Halloween Haunt Display Coffin

Each year we add an element to our Halloween display. Two years ago we made some gravestones. Last year we made a fence to create a graveyard. This year we added a coffin coming out of the ground with lights and smoke. Oh and a monster arm coming out of the coffin but no instructable for that this year.

Pallet wood, Circular saw, Jigsaw, Hammer, Drill/Driver, Chalk, Pencil, Woodstain, Paint, Lighting.

Using reclaimed pallet wood, lay out some long lengths and butt up tightly. Lay a crossmember at right angles to that and screw through at each long length to secure all pieces together. Do this again further down. I did this three times but two would probably have been enough. I used drywall screws as they don’t require pilot holes and grip pretty well but they won’t last many years.

Using chalk or pencil, mark out the shape of a coffin, trying to avoid where the screws are (any you can’t avoid can be removed for this next bit then put back in).

Saw off the unwanted portions. I used a circular saw freehand but a jigsaw or even a hand saw would do the job, just more slowly. I cut the bottom at an angle as I want the finished coffin to look like it was coming out diagonally.

This is your coffin lid. Now use this as a template to make another exactly the same.

When you have made you second coffin shape, take one of them and add two layers of wood from your leftovers with braces to support them to make up the sides of the coffin. Three would probably be better but I only used two here. You’ll need longer screws for this and so should drill some pilot holes so the wood doesn’t spilt.

At this stage, while the light is fading and you are rushing to get it finished, your children will want to make pictures using the drywall screws. Allow it to happen, it is part of the process.

Next, colour your coffin. We used black fence stain for the outside and some pale grey emulsion we had lying around for the inside. These worked perfectly but brown stain might have been nicer for the outside. Use what you have or can get cheaply. Look on local online marketplace for people giving away part used tubs.

Your coffin is done. I wanted it to look like it had emerged from the ground so I piled some earth around the base. I did have to add some angle plate between the coffin and lid so it would remain partially open without falling over.

Lighting was provided by a 12v system of eagle eye spots (as per Van Oak Props instructions on YouTube) and one 12v corncob bulb with a red cover inside the coffin on the same loom.

There was also a smoke machine to which I attached a vacuum hose, the end of which emerged inside the coffin. It doesn’t really show in the photo unfortunately but it worked very well.