Fitting Coffin Handles And Decoration

Practical fitting notes for coffin handles, handle bars, crucifix, corners and swing bars — screw choice, spacing, pilot holes and common mistakes.

Written by the production team at Virtue Hardware Co., Ltd, Wenzhou.

Before You Start

Three Things To Confirm

The panel material. Solid hardwood, softwood, veneered board, chipboard and MDF all take screws differently.
The screw size stated in the product specification. A screw that is too long breaks through the inside face of the coffin.
Whether the piece carries load. A crucifix and a handle are fitted with different care because only one of them will be lifted.

Handles

Set out all handle positions along the coffin side and mark every screw hole before driving anything.
Drill pilot holes in hardwood. Chipboard and MDF need the correct screw type or the thread will strip.
Tighten evenly across both fixing points rather than fully seating one side first, which pulls the casting out of line.
For a handle bar, check the bar length against the coffin before you fix the arms, not after.
For a movable handle, check the bar swings and returns freely with the lid closed before the coffin leaves the bench.
Never use fewer handles than the loaded weight calls for. Divide loaded weight by the rated lift weight and add margin.

Decoration

Mark the centre line of the lid and set the piece out from that line, not from an edge.
Drill a pilot hole in hardwood so the panel does not split and the casting is not strained.
Fit decoration after the coffin is polished, so polish and wax do not build up around the ornament.
Where the piece will be fixed outdoors on stone, use the stainless steel or brass version rather than a plated zamak one.

Corners And Swing Bars

Fit the corners first, check that the bar swings clear of the casket body, then fix the bar.
Both corners at one end must sit at the same height or the bar will bind as it swings.
Check the swing action with the lid closed before the casket leaves the bench.

Common Mistakes

Common coffin hardware installation mistakes
Wrong screw length	Breaks through the inside face, or does not reach enough material to hold
No pilot hole in hardwood	Split panel, strained or cracked casting
Uneven tightening	Casting sits out of line and the swing action binds
Too few handles for the loaded weight	The rating applies per piece, and load is never shared evenly
Decoration fitted before polishing	Polish and wax build up around the ornament and cannot be removed cleanly