Follow these simple guidelines to ensure the longevity of your cooperage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A rule of thumb for wet cooperage is: once wet always wet. You may store your vessel filled with water indefinitely. Simply change the water monthly and add a teaspoon of bleach or baking soda to the water to ensure the wood remains sweet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you do not have facility for keeping your cooperage wet, at least keep it damp by storing it in a cool, damp place (basements or showers are great), fill with water weekly and allow to sit for the day and then dump the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do not store your cooperage outside in freezing temperatures since the wood will expand and may crack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If storing a vessel outside during warm weather do not allow to remain on the ground for a long period of time, since this will encourage wood lice and other critters to feast on your cooperage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your vessel has stood empty and dry the staves and pieced bottoms may be loose and the vessel more like a colander than a watertight vessel. One way to season it is to simply place the vessel in a large heavy-duty garbage bag, fill both the vessel and the bag with water in full sun, close up the bag and allow to sit for 24 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This will create an atmosphere in which the wood can again absorb water and ensure the vessel is watertight. Wood is porous, so to ensure a food vessel does not become contaminated with detergents. We recommend you use one vessel for detergent wash water and one for potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iron hoops will naturally rust. If you wish to maintain some preventative measures, use any food safe oil on the hoops such as tung oil or vegetable oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do not paraffin or in any manner attempt to seal the wood of your cooperage. This will destroy the wood’s natural ability to absorb moisture and thereby keep the cooperage tight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you own wood hooped cooperage you must always keep the vessel wet or damp, or the hoops, over time, will burst.
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Follow these simple guidelines to ensure the longevity of your cooperage: A rule of thumb for wet cooperage is: once wet always wet. You may store your vessel filled with water indefinitely. Simply change the water monthly and add a teaspoon of bleach or baking soda to the water to ensure the wood remains sweet.… <\/p>\n