It looks like the process he used is basically the same as it would be generations ago too. Love that he can create such a useful item out of so few tools.
The cooperages are normally attached to a brewery though, They are set up to make barrels not other sizes of casks. I know I had a devil of a job locating a cooper when I wanted two firkins for our medieval group.
There will be thousands, maybe millions of wooden barrels used each year, as wine barrels are only used so long before they're discarded or used for other purposes. Some vineyards require fresh barrels every year, it depends on what finished product.
So many get used; these are probably made by a more modern means now, although I'm not sure about that.
All that skill and the time it takes and what would that bucket be worth.
There seems to be a sudden glut of barrels for sale and they are wanting £45 for a full barrel or £25 for half....some will deliver if you buy 2.....I wouldnt make that and sell it for 50 quid but when you can buy a plastic bucket for £1.
I think we paid around £125 each for the firkins. That was about 10 years ago. They were made by a guy in Bootle using traditional methods. The rising of the cask is still done traditionally, we didn't need them 'toasting' because we use them for water. If you look closely, they are bound with hazel hoops which was done with fish barrels until the '60's