A MDF Die and a Bit of Bashing

I finally decided to bite the bullet and make a die to help me in forming some different shapes for boxes. The last box, although it ended up alright was initially an experiment to try to make a different shaped box, but I had hoped by starting with a spherical mould, that it would be easy to manipulate this shape into something more interesting... Obviously not, so this time I've taken the time to make up a die to allow me to make something closer to the rounded rectangle I'm looking for.

The following photograph shows me in the middle of forming the first half of the new box, using the die.

The die was made by cutting out the required shape from a piece of MDF

After hammering with a planishing hammer, the copper sheet has now taken on the shape of the die template.

Something Outside, Something Inside

A little more progress on the latest copper box. I decided that the lid was a little flat and needed something to give it a bit more structure, so I've added a silver repouse leaf.

At smithing class, we had a discussion about what might be inside the box and it was suggested that I needed something to contract the wood and the copper and to emphasise the sense of decay or organic nature of the contents.

By painting a solution of copper nitrate to the inside surface of the base of the box and heating it, a green grainy surface develops. I think it achieve the effect of suggesting something happening deep in the box, under the wood.

Variation on a Theme

So....here is the next stage in my re-imagining of the copper box. I've incorporated a hole pattern along the lines of my Organo-Box series.

A small pinch of inspiration...?

Having had a long think about the problems with this piece, I decided to try something different. Rather than putting the wood on the outside...how about trying it inside?

Here's my first attempt....any thoughts?

Not sure about this one.....

In an attempt to get my 'Smithing Mojo' back, I started working on a new copper box, but rather than following a design sketched and refined in my sketchbook, as I have in the past, I decided to wing it...

This is the result...

...and I'm not sure that I like it very much. Its a bit like a cartridge for a coffee machine. This is the result of having a limited set of options in forming the base. I had wanted to make an oval shape but was limited to a sphere shaped die.
I added the piece of wood to the top to try to make it a bit more arty...

Ob the plus side, I'm happy with the construction of the box and the hinge;

The piece of wood has also come up very nicely particularly once I treated it with Tung Oil.

I need some advice from the vast array of my followers out in blog land...