particle board under structure and given a beautiful finish. 2. This makes them somewhat less expensive.

Gauge

1. A measurement of thickness of metals. 2. The number of sheets of metal necessary to equal approximately one inch of thickness. 3. Or Simply U.S. Standard Gauge. 4. The lower the gauge the thicker the metal.

Steel

1. A metal alloy consisting mainly of iron and carbon. 2. Used in caskets it is low in carbon which keeps it soft and malleable. 3. Commercial steel contains carbon in an amount up to 1.7% as an essential alloying constituent. 4. Expressed in United States Standard Gauge

Stainless steel

1. A metal alloy of steel, chromium, and sometimes nickel that is used in casket construction. 2. Noted for its ability to resist rust. 3. An alloy of steel, carbon, and chromium.

The family can purchase a burial casket from a funeral home or outside vendor.

1. As per the FTC Funeral Rule, it is the duty of the FD to present the family with a list of the available types of caskets along with their prices. 2. Also the FD cannot compel a family to buy a casket from their funeral home. 3. It is up to the family whether they want to buy a casket from the funeral home or from any other place. 4. Also the funeral home must use the casket purchased directly without any extra charge or handling fee. 5. To conclude, it is true that the main reason behind selecting a particular casket is its beauty and finish. 6. But, at the same time people also take into account their budget, their personal values and religious aspects when selecting a burial casket.

Eco-friendly Caskets

1. As the names suggests, eco-friendly caskets are made of natural materials such as bamboo, willow, sea grass, cardboard and bamboo. 2. They are hand crafted by skilled artisans and feature all natural inferiors are always 100% biodegradable and non-toxic.

Examples of Hardwood used in casket construction:

1. Birch 2. Cherry 3. Mahogany 4. Maple 5. Oak 6. Walnut

Metal Caskets

1. Bronze, Copper, Stainless & Steel (18 and 20-gauge). 2. Each type of metal caskets has its unique features and advantages. 3. The main reason behind the popularity of metal caskets is its high durability factor as compared to the traditional light-weight wood caskets. 4. The price of metal caskets depends upon the type of metal used and the interior material.

Casket Types

1. Cloth Covered Caskets 2. Veneer Caskets 3. Eco-friendly Caskets 4. Metal Caskets 5. Hardwood Caskets

Types of Non-Ferrous Metal

1. Copper 2. Wrought Copper 3. Bronze 4. Cast Bronze

Thickness of Non-Ferrous Metal:

1. Expressed in ounces per square foot (Brown & Sharpe Gauge). 2. The higher the ounces per square foot, the thicker the metal.

Hardwood Caskets

1. Hardwood caskets are made from the wood that comes from a leaf-bearing tree. 2. Different types of wood such as mahogany, walnut, cherry, maple, oak, cedar, ash, pine, and populous genus of trees. 3. Hardwood caskets have a dignified and beautiful look that highlights the workmanship. 4. Also these caskets are popular in the market due to their superior quality and affordable nature. 5. Cost of hardwood caskets can vary a lot depending on the species of wood used, type of finish and interior materials which can vary from velvet to crepe. 6. The Aron has no metal parts and is generally affixed with a Star of David on the foot-panel. 7. The cremation casket is made of totally combustible materials.

Examples of Softwood used in casket construction:

1. Pine 2. Poplar 3. Cottonwood 4. Tulip tree 5. Willow

Cloth Covered Caskets

1. These caskets are made from a base material which can be as simple as corrugated fiberboard or pressed wood which is covered with a layer of cloth. 2. Simple construction and low cost of materials lead to low cost inexpensive caskets.

400 Series

12% Chromium with no notable percentage of Nickel. Also referred to as "409 or Martensitic Stainless Steel".

300 Series

18% Chromium and 8% Nickel. Higher Grade. Also referred to as "304 or Austenitic Stainless Steel".

Coffin

A case or receptacle for dead human remains that is anthropoid (man shaped) by design. Wider at the elbows and narrow at the feet.

Select Hardwood (Salix)

A casket constructed from many different species of wood. 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. (Ex. poplar, cottonwood)

Polymer

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

Walnut

A hardwood. Expensive brown wood, second to mahogany. 2% of casket sales

Maple

A hardwood. Light, closed grained. May be stained in any color.

Oak

A hardwood. Strong and durable light wood. 1/3 of all casket sold in the U.S.

Mahogany

A hardwood. Very expensive, best wood. Fine grained reddish brown.

Cherry

A heavy white hardwood with closed grain usually stained red. High gloss finish.

Birch

A heavy white hardwood. Closed grain, durable, often seen in kitchen cabinets.

Copper

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

Fiberglass

A material consisting of extremely fine filaments of glass embed in various resins. Makes beautiful caskets that can be finished to look like metal.

An alloy

A mixture or "solid solution" composed of metals. Steel, Stainless Steel, and Bronze are alloys used in the manufacturer of caskets.

Wood

A natural material that provides a beautiful and warm appearance.

Casket

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.

Solid wood

All components made of the same species of wood 1. Birch 2. Cherry 3. Mahogany 4. Maple 5. Oak 6. Pine 7. Poplar 8. Walnut 9. Select Hardwood (Salix)

Ferrous

Any metal formed from Iron.

Sherardizing

Applied by imbedding in Zinc powder at 300*C.

Corrugated fiberboard

Cardboard used to construct lightweight, inexpensive caskets. Used as alternative containers for direct disposition.

Galvanized Steel

Coated with Zinc for increased resistance to rust. 1. Cold 2. Hot 3. Sherardizing

Wrought Copper

Copper metal rolled into sheets.

Wood-by products

Corrugated fiberboard Composition board Plywood

Wood veneers

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

Types of Metal:

Ferrous Non-Ferrous

Laminates

Gluing together sheets of different materials. Thin covering over thick, inexpensive base materials.

Pine

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

Non-Ferrous

Metal containing no iron.

Cast Bronze

Molten Bronze poured into a mold and allowed to cool. Seamless, 90% copper an 10% Zinc (or Tin). Premier Alloy.

Metal

Most popular casket in U.S. Accounts for 70% of casket sales.

200 Series

Not used in casket construction, however, it is a "higher" grade of Stainless steel and is found in the exhaust system of high-end automobiles like Jaguar and Porsche.

One square foot of 32oz. Copper would weigh 2 lbs. (16oz. / lb.)

One square foot of 48oz. Copper would weigh 3lbs.

Cold

Ordinary temps, uniform deposit of Zinc.

Hot

Passed through a bath of molten Zinc (406*C).

Other materials

Polymer Fiberglass

Some other familiar alloys are:

Solder Pewter Brass Amalgam

Types of Wood used:

Solid wood Laminates Wood-by products

Types of Ferrous Metal

Steel Stainless steel

Plywood

Thin sheets 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.

Poplar

White softwood that stains well. (Cottonwood, tulip tree, and willow).

Materials used in casket shell construction:

Wood Metal Plastic Fiberglass

Softwood

Wood form cone-bearing (Coniferous) trees. Lighter and more easily cut than hardwood.

Hardwood

Wood that comes from trees that lose their leaves annually (Deciduous). Closed-grained resistant wood. Usually more expensive than softwood.

Types of Laminates

Wood veneers Artificial laminates