Does anybody have advice as to a species best suited for coopering a water bucket?
I’ve built one for my five gallon White Mountain Ice cream freezer out of improvement center 1x red oak stock… But it didn’t hold up to well. The choice of wood seems pretty important for such a project…
The bucket is lightly tapered and about two feet tall by about 16″ in diameter. I used marine grade plywood for the base, but if there are better suggestions, I’m all ears! I originally built it as stainless steel banded, 14 sided with a few loose biscuits on each edge and no glue.
Again, species seems important!
Replies
Arriflex,
I'm thinking white oak as opposed to red, some might have other suggestions.
Tom.
Pine is the classic and the White Mountain was originally made with pine...clear sugar pine. Bottom also. Meant to leak until swollen.Pine has great swelling (pucker) factor. Don't finish -- leave raw. Also good to build water baths for sharpening stones.. Once swollen, no leak or outside condensation.
Hope that helps.
BB
Thanks! Yes the original was quite a bit thicker, over 1" and entirely tongue and groove including the bottom of solid wood.I was not aware that it was pine! Then again, it has been around a few years, about a hundred, and was pretty hard for my novice experience to identify. Over my life, the bucket has become more and more difficult to swell to a point of even mediocre watertightness, thus my endeavor to build anew. White oak, or clear sugar pine... I wonder (being a Californico) if redwood wouldn't be a good option?
Hey Arriflex Redwood wood be great, if you can get some old growth wood with vertical grain I would think it would make a great bucket. Let us know how it works.Thanks
It just so happens that a friend with a hundred year old zinfandel vineyard is pulling out his old redwood endposts. They mill down to a respectable 16/4 by about 8" board. The grain is so tight that they look like mahogany. So beautiful.
I think those boards are going to cause you to much trouble because the grain will be to straight and to tight. I should drive up there and pick them up so you don't spend to much time with them :) I think you scored big time. Post pics.Troy
Well, they are not without issue, the biggest problem is buckshot and other metals embedded, but the result is marvelous. It may be a few months before I get back to this project, but I'll certainly post back when I do!I'm still undecided as to saving the redwood for some outdoor furniture and buying some white oak or just using it here. We'll see...
Either way have fun.Troy
Whisky barrels, wine barrels, wooden boat hulls--all white oak for it's watertight capability.
I have watched the cooper in Williamsburg VA. make kegs and such. White oak is what he used.
mike
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