- 1). Cut the 2-inch by 2-inch by 8-inch board into four pieces measuring 14 ½ inches long. Cut four pieces that are 9 inches long out of the remainder.
- 2). Cut each of the four 1-inch by 8-inch by 10-inch boards into two pieces. One piece should measure 78 inches long and the other piece should measure 27 inches long.
- 3). Put the two pieces that are 78 inches in length side by side with the best side of the wood face down. Slide one of the 2-inch by 2-inch pieces that has been cut to 14 ½ inches under the ends.
- 4). Align the ends of the above wood pieces. Screw a few of the 2-inch screws through the 1-inch by 8-inch board and into the 2-inch by 2-inch board underneath the ends.
- 5). Screw two of the 9-inch cuts of wood into the span between the 1-inch by 8-inch boards. These boards should be screwed in at approximately 27 inches from each end.
- 6). Screw one 27-inch piece of cut 1-inch by 8-inch board to the bottom of the 2-inch by 2-inch board on each end of the assembled sides. Note that the 2-inch by 2-inch pieces go on the outside of the casket.
- 7). Screw the second side in place and screw through the end pieces into the 2-inch by 2-inch board. The remaining 27-inch 1-inch by 8-inch boards will be set on top of the ones that were just installed and screwed into place.
- 8). Turn the casket bottom side up. Cut the 1-inch by 10-inch pieces of wood into nine 27 ½-inch lengths. These pieces will then be screwed in to run perpendicular to the length of the coffin. The two end pieces will hang over by 1 ½ inches on each end.
- 9). Cut the 1-inch by 4-inch board into three lengths of 22 ¼-inch pieces. The three remaining 1-inch by 10-inch boards will be cut to 82 ½ inches in length.
- 10
The 82 ½-inch cuts will be butted up to one another with the bottom side up. This will form the top of the casket. This piece will ultimately need to measure 27 ½ inches wide. Cut from the sides of the 1-inch by 10-inch boards to achieve this measurement, if necessary. - 11
The 22 ¼ inches pieces of 1-inch by 4-inch boards are screwed into the butted up 1-inch by 10-inch boards to hold the top together. These pieces should be centered between the sides of the outside 1-inch by 10-inch boards. Use the short screws to screw them into place. - 12
Cut each of the 1-inch by 3-inch boards into pieces 79 ½ inches long. Center one board on each side of the casket and secure with the decorative screws. These pieces will create the handles on the sides of the casket. Round the edges of these pieces to make handling easier and to give a more finished look. - 13
Sand the finished casket, smoothing any rough edges. The casket is now ready to be stained or decorated to your liking.
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