Make a Coopered Barrel Lid

Article 149: Make a Coopered Barrel Lid

By: A Woodworker Who Loves Curves and Geometry

Creating a coopered lid involves joining staves into a gentle curve. This technique is useful for barrels, tubs, and round-top boxes.

Materials List

• Hardwood (oak, ash, or walnut) – 8 staves, ¾" × 3" × 16"

• Waterproof wood glue

• Band clamps

• Sandpaper

• Polyurethane or marine varnish

Steps

1. Determine Curve Radius

   • A 16" wide lid with 8 staves means each stave spans about 22.5° of arc.

2. Bevel Each Edge

   • Bevel at approx. 11.25° per side using a table saw or hand plane.

3. Glue and Clamp

   • Apply glue to beveled edges, arrange in curve, and tighten with band clamp.

4. Trim and Sand

   • Once dry, cut lid to exact shape and sand smooth.

Visual – Stave Diagram

Top View of Lid Assembly:
  /¯\__/¯\__/¯\__/¯\__/¯\__/¯\__/¯\__/¯\
 ← Each segment beveled at 11.25° →

Finishing Tip

Apply several coats of marine varnish if exposed to moisture.