I posted this in the wood/ Casks sub-sub category, but haven’t seen anything there yet. It may just not be out in the open cause I cant imagine nobody has done something like this.
I was considering making my own barrel. I could conceivable easily make a barrel, that’s not exactly a barrel. The only difference I could see is there’s no bulge in the middle, which from what I can understand, is not a big deal since the bulge is primarily to make it easier to rotate when moving it. By cutting several straight staves, I could angle the sides all at 15ish degrees to make one large 24 sided wooden “cylinder”. Think this would work if I could somehow seal the inside? I could probably torch the inside myself too, id just have to do more research on that.
No experience, but sounds like a daunting task. Skilled Coopers were/are a valued asset in their field. I would say good luck and let us know how it comes out, plan sounds workable, just not something i’m jumping into, although I have yet to barrel age any of my brews, but would like to someday
Actually it is probably quite simple if you go straight sided just like you said with the 15 deg router bit. You could probably even glue it up. I recall some drums are made this way. I got into “neander” hand tool woodworking and from memory the barrel shape is actually supposed to make it easier to build not harder. Quite certain there are some good books on the matter but cannot recall. The usual warning to make sure to use air dried non chemically treated timber applies here.
Making barrels isn’t rocket science. The wooden staves are the easy part. Making custom metal hoops to hold them together is perhaps a little more exciting. Have you considered the good old fashion square barrel?
I understand what everyone’s saying with no glue. Guess that makes sense. might just have to give this a go. Hardest part seems like it would be the metal rings and figuring out how large to make them and how much to plane the staves.
Keep us posted I would like to try this myself. I have a garage full of woodworking stuff that has been dormnt for 2+ years. Right about the time I started brewing:)
.> I probably spent an hour looking for a stave calculator yesterday. This will be very helpful! thanks!
Well see if I decide to round it out or keep it straight. I have a few ideas on how to keep it sealed up without using glue, etc. I’m thinking this shouldn’t be too hard, but for the time being, all the tools I am able to use are my fathers, and I only get over there occasionally. Don’t hold your breath, but this is definitely a project I would like to take on.
I was on vacation in Vancouver, BC, a few years ago and saw some of the bentwood cedar boxes in the University of British Columbia Anthropology Museum there. The four sides of a water-proof box were crafted by First Nation peoples from a single red cedar plank that had kerfs cut in the corners and was steamed before bending. Then a top and bottom for the box was made. All of it accomplished without metal tools. What a challenge!
These were used for cooking by dropping heated rocks into the container. Also for storage and other purposes.
Type bentwood cedar box into your search engine and take a look.
If you build your own, you’ll probably be the one person in your brew club that one.
