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Constructing a Barrel: Mastering the Craft
In making a barrel, a cooper first shapes the staves. Metal hoops were usually of iron, though in the case of casks to hold gunpowder – copper or brass was more common. A great cooper can produce around 5 barrels in a day, with more mechanized processes turning out up to 20.
The Evolution of Coopering
Coopering, the craft of barrel making, underwent significant changes throughout the medieval period. Early coopers relied on traditional techniques, using hand tools and natural materials to construct their barrels. However, as trade expanded and demand for barrels increased, coopers began to experiment with new methods and tools, leading to a gradual evolution of their craft.
Coopering Process
The process of constructing barrels is still done nearly entirely by hand, making it an intensely time-consuming and laborious one. Building a barrel involves shaping the staves, constructing the hoops, and heading the barrel by hand.
Making a Wooden Barrel Using Hand Tools
From shaping the staves to constructing the hoops, and heading the barrel, master cooper Alexandrovici Iosif from Plesa Village, Romania, makes a wooden barrel by hand, using only hand tools.
Crafting Wooden Barrels: Traditions and Techniques
Traditional coopering involves making wooden, staved vessels held together with wooden or metal hoops. Early coopers relied on hand tools and natural materials, but evolving trade led to new methods and tools in barrel making.