Wood barrels are used today to age wine and whiskey.
Wood barrels were once a centerpiece of commerce and trade. Coopers, or barrel makers, provided wood barrels for the storage and transfer of everything from grain to dried fish to cider. Coopers divide the types of barrels they make into three categories: dry cooperage to hold dry goods, dry-tight cooperage to keep moisture out and wet or tight cooperage for storing liquids. Does this Spark an idea?
Tools for Preparing the Staves
Staves are the individual pieces of wood that extend from the top of the barrel to the bottom. These staves are split and shaped using tools called a draw knife and a jointer plane. A draw knife consists of a long, thin blade and two handles, one on each end. The knife is drawn across the piece of wood to shape it. A jointer plane is a small handheld planer tool that shaves thin pieces of the wood, allowing the cooper to refine the staves' shape and depth.
Tools for Setting the Staves
The prepared staves are set in place inside of a metal hoop called a "raising hoop." A fire is started using a tool known as a cresset. A cresset is a metal basket that holds the burning embers in place while the circle of staves placed over it. As the wood softens from the heat, the cooper taps progressively smaller metal hoops onto the form using a mallet, which is a handheld hammering tool with a broad head made of wood or rubber.
Tools for Finishing the Barrel
Once the sides of the barrel are in place, the ends are leveled using a jointer plane. Grooves are cut inside the edge of both ends of the barrel to hold the heads (the round, solid wood ends). A chisel and mallet are used to cut these grooves. Chisels are handheld woodworking tools used to remove precise pieces of wood, taking out small bits at a time, until the desired groove is created. After the heads are in place, the cooper again uses a mallet to finish the barrel assembly. The sides are smoothed with the jointer plane and sandpaper to give the barrel a finished appearance.
Tags: jointer plane, pieces wood, draw knife, Wood barrels