03-24-2010, 09:08 PM
John.
I think that this was a trade for the cooper who put the metal bands around buckets or barrels, but I think also that the wood staves have to be Dovetailed in shape inwards so that when the hoops were put on the tighter the hoop goes on the more the wood pulls together.
Indeed the staves of a barrel are not curved fully to the shape of the barrel it's the the metal bands that pull it to that shape, and if we look at all barrel staves we find that also each one is slotted to take the bottom and top boards.
The thing about most buckets is the sides slope so bands can be hammered home, so no sealant needed and as crispvs also points out water helps expand the wood so helping to lock it all home ( dry on the outside wet on the inside )
I think that this was a trade for the cooper who put the metal bands around buckets or barrels, but I think also that the wood staves have to be Dovetailed in shape inwards so that when the hoops were put on the tighter the hoop goes on the more the wood pulls together.
Indeed the staves of a barrel are not curved fully to the shape of the barrel it's the the metal bands that pull it to that shape, and if we look at all barrel staves we find that also each one is slotted to take the bottom and top boards.
The thing about most buckets is the sides slope so bands can be hammered home, so no sealant needed and as crispvs also points out water helps expand the wood so helping to lock it all home ( dry on the outside wet on the inside )
Brian Stobbs
