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Original poster

Crematorium Technician here

686 replies

CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 13:11

I see lots of threads about cremations and Crematoria. I'm currently a crem tech so please ask me questions and I will endeavor to answer them.

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Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 14:31

The way I see it is I'm the last person to touch your loved one and for that I feel very honored. I always say see you on the other side wherever that may be.

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Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 14:30

@cjt110 yep, 100% of the ashes are your loved one and the cremator is swept before the next coffin is charged.

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TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 31/05/2018 14:30

This thread is definitely fascinating, not least because it'll be the last thing to happen to many of us. I kind of wish I could be alive to experience it iyswim Confused

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 14:29

You can see the form of the skeleton but it's certainly not intact.

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Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 14:28

@lastnightidreamtofpotatoes 3 different doctors have checked that the person is dead so if there was ever any knocking I would run away I think

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lastnightidreamtofpotatoes · 31/05/2018 14:27

Oh so the whole skeleton is still intact and glowing bright red?

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 14:27

@Bugjune implants tend to be saline nowadays so they don't need to be removed. Silicon ones used to be I believe and that would be the funeral directors job.

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cjt110 · 31/05/2018 14:27

Sorry if it's been asked.... the ashes you receive - is that the whole of your loved one? As in all of them, not just part. And is the "oven" cleaned between use so you don't get any of someone else mixed in with your love one's ashes?

GerdaLovesLili · 31/05/2018 14:26

What do you think of the "Death Maidens" movement who are trying to make Death a natural part of life again? They believe that most funeral directors and the associated modern funeral practices make it harder for people to grieve effectively and that people should be less afraid of talking about death. twitter.com/deadmaidens

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 14:26

@lastnightidreamtofpotatoes yep that's when we know a cremation is finished when everything glowing red. We have to be careful of any surgical metal at this point as when raking can get stuck in the ashing chute and is literally red hot.

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lastnightidreamtofpotatoes · 31/05/2018 14:25

Also aren't you ever afraid that someone might be still alive in the coffin I need to stop watching US grave shows?

Bugjune · 31/05/2018 14:25

Is it true that breast implants need to be removed before cremation? If so, who does it?

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 14:24

@shinycat they seem to...I also don't particularly like wicker coffins as they can just seem too flimsy but are perfectly legal and up to the job.

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lastnightidreamtofpotatoes · 31/05/2018 14:23

Fascinating thread, thanks OP. In cartoons you can see the skeleton itself bright red, is it like that in real life? When you look in the viewing window thing is it ever a scary sight (in terms of what the body looks like, not the flames)

NoSquirrels · 31/05/2018 14:23

Gosh, what a fascinating thread. Thanks, Kermit.

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 14:23

All crem tech do the job because they love it. It's a hard job mentally and we all take care of each other. I've had a good sob to my colleague before as I charged a 4 year olds coffin but would never ever let my emotion invade a families grief.

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shinycat · 31/05/2018 14:23

Do cardboard coffins create more ash tan wooden ones then?

MarSeeAh · 31/05/2018 14:22

Interesting thread, thanks for this, OP.

I''m a church minister, and have heard (and answered) some of these questions before. It has been my experience that people who work in crematoria, and funeral directors, are all very dedicated, committed and professional people who really care about what they do, and the families and friends who are grieving.

It may seem strange, but I find crematoria very peaceful, calm places - especially "behind the scenes" as it were.

ReluctantlyRedundant101 · 31/05/2018 14:20

Great thread OP I think you're putting a lot of people's minds at rest
Also Flowers for the job you do respectfully sending people on their way

SexyManatee · 31/05/2018 14:20

Great thread OP, thank you for your insight. It is really interesting and helpful on a personal level.

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 14:20

@PenCobSwan yes there is normally a queue but everyone is dealt with with respect and reverence when in our care. I always say Cheerio and wish them well when charging a cremator.

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Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 14:18

@shinycat plastic handles are allowed in cremator it's the brass ones that are not. I personally don't like the cardboard coffins as they too flimsy for my liking and also create a lot of ash.

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ParisUSM · 31/05/2018 14:18

Really interesting thread and answered a couple of things I've wondered about in the past, thanks. I was surprised by the weight of ashes, I expected them to be much lighter

Original poster
CodLiverOil556 · 31/05/2018 14:16

@PenCobSwan we have a burner and air jets. The cremator has to be a minimum of 850 degrees c before we can charge it so 9 times out of 10 the coffins sets on fire as soon as you open the door. We control the burning process with introducing air and the actual process uses the wood of coffin and the persons fats/flesh.

Yes, stay until the last cremation has finished and it takes around 60 minutes for the ashes to cool before we can deal with them.

Cremator doesn't cool between cremations and it takes around 5-10 minutes for us to get the cremator ready for the next coffin.

We use a trolley that is the exact height and manually push the coffin in but you can get auto chargers that do all that for you.

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Weaverspin · 31/05/2018 14:16

@shineycat - if a coffin is for cremation, it will not have real brass handles, but plastic 'brass effect' handles. That's one of the things a funeral director will check on during the planning stages.

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