Comparison Guide
Metal Or Plastic Coffin Fittings
Cast zamak against metallized ABS and PP for coffin handles and decoration: cost, weight, appearance, load and which coffin each one belongs on.
Written by the production team at Virtue Hardware Co., Ltd, Wenzhou.
Overview
The Question Is Which Coffin Not Which Is Better
Cast zamak and metallized plastic are not a quality ladder. They answer different questions. A burial coffin that will be carried by six bearers and then interred is a different problem from a cremation coffin that will be handled twice and cremated within days, and the fittings should reflect that.
Comparison
Side By Side
| Detail | Zamak holds the sharpest ornament detail. Moulded ABS is close but softer at the edges. |
|---|---|
| Finish | Metal is electroplated. Plastic is vacuum metallized and colour coated, which is thinner and less abrasion resistant. |
| Weight | Plastic is far lighter, which shows up in freight cost across a full container. |
| Unit cost | Plastic is substantially lower, with no plating line involved. |
| Load | Cast metal handles are rated up to 200kg to 300kg per piece. Plain plastic is decoration only; reinforced plastic with a steel bar or wire carries a real rated load. |
| Outdoors | Neither plated zamak nor coated plastic belongs outdoors long term. Use stainless steel or brass. |
| Best fit | Metal for burial coffins and premium ranges. Plastic for cremation and economy ranges. |
Mixing
Running Both On The Same Coffin
Plenty of coffin makers use plated metal handles with metallized plastic decoration, or the reverse. It works, but only if the tones are approved together rather than separately. Some ABS parts can be finished in antique brass or antique copper, which is what makes a convincing match possible.
If you are building a range at two price points, the most efficient approach is usually the same design tooled in both routes, so the premium and economy coffins are visually related.
Choosing
A Short Decision Path
- Coffin will be buried and carried by bearers: cast metal handles
- Coffin will be cremated: reinforced plastic handles and plastic decoration
- Freight cost per container is a live constraint: plastic wherever load allows
- Piece will live outdoors on a monument: stainless steel or brass, not plated zamak
- Same design at two price points: tool it in both and approve the tones together
Related Products
Ranges Covered By This Guide
Metal Handle
94 references
Plastic Handle
41 references
Metal Crucifix & Fittings
56 references
Handle Set
12 referencesTake the catalogue with you
Range catalogues with images and specifications, as PDFs.
More Guides
Related Reading
Questions
Questions About This Topic
Is plastic hardware lower quality?
Can plastic fittings look like metal?
Can I use plastic decoration with metal handles?
Which is cheaper to ship?
Next Step
Still Not Sure Which Reference To Order
Send a photograph of what you are trying to match, or tell us what the coffin has to do. A technical answer is usually faster than another article.
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