Recently I was one of the bearers at my Grandmothers funeral and was very suprised by how heavy it felt. I would like to know why this was so and what is put in the coffin and why.
2007-04-02 11:22:12 · 15 answers · asked by martin8jones@btinternet.com 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
the coffin itself was probably heavy before they put your grandmother in it. depending on what it was made out of!
2007-04-02 11:26:28 · answer #1 · answered by livinintheword † 6 · 8⤊ 1⤋
Generally speaking, coffins are made of two major types of wood, Pine (cheap) or Mahogany (expensive). Pine, apart from being cheap is a relatively lightweight timber, whereas Mahogany is a dense hardwood, making it much heavier.
Then you have the metal fittings, coffin linings (alot of material goes into the linings) and of course the remains of the deceased.
2007-04-02 11:27:29 · answer #2 · answered by Taliesin Pen Beirdd 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, it's "dead weight," literally, which is hard to lift because an inanimate object doesn't help you lift.
Plus, coffins are metal lined with metal, with metal handles and metal trim and some wood in there, padding and whatnot.
I've never lifted one meself, but they look pretty solid to me.
When my grandpa died, they had to ship him to his burial plot on a plane and it cost like $3500 (and this was 10 years ago.) PLUS my dad had to buy a ticket for the plane! You'd think if you paid that much, you could fly for free, but I guess the cargo is based on weight or something.
2007-04-02 11:27:46 · answer #3 · answered by SlowClap 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
sorry for the pun or terminology but it's called dead weight, the dead human body weighs heavier than a living one, due to the mummification process, and coffins unless it's made from straw or cardboard, are very heavy.
That's why these days you don't see many coffins being carried most are placed on trolley things and wheeled into the Church or crematorium
2007-04-02 11:34:02 · answer #4 · answered by lazybird2006 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because it has a body in it weighing 100+ lbs, plus the wood coffin.
2007-04-02 11:24:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Here's a site that explains how caskets are made. Some are made with different types of metal on the inside, so that can make them very heavy.
2007-04-02 13:37:32 · answer #6 · answered by odd duck 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The coffins themselves tend to be pretty heavy, that's why you need so many for pallbearers.... My condolences on the loss of your Grandmother.....
2007-04-02 11:26:46 · answer #7 · answered by beatlefan 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
next time get to the front quick you will be amazed how light it is if you go to the back [the upper torso] its incredibly heavy but the feet end is the place to be.
2007-04-02 11:56:06 · answer #8 · answered by the hood 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
because of the weight of the person, that is in it, plus the is heavy anyway.
2007-04-02 11:28:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
the body mainly.....but also it needs to be heavy, solid material. you ARE burying it deep under ground.
2007-04-02 11:27:59 · answer #10 · answered by chatterbox15 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