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Need ideas on URN turning and complimentary hardware

Discussion in 'Woodturning Discussion Forum' started by John Tisdale, Oct 11, 2020.

  1. John Tisdale

    John Tisdale

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    Location (City & State):
    Dallas, TX
    About to do my first urn. Using a cedar log off the deceased property - will be first effort with cedar as well.
    Any ideas / supplier suggestions?
     
    John Tisdale, Oct 11, 2020
    #1
  2. Lamar Wright

    Lamar Wright

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    Hi John......... I'm glad you asked this question. I'm about to turn my first urn for my cousin's dog that just passed. I'll be following this thread.
     
    Lamar Wright, Oct 11, 2020
    #2
  3. John Tisdale

    John Tisdale

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    And Hi Lamar...... I found a bit of info under AZ Woodturners on how to convert a ABS black clean-out to provide the lid and urn threads. They show it with 1.5" - I ordered 2" from Home Depot.
    After that, it's just a "box".
    John
     
    John Tisdale, Oct 11, 2020
    #3
  4. Paul Gilbert

    Paul Gilbert

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    Location (City & State):
    Allen, TX
    When I got the diagnosis of stage 4 stomach cancer the Oncologist gave me a 50/50 chance of making it for 6 mo. and a 3% chance to live past 11 mo. Well, that was 28 months ago and I am still vertical and working in my shop. At first I got real busy working on my urn, but as time wore on I kind of procrastinated on finishing it. I bought the fittings for the lid from a guy that turns them on a metal lathe out of brass plumbing fixtures. I forget the link, but I bought two of them and don't really need the second. I highly recommend them. If you want my spare, I live in Allen. Since DAW meetings are now virtual I can't bring it to a club meeting, but if you want it enough to drive up here, send me a PM or give me a call.

    Paul Gilbert
    1540 Crystal Pass
    Allen, TX 75002
    214.383.3765
     
    Paul Gilbert, Oct 11, 2020
    #4
  5. Glenn Lefley

    Glenn Lefley

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    I’d be interested in your second brass fitting. My wife’s dad just past away and making and urn if John passes up on it.
     
    Glenn Lefley, Oct 11, 2020
    #5
  6. William Rogers

    William Rogers

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    I have done one using a brass plumbing fitting. You use only about three threads on the male side as the threads are pipe taper and any more it will start to bind. The fitting was about $8 and I used HSS tools to machine it. I used my mini lathe for this. You can only get a small flange on te female side, but enough to provide a stop.

    496728A7-6DD3-4DBB-825C-4B4C6363B5A0.png 5F3D6BBD-D95F-4D77-B1A6-CE0FF74B01BD_1_201_a.jpeg 6B67A391-4208-458F-B458-8FC0B13BEA46_1_201_a.jpeg
     
    William Rogers, Oct 12, 2020
    #6
    Gerald Lawrence, Tom Gall and hockenbery like this.
  7. Dave Fritz

    Dave Fritz

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    Dave Fritz, Oct 12, 2020
    #7
  8. Paul Gilbert

    Paul Gilbert

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    From Walnut to Antlers is where mine came from.
     
    Paul Gilbert, Oct 12, 2020
    #8
  9. Sandy Jarrell

    Sandy Jarrell

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    I use gold-plated box rings from Lee Valley. They are 1 3/8" ID.
    [​IMG]
     
    Sandy Jarrell, Oct 13, 2020
    #9
    Paul Lajoie likes this.
  10. Richard Coers

    Richard Coers

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    Richard Coers, Oct 13, 2020
    #10
  11. Emiliano Achaval

    Emiliano Achaval Administrator Staff Member

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    I use the fittings from www.fromwalnuttoantlers.com. Rick's son is continuing with the company. I recommend using the large ones. I recently had to put my Grandmas ashes in an urn. Have you ever try to pour ashes into an urn with a 1.5 in opening? I turn urns often, if they are going to keep the ashes forever in the urn, some people do, I tell them to leave them in the bag, ashes attract moisture, and that with wood don't do well. Easier to put the ashes in the bag with a large opening. Some people will bury the urn, I make a cheaper one with no threads for that. I also make "keepsake" urns, small boxes with hand chased threads, family members divvy up the ashes.
     
