How to Open a Sealed Metal Cremation Urn

There are a few reasons why a person may need to respectfully open an urn. A temporary urn needs to be opened to transfer the ashes into a more permanent urn. In other cases, the family might decide they want to scatter the ashes of their loved ones and need to open the urn to do so. Other reasons for opening an urn include wanting to divide the ashes among family members for smaller keepsake urns.

How to Open a Metal Cremation Urn That’s Been Sealed

Metal urns are generally sealed with silicone epoxy, wax, or metal glue. In the case of silicone or wax, try to wiggle and twist the lid from side to side to loosen the adhesive. If that does not work, you can use a knife to slice or scrape the glue, but be careful not to damage the surface of the urn. Another option to open sealed urns, especially for metal glue or very stubborn adhesive, is to use a cotton swab and epoxy solvent. Soak the swab in the solvent and run it along the sealed portion of the urn a few times to soften the glue.

Is It Bad Luck to Open an Urn?

Many people wonder whether it is bad luck or not to open an urn. The answer is no, it is not bad luck, and opening an urn won’t bring any bad energy into your life. However, it can be disrespectful to open an urn contrary to the deceased, or their family’s, wishes or beliefs. It is okay to open the urn for a specific purpose but not just out of curiosity.

To help you choose the right urn, take a look at our post about the best urns for ashes.