This casket is made from 1/2″ thick red oak and 22ga mild steel purchased at Home Depot (along with a bench grinder). One of my goals with this box was to be able to make it entirely within my own shop, using materials that I could acquire easily. The key was bought at a architectural reclamation store here in town, and the nails (9/16″ black cut nails) can also be found at HD. The hardware was blackened with leftover fryer oil (mostly safflower) and a propane torch. Most of the techniques I used were similar to those used on the heart pine casket.
The design was based largely on a 14th century German casket (back), with the handle attachment inspired by a similar piece from the same general time and region. Rather than make the straps flat, I made some quick and dirty swage dies and tools to create raised floral designs. The lock is more or less the same as the one on the pine casket.
The final finish is two coats of boiled linseed oil, applied to both wood and metal.