Coopered Vat: Oak Staves in Riveted Iron Hoops

A vat is the cooper's large open tub: oak staves standing edge to edge, held tight by hoops, with a flat bottom set in a groove. Coopers made the vats beer was brewed in; papermakers and chemists use them to hold pulp, washes and settling liquors. Shave tapered staves, forge and rivet iron hoops, raise the staves in the hoops and fit the bottom. The picture: our diagram, a vat and its tapered staves.