Urns for Service Animals

[devonpalmer]

All,

I'm considering a project to present to our local chapter - producing urns for local service/fire/rescue/police dogs. My interest is two fold; 1.) It gives people a reason to turn and I would assume there is a demand 2.) It establishes a functional/art market for hollowforms as Urns.

Part of this project will develop an online exchange connecting turners who create urns to the recipients and to local service animal charities. Turners make a profile, upload their work and get credit for # of urns donated. Recipients of the urns would provide proof of service and select from the urns available.

Supposedly there are other clubs doing this. If anyone would have guidance, tips or could share experience, it would be greatly appreciated. Depending on response and/or development, I may approach the AAW with this as an adjunct to the "Turn for Troops" program, create some educational opportuntites for POP grants, etc...

Thanks,

Devon Palmer, Columbus Ohio

 

[john lucas]

Devon I think our club would be interested. hope other are.

 

[Mark Mandell]

Hi Devon,

A worthwhile effort for a whole bunch of unsung heros. I've done a number of pet urns, so things to remember:

size: You need 1 cubic inch of interior volume for each pound of the animals' live weight. As you turn the item, keep the internal dimension needed.

sealing: Cremains are very "hydroscopic" meaning they will attract and hold moisture and water vapor which will turn them into a solid lump (and the urn into a rattle-box). You must, therefore, do one of 2 things:
a) make the interior impervious with at least 3 coats of epoxy (body and cap) such that when the ashes are deposited, the entire urn is then sealed at the rim with more epoxy at the cap/closure; or
b) specify that the crematorium seal the ashes in heavy plastic before they are placed in the urn. You can then use a snap-rim or threaded cap without any worry.

wood: Every urn that I've done has been a request, and every request as asked for wood that "sort of" reflects the coloring of the animal, walnut for a Shepherd, maple for a blond spaniel.

Hollowing Style: I'll suggest that you do them end-grain orientation as the shape (and the cap) will be more stable. You should also resist the inclination to cut thin walls; 1/4" minimum operates well here.

Attached pic is a walnut urn done for a 120lb Rottie, piece averaged 4" in inside diameter(5" at the bottom to 3.5" at the top) by 11" tall. Note that doing it end-grain I was able to get an almost exact match on the grain from the body into the lid.

 

[Max Taylor]

urns for animals

[SIDont know about my turning club, but I would be interested, since I have learned to thread corian. Max

 

[devonpalmer]

Excellent,

Thanks for guidance.

Mark: I really like the design of yours and the lid. Could I use/quote you as a resource in putting documentation together for the "turner" side of things (how to's, etc)? What part of the country are you in?

Next steps will be writing the overall detailed plan/process as well as putting up a development site for the "online" portion.

 

[Mark Mandell]

Excellent,

Thanks for guidance.

Mark: I really like the design of yours and the lid. Could I use/quote you as a resource in putting documentation together for the "turner" side of things (how to's, etc)? What part of the country are you in?

Next steps will be writing the overall detailed plan/process as well as putting up a development site for the "online" portion.

Sure. New Jersey

 

[Carrie Lynne]

Hi Devon! I think you have a great idea. Mark, I really like the design and lid of the urn you created, too. It is a really beautiful organic shape. I’m not sure if you are looking for/considering Corian materials, Devon, but if so, a great resource is www.solidsurface.com.

 

[tom murray]

mark
thanks this is just what i was looking for:
question on the lid did you put lip on vase and the lid female
then glue the two together post puppy ?
maybe a pic with lid separate.
thanks much.

 

[Mark Mandell]

mark
thanks this is just what i was looking for:
question on the lid did you put lip on vase and the lid female
then glue the two together post puppy ?
maybe a pic with lid separate.
thanks much.

Hi Tom,

You have it correct. The cap is "female" to accept a 1/4" collar on the jar. The jar and lid are epoxy-coated (3 coats) on the inside. If the ashes will be "direct-filled" rather than heat-sealed in a plastic bag, the owner needs to mix a bit of epoxy to recoat the inside of the cap, then fit it on. The epoxy sags down and forms a permanent seal at the collar. I put a pair of tape marks on the outside for registration and give the owner a small "5 minute" kit of epoxy with a 1-time glue brush.

 

[Mark Mandell]

A Note on Filling

Cremains are usually put in a heavy plastic bag that is heat welded at the edges. Zip-Lok bags don't work here. The issue, then, is when to fill the bag. Unless you have a wide-mouth turning, you may not be able to get the filled bag into the urn. This can be solved three ways. First, by turning the urn a bit oversize with a wide mouth opening. Second, having the crematorium put the empty bag into the urn first, then filling the bag through a open corner of the bag that is then heat-sealed and stuffed into the urn. Third, by using the direct fill method with the epoxy coatings and sealing routine mentioned above.