07/02/2026
One thing I’ve learned making small casket parts on a large CNC machine: the CNC is only as good as the material preparation.
These Queen Anne handle risers may look like simple parts, but the real work starts before the bit ever touches the wood.
For small parts like this, I’ve had much better results by preparing the blanks carefully: Cut the boards into shorter, more manageable lengths. Remove knots, checks, cracks, and unstable grain before milling. Avoid trying to machine long, wide, twist-prone boards when the finished parts are much smaller. And whenever practical, create at least one glue line in the blank.
That glue line is not just about getting the right width. It adds a lot of stability. A single wide board can rack, twist, cup, or move during machining, especially as material is removed. A well-prepared glued blank behaves much better on the CNC table and gives more consistent parts.
The CNC does a great job repeating the cut, but it cannot fix poor lumber selection or unstable stock. The flatter, cleaner, and more stable the blank is going into the job, the better the finished parts come out.
For anyone making casket hardware, handle risers, decorative parts, or other small repeatable pieces, don’t overlook the lumber prep. It may be the difference between a frustrating CNC job and a clean production run.
