- 1). Draw a template for the coffin on the butcher paper. The top edge of the coffin is 24-inches wide. Find the center point and draw a line perpendicularly that is 60-inches in length. At the base of this line, make another perpendicular line that is 17-inches long, so there is 8 1/2-inches of line on either side of the 60-inch line. Essentially, this looks like a capital "i". Measure down seventeen inches from the top edge along the mid-line. Then measure out seventeen inches to both sides from this point, and make a mark. Connect the top and bottom edge lines to these marks. It will end up being 18-inches from the top and 59-inches from the bottom. Cut this template out.
- 2). Cut the coffin bottom. Trace around the template to get the cutting guide for the bottom of the coffin. Use the saw and cut along the lines.
- 3). Cut the side pieces. Cut two pieces at 12-inches by 59-inches for the long sides. Cut two pieces at 12-inches by 18-inches for the shorter side pieces. Cut one piece to 12-inches by 17-inches for the bottom edge, and one piece at 12-inches by 24-inches for the top edge.
- 4). Assemble the coffin. Start with the top side piece. Place the top side piece perpendicular to the top edge of the bottom of the coffin. Secure with wood screws. Next do the shorter sides, and secure them with wood screws into the bottom of the coffin. The sides will be secured to each other later. Next secure the bottom side of the coffin with screws. Add the long side pieces last. Now screw the side pieces to each other at every joint.
- 5). Lay the finished part of the coffin on a sheet of plywood, and trace around it. Cut along the lines. This is the top of the coffin. The coffin is now ready to be decorated or used as-is for decoration.
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