Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- 2 long pieces hardwood
- 2 short pieces hardwood
- 1 bottom piece hardwood
- 1 lid piece of hardwood
- Electric sander
- Handles
- 3/4-inch nuts, bolts and lock washers
- Varnish
- Wood sealant
- Stain/paint
- Wood glue
- Photo(s) of your lost friend
- Favorite toys/bed
- Clear Shellac
Instructions
Measure the length, height and width of your deceased friend. The inside of the coffin should be 6 inches longer than your pet's height. The length of the coffin should be 6 inches longer than your pet's length from nose to tail. For height, the coffin should be 24 inches deep. If your dog was larger or smaller, you can customize this for an ideal fit.
Cut the hardwood to fit according to the measurements you made. Customizing the shape of the coffin to resemble the traditional angled end at the "head" area is an option. Doing so however can make a proper seal on the coffin difficult unless you have superior wood working skills. The bottom piece should be 1 inch longer and 1 inch wider than the lengths of the other panels.
Sand the two long pieces which will serve as the left and right sides of the coffin. Smooth out the edges where the wood was cut. Wipe saw dust off with clean dry cloths. Sand the two short pieces which will serve as the front and rear panels that join the left and right sides into one unit. Repeat the sanding with the lid and bottom pieces.
Paint a generous portion of water sealant on all panels. Wait for several hours, and add a second coat. The water sealant will delay the rotting of the wood for several years. If you are burying this casket in your backyard, the rotted wood could cause a collapse of the soil above it leading to an unsafe indentation in the ground.
Apply a 1-inch-wide strip of wood glue to the bottom piece on all edges. Stand up the left and right sides, and press firmly into the wood glue strip. Place the top and bottom panels in the strip as well. This glue serves two purposes. First, a thick layer of glue between panels will prevent the early invasion of insects into the casket. Second, it will make securing the pieces together easier once the glue has dried.
Wait a couple of hours for the wood glue to harden and scrape away the excess.
Screw a 1-1/2-inch self-tapping wood screw into each corner of the coffin joining the left and right sides with the front and rear panels using a powered screwdriver.
Flip the coffin over and screw a 1-1/2-inch self-tapping wood screw every 3 inches along the bottom of the coffin. If your friend was a little heavy, you may want to consider putting a few extra screws into the coffin along the sides and the bottom. Each screw should be counter-sunk into the wood so they can be hidden later.
Add the handles to the left and right sides of the casket. Drill a 3/4-inch hole for each bolt that will hold the handles in place. Insert the bolt through the holes in the handle and through the holes in the side of the coffin. Place a washer on each bolt on the inside of the coffin, and tighten the nut over the washer with an adjustable wrench.
Flip the coffin back over. Paint or stain the coffin. Allow 24 hours for the stain or paint to dry.
Final Touches
Place your friend in the casket. If he or she had a favorite bed, toy or plaything, fill in the area around him with these things. Say your last goodbyes and take the time you need. Allow family members to do the same.
Get a few favorite pictures of your friend as a puppy or in hilarious moments and glue them to the lid. It can be one large picture or several smaller ones. Wait for a few moments for the glue to dry. Coat the lid with clear shellac and let it dry.
Apply the wood glue on the top edges of the coffin panels. Set the lid down over the glue and make sure it is even with all sides. Let the glue strip dry for several minutes. Drive a screw through the lid at each corner.
Carry the coffin to the burial site, and lay your friend, companion and loved one to rest.