Casket lid

A method for making a casket lid that has two long sides and two short sides, an internal support system comprised of three layers, and an external face comprised of side boards and one or more top boards, and a longitudinal axis across which the casket lid displays substantial symmetry, comprising the steps of:

• a. preparing boards specific for the internal support system, including two short boards and two long boards for each of the four sides for each layer of said internal support system;
• b. preparing boards specific for the external face, including two short boards and two long boards for each of the four sides for each set of side boards or top boards, where each set of side boards or top boards forms a rectangle;
• however, the top board disposed along the longitudinal axis is a single board;
• c. assembling a bottom-most layer of the internal support system by joining the short sides to the long sides thereof employing a picture joint at each corner, thereby resulting in a first rectangular structure;
• d. assembling a second layer of the internal support system by joining the short sides to the long sides thereof employing a butt joint at each corner, thereby resulting in a second rectangular structure;
• e. placing the second rectangular structure on top of the first rectangular structure and joining said structures employing glue and pegs, resulting in an intermediate internal support structure;
• f. assembling a bottom-most side board of the external face by joining the short sides and long sides thereof to the respective short sides and long sides of the intermediate internal support structure employing glue in combination with pegs or nails;
• and employing picture joints at each corner of the bottom-most side board;
• g. assembling a third layer of the internal support system by joining the short sides to the long sides thereof employing a picture joint at each corner, thereby resulting in a third rectangular structure;
• h. placing the third rectangular structure on top of the second rectangular structure and joining said structures employing glue and pegs;
• i. assembling a second side board of the external face, which second side board has a bottom edge and a top edge and an inside face and an outside face, and wherein the bottom edge thereof contacts and is joined to the top edge of the bottom-most side board and the inside face contacts and is joined to the third rectangular structure;
• j. optionally assembling a third side board of the external face, which third side board has an inside face, an outside face, and a lower end and an upper end, wherein the inside face that is proximal to the lower end of the third side board contacts and is joined to a surface created by a cut between the top edge and outside face of the second side board, wherein said joining employs glue and peg or nail inserted from the inside face of the second side board into the third side board and the second side board is upper most unless the casket lid includes the third side board, in which case the third side board is upper most;
• k. assembling a first set of top boards of the external face, wherein the first set of top boards contacts and is joined to a surface created by a cut between the top edge and outside face of the upper-most side board, wherein said joining employs glue and peg or nail inserted from the inside face of the upper-most side board into the first set of top boards;
• l. assembling a second set of top boards of the external face, wherein the second set of top boards extend through the length of the casket lid and contacts and is joined to the first set of top boards by glue;
• and
• m. assembling the remaining top board of the top of the casket lid by placing it in contact with inside longitudinal surfaces of the second set of top boards, wherein the remaining top board and the second set of top boards are joined by glue, wherein the inside longitudinal surfaces of the second set of top boards are those disposed closest to the longitudinal axis of the casket lid.