Cremation Urns

Finally after quite a bit of work the new site is up and running. This will allow for easier searching for urns and for the customer to be able to log in to get their shipping and tracking information. We hope this makes things that much easier for the customer to get the information they need, when they need it.

Please look at the new site at http://www.urnsnw.com and let us know if you see any errors or if you just want to give a comment – good or bad, about the site.

We have been working on the new site. We realize that so many changes have happened and our offerings have grown since 2000 that our website should change with the times. The new website is database driven, making it easier for us to make changes and updates, but more importantly easier for the end user – You to find what you are looking for.

The new system will have better search results, less clutter and more clearly stated options for the cremation urns we sell. We will also be (finally) adding the brass, marble and other types of urns so many are use to seeing elsewhere.

For our wholesale customers, our system will make it easier for you to place your orders as well. Your information will be accessible for you to sign in and place orders without having to reenter your information.

Stay tuned! The new site should be available by the middle of June.

Choosing the size of cremation urn needed is determined by the interior capacity of the urn. There are a few typical sizes such as an adult urn, companion urn, child urn or keepsake. They each have an industry standard of 1 pound of healthy weight to 1 cubic inch of cremains.  This calculation is not an exact measurement, but more of a suggestion. Typically an adult urn will be around 200 cubic inches and will accommodate the cremains of most adults.

Adult Urn size

However, this can very if someone was rather tall in which the skeletal structure of the person is greater than average. The process of cremation leaves an ash that is coarse and made up of bone.  These cremains are placed into a plastic bag in order to keep it contained. If you believe that the deceased may need a larger urn talk to the crematorium about the size you will need. 

Doves Companion Urn

Companion urns are typically around 400 cubic inches and some are divided on the interior. Again, using the same calculations as above to determine the need, however, if the urn is not divided it will allow more flexibility if one person was large and the other was not. 

Child Urn

Child urns have 2 categories: child and infant. An infant urn will be smaller and in some cases you can use a keepsake as well. An infant urn needs to only be about 10 cubic inches but a child urn can vary for needs, but again using the calculation of 1 pound per cubic inch you can determine the size needed before purchasing a cremation urn.

Keepsake Memorial Urn

Keepsake urns will vary considerably since a keepsake doesn’t have a set size to conform to. The keepsake capacity will be  determined by the desired function. Some desire to keep a small amount of ash in a piece of jewelry, which is typically only a pinch. Other keepsakes are miniature versions of adult urns which will hold between 1 to 50 cubic inches. 

When choosing an urn always double check the capacity of the urn before purchasing, this will save you time, money and frustration by not having to purchase a second urn.

When looking for discounted cremation urns, be careful and thorough in your search. Some of the urns that are available at discount prices may just be discontinued designs, but others are imported low quality urns. We will run specials on certain urns and have a few discontinued models that we decided not to produce anymore and I know some of the other companies will do the same.

My suggestion is to call or write the company and ask why the urn is being discounted. If it is much cheaper than what you can find at other urn sales sites, I would be very cautious. There are companies who will copy a product, but made with much lower quality materials and workmanship, but will steal the image from us and sell their item as if it is the same.

We know that time is not usually available when buying an urn, but if you don’t take a little time in asking questions you may find yourself repeating the process or being stuck and disappointed with an inferior product.

Some things to look at when ordering anything online:
1. Can you easily find the contact information for the company such as physical address and phone number. Never order if you only get an online contact form!
2. How long has the company been in business: this won’t guarantee anything, but if you are ordering an item such as an urn you don’t want to order from a fake company to find out nothing ever will ship.
3. I recommend calling the company before ordering – even if you just ask a couple of generic questions. If all you get is an answering machine and someone calls you at odd hours on a cell phone, you can probably bet that customer service will be lacking.
4. Do a search for the company name and words like problems, scam, issues, etc… Every company who has done business for some time may have a couple of customers they couldn’t satisfy, look at how people were treated overall.

When ordering  a cremation urn, chances are you are on a timeline. Make sure that you let the company know the date you need the urn in hands by. If no note field is available when ordering be sure to call them. This will make sure they are able to handle your order in a timely fashion and you won’t be at a funeral without the urn. Over the last 9 years we have had maybe 2 instances where the shipping company failed to deliver within their guarantee.  (example: overnight taking two days) but it can happen. Ordering with a faster service than you think you need may save you the headache.

