Custom craftsman creates caskets
Open house is April 11-12
Staff reporter
The death of a family member made Daryl and Pat Enos consider diversifying the family's custom woodworking business, River Mill Woods.
Daryl designs and custom-builds furniture at the couple's rural Marion home. Pat does customized framing and promotes Daryl's furniture at a downtown Marion store.
"I remember reading about monks in the east that built coffins," Daryl recalled.
He decided it was worth a try and sent for some plans.
"The plans weren't very good," Daryl said. The carpenter made his own designs and began construction.
Through modifications and trial and error, the couple produced three types of quality wooden coffins.
"The interior was the most challenging part of the project," Daryl said, especially the lid. They tried different types of material before they found the right thing.
The uniqueness of the business doesn't bother the couple.
"At first it was a little different," Daryl said, but now he sees it as just another woodworking project.
When the first casket was built, Daryl wanted to make sure the lid fit and latched properly. He also wanted to be assured there weren't any defects in the design of the casket regarding width and length to accommodate the size of an average adult.
With Pat as his willing model, the coffin was determined to be the quality product for which they were striving.
The couple is able to produce four caskets a month.
"We can only make a limited number," Daryl said. "If this business takes off like we think it will, it's good to plan ahead."
The Enos' plan to promote the products to area funeral homes and through brochures at the store.
If demand increases, they plan to purchase additional equipment to streamline the process.
The type of wood for the casket is up to the buyer. However Daryl said he prefers to work with oak, cherry, walnut, or pine.
The finished piece weighs approximately 125-150 pounds.
An open house is scheduled April 11-12 at the River Mills Woods store at 206 E. Main, Marion.
Choice of three models
The flat-top casket is the most economical, Daryl said. The yellow pine casket has a removable lid instead of a hinged lid. The lid can be screwed down instead of latched. It features dovetailed box construction and three inches of foam padding. It retails for $1,300.
The most popular casket also is yellow pine and has an elevated top with beveled sides and a hinged lid with latches. It also has dovetailed box construction, adjustable bed frame, and cushion. It retails for $1,750.
The top-of-the-line casket is oak with a three-tiered top and beveled sides. Hand-carved molding is on the corners with different molding on the edges. It also has a hinged lid and front latches. It retails for $2,550.
The caskets all have a half-inch inletted plywood bottom attached with screws to the sides and supported by six, 1x3-inch transverse stringers that are glued and screwed to the bottom and sides.
A quarter-inch tempered hardwood bottom is glued and screwed to the stringers and the bottom edges of the casket sides.
The caskets are stained and covered in polyurethane or lacquer.
The lift bar hardware is bolted through the casket sides and a steel backing plate transfers the load over more surface.
Prices of the caskets may vary, depending on the cost of lumber and design.
