Many will keep the ashes within the plastic bag when using a wooden urn. Therefore, sealing will likely not be necessary. However, glue, thread, or other sealants can be added to the panel to keep it shut. Some metal urns are made with lids that screw into the top or bottom of the urn.
An unsealed lid would easily come off once you unscrew the lid and apply gentle pressure. However, if it seems that the lid does not come off after applying gentle pressure, it indicates that it's a sealed urn, and the lid is secured using wax, silicone, or some other type of adhesive.
Top Opening Metal Cremation Urns
Unscrew and remove the lid in order to place the cremated remains inside. Carefully place the bag holding the cremated remains into the urn and replace the lid. Metal cremation urns can be permanently sealed using a silicone epoxy or metal glue when you replace the lid.
How to unseal a metal urn. If the metal urn is sealed with wax or adhesive, try to open it by soaking a cotton swab in fingernail polish remover or an epoxy solvent. Repeatedly run the swab along the sealed portion of the urn. You might have to wiggle the lid several times or use a flathead screwdriver to open the urn.
Most wood urns close in a box-like fashion or have a sliding panel at the bottom that is removable. There is no need to seal, but some people prefer to do so. Wood glue or glue designed for porous materials will work for this purpose.
The way that urns are sealed depends on how the urn is manufactured. For example, many ceramic urns have a top made to close by twisting the lid into place. This built-in seal is meant to keep the ashes in place; however, some may opt to apply additional sealant or adhesive (e.g., applying silicone sealant to the lid).
Yes, it is generally okay to open an urn. Most say that cremated remains are sterile, so you shouldn't have to worry about your health or safety from opening an urn. There are no legal reasons why an urn can't be opened either unless there is a question of who legally owns the cremains.
Ashes have no expiry date
You can keep them in the container from the crematorium for as long as you need.
Most wood urns close in a box-like fashion or have a sliding panel at the bottom that is removable. There is no need to seal, but some people prefer to do so. Wood glue or a glue designed for porous materials will work for this purpose.
You can read more about the superstitious aspects of urns and ashes, but with few exceptions in special cases, nothing scary happens when you open an urn. Most likely, it won't even be messy because the ashes should be sealed in a protective plastic bag within the urn.
The most common question that people have is whether ashes are safe to touch. The simple answer is yes, but it is still important to know what comprises ashes so that you know what exactly you are coming in contact with. Traditional flame-based cremation produces a pale, gray powder that contains bone fragments.
Typically the remains will be in the urn inside of the plastic bag, but some urns are designed to hold and seal the remains without the use of a liner.
Safety first!
For 8L models that's around 11kg. For 26L models that's around 31kg! DO NOT leave the urn switched on overnight if it is not in use. It wastes energy and the urn could boil dry, which can damage the element.
The container's size, style, and material are all important factors in its overall cost. Most people pay $70 to $2,250 for a full sized, permanent urn and $50 to $350 for green burial containers.
Keep. Another option with ashes is to keep them close by. As mentioned above they could be kept in an urn either in a house or garden, but there's also a growing trend to put them into jewellery.
Cremains in the Ground
The process for degrading is relatively short. Biodegradable urns speed the process but still may take up to twenty years to degrade. Once the biodegrade happens, the body will unite with the soil quickly.
If you are concerned that the ashes will smell after the cremation, the answer is no. There is no odor emitted from ashes that have been properly cremated. Even over time, you shouldn't expect any particular smells to develop. If anything, certain cremation containers will simply emit a slight incense-like smell.
Ashes are heavier than some people expect
But human ashes aren't the same type of ash - they're made of bone. Bones are made of various acids, minerals, and salts, which means they're heavier than many people expect. How heavy the ashes are will depend on the person who's died.
While wood ashes are considered nontoxic, they contain alkaline material in the form of potassium carbonate and potassium hydroxide, often referred to as pearl potash and potash, respectively. These compounds are very soluble in water and react with water to release hydroxide ions which can produce a pH as high as 12.
The process of cremation is highly regulated, and the remains are subjected to high heat (usually between 1400-1800 degrees Fahrenheit) that destroys any bacteria or viruses that might have been present in the body. This means that cremated ashes are sterile and completely safe to handle.
Cremains contain what is known as rest energy, sometimes referred to as free or dormant energy. This type of energy is still subject to the restraints of natural law, and can have no physical or spiritual impact on those around it.
Temporarily Seal an Urn
Use PVA or 'wood' glue. Most households will have some around. Squeeze 4 drops of glue around the rim of the urn.
Cremation provides us with many different options for final resting places. Some scatter their loved one's remains in a special place of significance. Others prefer to keep the memory close with a decorative cremation urn in their home. However, placing a cremation urn in a cemetery is also an option.
An urn is just a container – box, vessel, capsule, etc – which holds the remains (also called “ashes”) after cremation. If you're not the sentimental type, you can use a bag or a coffee can. You can make your own from wood, ceramic, or even paper mache.