coopered box lids

RalphBarker | Posted in General Discussion on October 11, 2010 12:44pm

I’m doing some small boxes (5×7-ish) for which I want to make curved, coopered lids. My current plan is to create a rabbet along the inside edge for end panels. I’m also considering running the grain of the end panels vertical, so the seasonal expansion/contraction of the end panel will be more consistent with that of the coopered top. Any thoughts on whether this approach is needed for such a small box?

Replies

whitedogstr8leg | Oct 11, 2010 04:40pm | #1
A few ideas..

Just resize them for your project. For the size you wanted, maybe starting with a solid wood lid, and round the outside with a handplane?
swenson | Oct 12, 2010 02:48am | #2
coopered birdhouses

I have coopered up thirty or forty birdhouses over the years and the ones not still in the shop have gone thru some major temp and humidity changes since they were outdoors 365 a year for many years. They seem to hold up well. They are not fine furniture but they dont tend to split apart. My guess is that there isn't that much movement on a small piece like 5X7-ish. But wait till the experts chime in, I don't trust me that much.