I hope this is helpful to you. 

Please leave a comment or any questions below, we would love to answer your questions.

Since the inception of Urns Northwest we have specialized in wood urns. However, we have recently partnered with a local manufacture and have added some of their glass urns to our offering.

If you look at the photos of the glass urns you will see that these urns are works of art. Each one is hand-blown and colored. No two urns will be exactly alike, yet they will always strive to make them as much like the image shown as possible, please allow for variations in size and patterns of color.

Glass Urn

If you are looking for a glass cremation urn, make sure to browse this selection of American made urns, you will not be disappointed in the quality or beauty of these urns.

We recently ran into an issue where the cremains of a 6’2″ man did not fit in a 210 cubic inch urn. To be on the safe side we advertise, just as everyone else, that the calculations are approximately 1 pound of healthy weight to 1 cubic inch of cremains. This calculation for most gives plenty of room in a 200 cubic inch urn remaining.

The problem arose which left us wondering about a particular crematorium’s process and standards. The cremains of this man was about 350 cubic inches. This was about 2 times that of the industry standard. So, we are left asking what was mixed in the cremains? Was it those ashes of another person? Was this just left over cremains that the crematorium had left around?  This was screaming to me the need for an investigation.

The poor wife that watched a funeral director attempt to push way too many cremains into a standard urn was left upset and angry at us. The funeral director I also fault for not being honest with his customer and should have told her that the volume of cremains was way more than usual (unless of course he had ownership in the crematorium as well.)

We opted to help out the situation by providing a companion urn at a low cost to replace the standard adult urn. Companion urns typically hold 400 cubic inches or more.

If you have ever ran into this situation or in this situation now, please let the Funeral Consumers Alliance know by filing a report. This kind of unscrupulous activity should be reported to save the next family from unnecessary pain during a very difficult time.

Since most people are not in the market for urns on a daily basis, it can be very hard to even get started. Sometimes there are more questions than answers and with the emotional turmoil, this only adds more stress.

First off, you can legally keep cremains in almost any container you would like. People have used vases for centuries and more recently we have even heard the stories of coffee cans. You can modify a violin to make an urn if you so pleased. The main question is – Where will this urn be kept?

If you plan on keeping the urn in your home then you have more freedom in the choice than if you want to place it in a niche at a cemetery. Many niches are 11″ x11″ x 11″ limiting your choice to a cremation urn under 11″ in all directions, so the violin is out of the question unless you build a miniature violin. 

When keeping the urn in the home some people don’t want to draw attention to the urn as an urn. This is where the design can fool people. Many of our urns have been mistaken as jewelry chests others we offer are actually clocks.

Castlewood clock urn

 The Castlewood clock urn is a functioning and beautiful hardwood clock, yet it also keeps cremains inside.

The other area of decision is the material of the urn. Some people prefer brass or ceramics and some love the richness of walnut. This is a personal choice which is sometimes predetermined by the deceased (or a known preference.) Let the urn be something that represents your loved one to you, don’t let the salesman sway you by trying to convince you to buy a thousand dollar urn because “he would’ve wanted the quality”, but instead find the most fitting urn to remember them by.

The question that comes up often is “how long will the urn last?”

• If you are keeping the urn in your home, than how long will similar items last? If it is wood, how long does your hardwood furniture last? How old is that antique that has been handed down for generations? The hardwood urns are built from the same wood as those antiques and with the same high quality finishes that are used on cabinets and furniture sold today.
• If you plan on burying the urn, most cemeteries will require a burial vault that can be sealed and are made from high grade polymers or metals.
• For those who will place in a niche within a mortuary, the conditions are usually that which are dry enough and sealed to protect wood or metals from corrosion and rot.

I hope that this will help you in deciding what cremation urn will work best, but always keep in mind that it is your choice. Don’t let anyone make you choose some old ugly looking urn because that is all the crematorium offers. Also, keep things within a budget, by not being forced, even if it is merely by guilt, to buy something that can’t be afforded.

