Only thing I could suggest is putting the barrel in water before putting it over the fire , it would soften the wood somewhat for the hoops to go on better and the staves bend to shape better , I have seen others doing this when making there barrels.
Cool video! But do you know any online lessons? I find the video a bit confusing. Also, would you know if the hoops can be made out of wood? I would like to make this out of scratch and metal isn't available :(
Hey there! If you can, I'd visit Colonial Williamsburg to see it in action and directly ask the coopers how they make the casks. You can also contact www.jamestowncooperage.com/. Unfortunately, when coopers are at work the camera angle can't show everything as I would get in their way, which is the reason the video is perhaps confusing. It is possible to make hoops out of wood (they are called withies), but the saplings needed for that are difficult to source.
Looking for cooperage tools. Particularily one. Its a cable come along that draws the staves together to put the hoop on rather than using stepped hoops to draw them tight at the end. Would you know what that tool is called or where to find one? I noticed you didn't use a draw knife to round out the inside of the staves in a concave manner. Was there a reason or just to save time/? Those are the other tools I need is a concave draw knife and a curved draw knife to use on the staves to smooth out on the outside and inside. Any help would be apreciated. Thanks
@@tomsuica8731 You don't have to heat the wood that much. When I made a barrel I did not even heat it. Though I used still wet treated pine. It was just to put my letterbox on top of at my front gate. I filled it with concrete so no one would steal it.
The end product actually has the hoop laying flush with the top. The reason it was left this way in the video is because it was going to be opened up soon to put in some items and it's easier to lift up the hoop if it's a little loose!
@@Tunkkis It will be air tight too! Once filled with liquid all the hoels close. Pressurizing (Sealing) the barrel during fermentation is how they used to make carbonated beer. And still is in some traditional beer making places. You can get them so water tight and secure. You can disassemble, use cat tails to seal leaks or make spials and a blunt nail.
The 1st thing I would build is a concrete table top that would allow me to work without having to stoop over all day long... If you do this for a living, you got to make your work environment a little friendlier. Plz.. my back started aching from just watching the video...
Some people work better up and down. Sitting on the floor ect. You gotta move all around all day and do different positions and stretches. I see them asians on their honches al day long, I can't sit like that long, But It don't hurt me seeing them do it.
Why do these idiots say they are going to show you how make a barrel, when all they show is how to put one together? Making a barrel starts with figuring the dimensions and the shape of the staves. I can do that. But I don't have any way to show it.
