LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

In the 1700's and early 1800's a White Cooper traveled from village to village. He used whatever wood was readily available. In Northwest Ohio, that would have been oak. So I've made quite a few oak buckets for folks and today I'm finishing up a well bucket.

The wood came from my woods behind our farm.

PS: The third picture was taken this morning on the porch of my shop in the village. Its my Oak Bucket finished and full of water! The rope handle is also done!

Gallery

Comments

· In Loving Memory
Joined
·
8,391 Posts
Very nice! I am also a bucketeer. here's the one I made awhile back.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,584 Posts
I have seen these made on one of the wood programs and have a vision of trying to make one some day. Hope it looks half as good as this one. Nice work. What about the handle?
 

· Registered
Joined
·
982 Posts
OK, I think I've found my next experiment in woodworking. As I learn of now or different woodworking techniques, it seems I want to try them for myself. This looks like a real good candidate for my next adventure into the world of wood craft.
While I understand the geometry of the staves, the various angles involved in obtaining a tight fit, I'm curious to see how it's done. - without using today's advanced machinery of course. I viewed what I thought to be a very good video on coopering at Folkstreams, http://www.folkstreams.net/film,224 and find to be very fasenating.

I've got to try this. Thanks for showing
 

· Registered
Joined
·
8 Posts
DoubleDD, I am going to use a rope… I weave an eye splice on each side for the handle.

Oldtool, Thats what I do for a "living".... I'm a Cooper at a historical village in NW Ohio. Making buckets by hand is so rewarding. I tell my students, all it takes is time and patience!" Heavy emphasis on the patience. Takes around 10 to 12 hours to make one by hand. We start with logs around 10' long, give or take and then saw, split and carve the staves. Love doing it. When you walk into our village, its like walking back in time 200 years.

Stefang, great job on that bucket!!! You did a great job! One thing that would help with the drying (cant really help it, as mother nature does her thing), is a nice coat of natural tung oil generously applied. On some of my buckets I use food safe mineral oil due to some of my clients using them for drinking and or cooking.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
573 Posts
Another great piece!! What are the hoops made of and how are they secured in place?
 

· Registered
Joined
·
31 Posts
Beautiful work. I wish I had more time, I really want to do more with hand tools. You do amazing work.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,584 Posts
Rope, of course. That is fitting. Again beautiful job.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
8 Posts
Pat, its a processed willow banding. I think they call it 3/4" quarter round. I by it by the case for the village and then I buy coils of it for the shop.

Back in the day, like you can see on Stefang's bucket, (if you havent, check it out) it looks like he used saplings to band his. In our region we would have used hickory saplings back in the 1800's. The willow is just so much easier for me and it leaves a nice look.

Thanks for the kind comments… and DoubleDD, I will add a picture of the roped finished piece.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
19,753 Posts
Nice work
 

· Registered
Joined
·
20,030 Posts
Awesome work as always sir
 

· Registered
Joined
·
36 Posts
Awesome work.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,833 Posts
That is cool. Have to try this.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
573 Posts
Mark, thanks for the explanation. I guessed bamboo but I guess that would not have been available to the early settlers. I saw the rope handle on Facebook, now they are ready for operation.
 

· In Loving Memory
Joined
·
5,826 Posts
I love to see work like this. It is so interesting. Nice job and also good to know that you harvested your own wood for it.

helluvawreck aka Charles
http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
 
Top