Quite often the problem people have buying a cremation urn is that it is their first time. They are not even sure what questions to ask and often the answers just add to the confusion.

Why do I need 200 cubic inches?
What kind of urn can I bury?
Can I take this urn on a plane?
Will the ashes (cremains) leak out? How does it seal?

These are some of the questions people have about the urn itself. Let’s try to demystify the process some:

First, the rule of thumb is that you will need a 200 cubic inch cremation urn for an adult. This is based on 1 pound per cubic inch (c.i.) – this is based on the person’s healthy weight. This is the hard part to explain, but it has to do with the person’s bone structure and not that of the flesh. Cremains are made up of the remaining bone fragments.

Other sizes of urns are available. Keepsake urns are a type of urn that is designed to keep a small portion of the cremains only. The sizes vary on keepsake urns from a pinch to 50 c.i. or more. A child urn typically will range from 30 c.i. to 150 c.i. and again the size needed varies on the size of the child. (I really hate even discussing this and I hope this does not come across offensive.) Infant urns are usually smaller than the 50 c.i. size.

Scattering Urn

Scattering urns are used in the case that you want the urn to open fairly easily for scattering and can also be kept after as a memorial. Often we are asked to engrave the scattering urns for keeping. Again, this is a choice. You can even keep a portion of the ashes as well and seal the scattering urn.

Second, the material of the urn is your choice. Wood will decay faster if buried, but that is where a burial vault plays a part of protecting the urn. Most wood urns are kept either in a niche or the home of a relative. Glass, ceramic, stone, and many other materials are also used and have their advantages or disadvantages depending on where you plan on keeping them.

Third, the latest that the FAA had put out on bringing an urn on a plane is that it has to be able to be x-rayed or it must be open already. They will not open it or allow you to open one there. Now the rules may change so always check before buying an urn if you plan on taking it on a flight. Wood urns can be ran through the x-ray machine. Check the FAA website for more.

When it comes to the cremains leaking out or sealing an urn, it will depend, again, on the urn you choose. First off, cremains are normally in a thick plastic bag. This bag can be placed into most wood urn which have screws that hold a bottom piece on. Others have a port that is held by screws which the cremains will have to be poured into. With wood urns you can add glue or a sealant before putting the screws in, but in most cases that isn’t necessary. Some other material urns will be similar to wood urns and others, such as a vase, will have to have the top sealed with a sealant.

Well, I hope that helped clear some confusion on urns, if not feel free to write or call us.

The one question we had been asked about many times over the years is “how do you open the urn?”  Most of our pages said (albeit at the bottom) that the urn opens with 4 screws from the bottom, but since many don’t read all the way down they didn’t see that and would call and ask.

To simplify the answer we made a short video on it:

There are a few exceptions to this, of course, and most of the urns that are different the page mentions the way to put the cremains in. Some are smaller holes and others the the top is hinged. Vase style cremation urns tend to have the standard opening on top with a lid that can be sealed in place.

If you have any question about how to open a cremation urn, please leave a comment below.

The question I seem to get asked a lot is – Why cremation urns?

When I am asked what I do for a living and I mention that I sell cremation urns, people seem to react with a somber why? Well, it wasn’t because my family ran or owned a funeral home, which seems to be more of a common answer. For me it was because of my dad’s old company.

You see, I worked for my dad’s company Golf Treasures for a few years and back in 1998 before I worked for them we had started a business called Northwest Gifts.  That company started by selling locally manufactured golf gifts and other display cabinets.  Much of the golf items we sold were made by Golf Treasures, so when Golf Treasures started manufacturing a small line of 5 different hardwood urns, I figured we could create a website to sell those urns as well.

For a couple of years we would only sell a couple of urns a month. But as time went by things started to grow, of course, over those years many urns were added along with other manufactures lines of cremation urns. So, the history of my involvment in selling urns isn’t glamerous or very interested, but now it has become part of my daily life. I speak to many of our customers and feel their pain. The loss of a young child is always the hardest to hear, I can’t imagine the pain of those who have lost a child, but that is for another post.

Now you know the unglamerous history, the present and the future of Urns Northwest is still to serve at a time of great loss. It is always appreciated, yet humbling, to receive the many “thank you’s” from our customers.