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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.
Advanced
Several days
Instructions
1
1
Shape the staves
Shape the staves
Rive or saw oak into staves as long as the vat is deep. Shave each one on the horse, taper it from top to bottom (step 5 gives the widths), and plane the edges so neighbours meet along their whole length.
Materials for this step:
Hardwood Plank6 piecesTools needed:
Froe
Shaving Horse
Drawknife
Hand Plane
Hand Saw2
2
Forge the hoops
Forge the hoops
Draw wrought iron into flat strip about 30 × 3 mm (our size), cut it to the circumference where each hoop sits plus a lap, bend it round, punch the lap and rivet it closed.
Materials for this step:
Wrought Iron Bar3 pieces
Iron Rivets6 pieces
Charcoal5 as requiredTools needed:
Blacksmith Forge
Anvil
Cross Peen Hammer
Hot Punch
Blacksmith Tongs
Welding Gloves3
3
Raise the vat
Raise the vat
Stand the staves inside a hoop, wide ends up, until the ring is closed. Drive the hoops down with a hammer and a block until the joints close tight.
Tools needed:
Cross Peen Hammer4
4
Groove and bottom
Groove and bottom
Cut a groove round the inside a little above the lower edge. Join planks into a board, scribe a circle to fit the groove, cut and bevel it, slack the lower hoop, spring the bottom in, and drive the hoop home. Fill with water: the wood swells and seals.
Materials for this step:
Hardwood Plank2 piecesTools needed:
Chisel Set
DividersHand SawHand PlaneCross Peen Hammer5
5
Staves and hoops
Staves and hoops
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Materials
4- 8 piecesPlaceholder
- 3 piecesPlaceholder
- 6 piecesPlaceholder
- 5 as requiredPlaceholder
Tools Required
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