    Emiliano Achaval, Oct 14, 2020
    #11
  12. William Rogers

    William Rogers

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    Well no, as I am not a urn maker more than one. I guess I don’t understand the challenge. I thought the way to fill an urn with ashes was to put a bag inside the urn and then pour the ashes through a funnel into the urn. Then seal the bag cutting off the excess. That is what I did using sand instead of ashes to determine the volume. I do agree the inserts that are made for this purpose are very nice and top line and hopefully his son continues the business.
     
    William Rogers, Oct 14, 2020
    #12
  13. John Tisdale

    John Tisdale

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    Paul,
    Not sure how to do a PM - I'll call this evening.
    Thanks bigtime.
    John
     
    John Tisdale, Oct 14, 2020
    #13
  14. Emiliano Achaval

    Emiliano Achaval Administrator Staff Member

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    I just don't like to tell a family that they have to go to Ace hardware to buy a funnel. The funnel gets coated with ashes. It's better to make a big opening.
     
    Emiliano Achaval, Oct 15, 2020 at 3:41 AM
    #14
  15. William Rogers

    William Rogers

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    So how big of an opening would you need to never need a funnel to fill?
     
    William Rogers, Oct 15, 2020 at 10:02 AM
    #15
  16. Russ Braun

    Russ Braun

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    I’m challenged to understand why an urn needs to be opened after filling. Why not glue and seal the lid? Obviously I’m missing something and need a quick urn primer.
     
    Russ Braun, Oct 15, 2020 at 12:23 PM
    #16
  17. GRJensen

    GRJensen

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    I had one a few years ago that wanted an urn for the ashes until some special future date (the deceased persons birthday or something like that). They planned to eventually make a trip with the urn to some special place and spread the ashes. Don't know if they ever made the trip, so I suspect Grandpa is still in the urn!
     
    GRJensen, Oct 15, 2020 at 3:36 PM
    #17
    Russ Braun likes this.
  18. Tom Gall

    Tom Gall

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    That only works if you have the ashes. I've made three that way .... three more to go. I've also made some pet urns with threaded lids for the pet owner to put in the cremains - shipped across country. Small urns (remembrance ?) for family members can be difficult to design because the openings can be disproportionate. In the photo below the urns were finish turned after the ashes were added and the top & bottom glued together. The joint is above or below the textured area - don't remember since they were made 10 years ago.

    P1000970.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2020 at 1:27 PM
    Tom Gall, Oct 15, 2020 at 7:22 PM
    #18
    Russ Braun and William Rogers like this.
  19. Emiliano Achaval

    Emiliano Achaval Administrator Staff Member

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    I have heard a lot of families tell me their plans. They put the ashes in, then they wait for sometimes months to have family from all over the world come and spread the ashes. If the lid was glued, how would they get to them? In this Covid era, a family here spread some ashes, saved some for a family member that has yet to come, the person also bought a "keepsake" urn, one of my boxes with hand chased threads, he will keep a pinch of ashes forever. Another one: now Catholics can cremate, but the ashes have to go to the ash depository at the church. They use the urn for the service, then transfer the ashes to a paper bag and put the ashes in the little ash receiver, keeping the urn forever. I have more stories that will tell you what some families can't glue the lid.
    I do like it when a family buys an urn and they tell me it's a one time deal, in the ashes go, then the urn will be buried at the family's plot, I can make a cheaper urn, suction lid, instead of threads.
     
    Emiliano Achaval, Oct 16, 2020 at 2:56 AM
    #19
    Russ Braun likes this.
  20. Emiliano Achaval

    Emiliano Achaval Administrator Staff Member

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    I use the largest size Rick sells.
     
    Emiliano Achaval, Oct 16, 2020 at 2:58 AM
    #20
  21. Larry Copas

    Larry Copas

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    Chase the threads and the opening can be any size. This cherry ring was used on a segmented urn, but it could have been used as an insert just like the brass ones on solid wood.

    DSCF1641.JPG

    Something about using cheap made in a China factory fittings on a urn doesn't seem right to me.
     
    Larry Copas, Oct 18, 2020 at 9:37 PM
    #21

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