small box / treasure chest lid question

[William Lohr]

Hey all...

Ok, so I am making a coopered lid for a small box, ala treasure chest: 16" l x 9h x 7w. The lid is about 3" tall at the crest. I have made the top by gluing up 16" staves that were ripped on the tablesaw at a slight angle, so they are trapazoids essentially. I've created, thus, a half cylinder. My problem is the capping the ends of the cylinder. I am doing this in white oak because I like the mission finish look. So, I have several options as I see it: Cut the semi-circles from solid wood... from plywood... some combination thereof...

I need some advice here. I am worried about wood movement that might split the staves/lid.

Any experience out there? Suggestions? Is this even worth worrying about if I finish it and it stays indoors at stable humidity?

Thanks.
W

[Jim Finn]

I make lid ends as you describe by routing a 1/4" curved groove to accept the ends of the slats. I have also just tacked them to the top of the curved ends.