- 1). Saw off the 1-inch tips of the pickets to make their tops flat and even.
- 2). Lay four pickets flat. Measure 55 inches up from the bottom end and mark this distance on the left side of each picket. Measure 2 inches in from the right side of each picket, at the top and bottom, and mark these spots. Draw an angled line from the top 2-inch mark to the 55-inch mark, and from the 55-inch mark to the bottom 2-inch mark on each picket. Saw the four pickets along these lines.
- 3). Lay two more pickets side by side on a flat surface. Put two of the sawed pickets next to these pickets, one on each side, with the long sides adjacent. This will be the base of your coffin, in a characteristic hexagonal shape. Repeat this process with two more pickets and the remaining sawed pickets to make the coffin lid.
- 4). Saw 16 inches off the top of four more pickets. You will have four 16-inch lengths and four 55-inch lengths. These will make the sides of the coffin.
- 5). Saw another picket into four 16-inch sections and one 7-inch section. Bisect the 7-inch section lengthwise to make two 7-inch-by-3-inch pieces.
- 6). Saw another picket into five 11.5-inch sections, one 10-inch section and one 3.5-inch section. Bisect all but the 3.5-inch section lengthwise, giving you 10 11.5-inch-by-3-inch sections, two 10-inch-by-3-inch sections and one 3.5-inch-by-6-inch section.
- 7). Saw the remaining picket into one 23-inch section, one 18-inch section and three 10-inch sections. Bisect all of these sections lengthwise to make two 23-inch-by-3-inch sections, two 18-inch-by-3-inch sections and six 10-inch-by-3-inch sections.
- 8). Place a 23-inch piece horizontally across the lid of the coffin at its widest part. Place an 18-inch piece horizontally across the lid of the coffin where it is about 20 inches wide. (Center these crosspieces to allow room for the coffin sides.) Glue the crosspieces in place. Drill six holes, evenly spaced, in the 18-inch crosspiece pieces and eight holes, evenly spaced, in the 23-inch crosspiece. Install screws in these holes.
- 9). Repeat Step 8, but with the base of the coffin.
- 10
Place two 10-inch sections horizontally across the coffin lid, one about one inch down from the top and the other one inch up from the bottom. Place two more 10-inch sections near the side edges of the coffin lid, about two inches down from the 23-inch crosspiece. Angle the sections slightly to have one inch of free space to accommodate the coffin sides. Glue the sections in place, then drill four evenly-spaced holes in each section. Install screws in these holes. - 11
Place the two 7-inch sections in the coffin base, near both sides toward the top. Angle them slightly to allow one inch of free space to accommodate the coffin sides. Place the 3.5-inch section horizontally one inch down from the top of the base. Glue and screw these sections in place. - 12
Place two 16-inch sections horizontally with their long sides touching. Place an 11.5-inch piece across these boards at each end and glue and screw them in place. This will be the top side of the coffin. Prop it perpendicular to the top side of the coffin base so the bottom of the side piece is against the 3.5-inch section. - 13
Place two 16-inch sections horizontally with their long sides touching. Prop the sections perpendicular to the short angled side of the coffin base so the bottom edge is touching one of the 7-inch sections and one end is touching the top side piece. Screw this side piece to the top side piece. Repeat the process with two more 16-inch sections on the other short angled side of the coffin base. - 14
Place two 55-inch sections horizontally with their long sides touching. Place an 11.5-inch piece across the boards, one inch from the bottom. Place another 11.5-inch piece across the boards at the 20-inch mark, and a third 11.5-inch piece across the boards at the 40-inch mark. Glue and screw these pieces in place. Repeat the process with the other two 55-inch sections and three more 11.5-inch pieces. - 15
Align the two 55-inch sections so they are perpendicular with the long sides of the coffin base. - 16
Place an 11.5-inch piece vertically at the joint where the long angled side touches the short angled side. Heavily glue this piece in place and secure it with eight screws in evenly spaced pairs. Repeat this process for the other joint. - 17
Place the two remaining 16-inch pieces at the base of the coffin to make the bottom side. Screw these pieces to the 11.5-inch pieces that are holding the long side pieces together. - 18
Place the lid on the coffin to ensure a good fit. Trim some of the crosspieces or ribs with a small handsaw if necessary. - 19
Paint the coffin black or the color of your choice and allow it to dry thoroughly.
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