segmented urn bottom

[Paul Gilbert]

My Cremation Urn is presently on the lathe. The wood being used is Cherry which was salvaged form a table I built that floated around my house after Hurricane Katrina.

I have requested that a jigger of Macallan 18 year old single malt be poured over my ashes prior to sealing the urn. The ashes will later be scattered at the grave site and the urn will be reused for another member of our family.

No doubt the addition of scotch whiskey to the urn will create some wood movement. I am trying to allow for this in the design. I cut a rabbet in the bottom ring and intend to insert a slightly undersized plug in this opening. My question is what type of glue to use for this purpose. I want the glue to be just a bit flexible, but it needs to hold up over time. I was intending to use Epoxy to glue in the threaded brass insert for the lid. Will this be a problem if the upper part of the urn moves?

 

[Richard Coers]

I'd suggest 2 options. Scatter the ashes, then apply the whiskey. Or put in a plastic bag before the ashes, and then contain the liquid in that. Pouring liquid on the ashes in the urn is going to result in someone in you family having to attempt to clean out an ash slurry from inside the urn. Not a pleasurable task while they are grieving. I picked up my Mom's ashes on November 15. The dust was sticking to the internal surfaces. It will be a horrible task to clean it out. I intend to bury her urn.

 

[John Tisdale]

For a high strength, waterproof and yet somewhat flexible glue you might consider G/Flex Epoxy by WEST. It tints very easily with System-3 pigments.
The G/Flex 650 has a normal epoxy viscosity - the G/Flex 655 is the thickened version which is what I've used over the years.
Use with ventilation - the fumes could hasten the need for your urn.