Summer 2024
September 14-15

In this two-day class you'll make a bucket from Douglas Fir or other old growth wood salvaged from old buildings, or some other high quality softwood. 

Coopering is the traditional craft of making buckets, barrels, baths and all forms of storage containers. Cooperage was a huge trade in the late 1800's and in the early part of the 20th century. The coopers not only served brewers but most dry goods were transported around the globe in coopered containers. Even some wet goods; ask the late Admiral Nelson.

In England the last brewer's cooperage closed in October 2009. There are several coopers alive and well in the US and we want to continue to inspire our students to learn and keep alive this traditional craft.

This class is taught by Steve Habersetzer. One of Steve's first jobs was making traditional coopered buckets in an unheated shack somewhere in Eastern Washington.

In this weekend course, you’ll be learning the art craft of making wooden containers from staves. Students will then shape those staves with a hatchet and then how to bevel the staves on a cooper’s plane.

After rough assembling the bucket you’ll measure the length and make the iron bands – hammering them to flare them out to fit.

After cleaning the inside of the bucket with a scorp you’ll make a base for the bucket using a band saw and hand plane. Then you’ll fit the base and hammer on the iron bands to complete the bucket.

We'll also look in more depth at coopering tools and how to make them. We'll show you how to make a full-size cooper's plane and we'll look at how you can repurpose larger hand planes to make smaller coopered parts.

Tools

All tools for the class are provided. We recommend bringing a digital camera to record the steps to make the bucket.

Prerequisites

Some skills required. We welcome folks with some woodworking experience and familiarity with hand and/or machine tools to take this class. Coopering requires moderate hand strength to grip the wood as you pass it over the coopers plane. Some of the tools and techniques listed in the class description may sound daunting, but they are simple to learn and fun to use. This is one of those classes where everybody helps out everybody else.

Class Information and Registration

Class runs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday and Sunday in Building 304 at Fort Worden. Map
Please read our What to Expect page for general information about the school.
Please also read our Registration Policy, and sign up for the waitlist if the course is full.

Class size: 12
Cost: $375
Materials Charge: $75