another death related question...cremating metal caskets

[opie's twisted balls]

OK, this is kind of creepy coincidence given JohnCharles' "when I die...." thread but was about to post this......

Not sure how my brain with the attention span of a fruit fly ended up looking at cremation equipment but it did. In my surfing I found out that one of the items funeral homes/crematoriums can purchase are metal ID tags:

CREMATION IDENTIFICATION TAGS (http://www.uscremationequipment.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=64)

Cremation Identification Tags are designed to identify and track remains from the time of arrival at your facility to the return of cremated remains to the family. Made of 18 gauge, 304 stainless steel, they easily withstand the cremation process and provide a permanent means of identification. Pentagon shaped tags measure 1 1/4" in diameter with a 1/4" hole at the top for easy attachment. Each tag is stamped with up to 3 lines of 16 characters per line. A sequential number makes up the 4th line of print.

http://www.uscremationequipment.com/images/stories/discs062706%20002.jpg


That got me wondering can you cremate metal caskets? Everyone I've had to plan a service for has gotten a wooden box so never had the opportunity to ask a funeral planner.

Anyone?

[PapaBear]

I'm sure if you had enough heat, you could, but why would you?

[opie's twisted balls]

I'm sure if you had enough heat, you could, but why would you?
Why would you go with cremation or why would you buy a metal casket?

And I realize that my original question might have been a bit vague. How is it that the metal tags are able to survive (no pun intended) the cremation process but metal caskets (assuming they are crematable) don't?

[PapaBear]

I think if you used enough heat to melt a metal casket, it would melt the tag, too. To actually BURN the metal, it would probably take Space Shuttle level heat (or more).

[Chigworthy]

Why would you go with cremation or why would you buy a metal casket?

And I realize that my original question might have been a bit vague. How is it that the metal tags are able to survive (no pun intended) the cremation process but metal caskets (assuming they are crematable) don't?

You would be pretty silly to buy a metal casket for cremation. And you would be pretty silly to think you would find a crematorium that would try to torch a metal casket, seeing as how it would probably ruin their facility, and possibly cremate everyone in the building.

[Pittsburgh]

You would be pretty silly to buy a metal casket for cremation. And you would be pretty silly to think you would find a crematorium that would try to torch a metal casket, seeing as how it would probably ruin their facility, and possibly cremate everyone in the building.

Oddly enough, I have a friend who works at a large cemetery with a crematorium on site. He has told me of occasions where the body arrives in a metal casket; so they remove the lid, fire it all up, pull out the unburnt frame and re-fire the rest.
As with all the cremations they use a heavy roller to pulverize the large pieces and what doesn't fit in the urn is deposited in a designated ash site.

Yuck

[Chigworthy]

Oddly enough, I have a friend who works at a large cemetery with a crematorium on site. He has told me of occasions where the body arrives in a metal casket; so they remove the lid, fire it all up, pull out the unburnt frame and re-fire the rest.
As with all the cremations they use a heavy roller to pulverize the large pieces and what doesn't fit in the urn is deposited in a designated ash site.

Yuck

There's a cemetery with built-in mortuary right up the street from my house. When I drive by and there is a huge roiling black plume of smoke coming out of the stacks, it is always a strange sight.

[Pittsburgh]

I'm told the actual cremation is a gristly sight for the first few minutes until the flesh burns away like bacon, and after that its mostly reducing bone and teeth to as much ash as possible.

Its amazing how even the most horrible aspects to life can become a routine job given enough time.

[FrogSlayer]

I went to the grand opening for a funeral home / creamatory. It was very interesting, while I don't know the answer to your question I did find it interesting that they have multiple chemicals for embalming. They have to question the survivors to find out of any drug useage because some of their embalming chemicals will react differently if chemicals are already in the body as in drug overdose.

I would imagine that all clients of creamation are steered away from purchasing metal caskets. It just doesn't make sense and would probably cost more to creamate because of the need for more heat / fuel.

[opie's twisted balls]

You would be pretty silly to buy a metal casket for cremation.
Just my opinion but I think the whole funeral industry is rather silly. You spend tens of thousands of dollars on something that usually lasts under an hour. I'm not suggesting you be disrespectful but put things into perspective. Personally I like the idea of natural burials (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_burial). Even embalming seems rather unnecessary, just keep the remains on ice.


There's a cemetery with built-in mortuary right up the street from my house. When I drive by and there is a huge roiling black plume of smoke coming out of the stacks, it is always a strange sight.
I used to work near a funeral home with a crematorium and it would always stink like burning hair (sort of obvious) whenever they were baking.


I'm told the actual cremation is a gristly sight for the first few minutes until the flesh burns away like bacon, and after that its mostly reducing bone and teeth to as much ash as possible.

Its amazing how even the most horrible aspects to life can become a routine job given enough time.
I can't imagine it would be pleasant at the start. Not sure I like the comparison to bacon though :unsure:

And ya, do anything long enough it becomes old hat.


I went to the grand opening for a funeral home / creamatory.
LOL, sorry but that made me laugh. "Grand opening" isn't normally a phrase you associate with a funeral home. The normal new business festivities (handing out balloons to the kids, serving cake, etc.) don't really fit in with death theme. But I don't doubt the tour was interesting. Thats one of the reasons why I liked Family Plots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Plots) since it showed some of the inner workings of a business most of us know nothing about.


Oddly enough, I have a friend who works at a large cemetery with a crematorium on site. He has told me of occasions where the body arrives in a metal casket; so they remove the lid, fire it all up, pull out the unburnt frame and re-fire the rest.
As with all the cremations they use a heavy roller to pulverize the large pieces and what doesn't fit in the urn is deposited in a designated ash site.

Yuck
I would imagine that all clients of creamation are steered away from purchasing metal caskets. It just doesn't make sense and would probably cost more to creamate because of the need for more heat / fuel.
So here's the poop straight from a funeral director I just spoke with. If a metal casket is requested an the remains are to be cremated they'll oblige. As Pittsburgh described the casket, sans lid, and remains are placed into the chamber and fired up. The body, casket lining, mattress are all burnt but the metal shell of the casket remains. Once the cremation has been completed the shell and whats left of the remains (bones) are removed. The casket is broken down and sent to a recycler.

The funeral director did mention that while they will cremate remains in a metal casket its their preference not to as its hard on the bricks used to line the chamber.

[Chigworthy]

Once the cremation has been completed the shell and whats left of the remains (bones) are removed. The casket is broken down and sent to a recycler.

Wouldn't it be funny if the metal was used to make a crib for the deceased's grandchildren? Talk about irony.

[GregoryJoseph]

Personally I like the idea of natural burials (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_burial).

I had never heard of this before, and I didn't think it was legal.

I'm glad it is and I will now look into it.

Thanks.

Time to rewrite the will...

[opie's twisted balls]

Wouldn't it be funny if the metal was used to make a crib for the deceased's grandchildren? Talk about irony.
How about the hearse for the wife or the nails for her coffin?

[Chigworthy]

How about the hearse for the wife or the nails for her coffin?

Absolutely not. Mine was better, as it had a whole yin/yang, world snake, cycle of life thing going on. Don't plaster shit on gold.

[opie's twisted balls]

Mine was better, as it had a whole yin/yang, world snake, cycle of life thing going on.
Ya but with my recycled casket nail in the wife's coffin the guy finally gets to shut the bitch up.

[OGC]

We had my Dad cremated when he died a couple of years ago and there was no casket involved. He didn't want a wake or viewing so there was no need for one. If you want a viewing and cremation after, I'm pretty sure you can rent a casket (at least here in Masssachusetts).

It saves a ton on the cost and is much less wasteful.

edit: just did a quick google and yes, in Mass you can rent a casket for cremation. Also in California (http://en.allexperts.com/q/Funerals-1739/Rent-Casket.htm) and probably other states too.