Wood was often the only available material for making canteens in the past. They were probably used by the Romans, and there are some examples in Civil War collections. Some woods, such as the white oak used for this one, are watertight, and may even improve the flavor of spirits, if not of the water they carry. If you are planning for a watertight vessel, in addition to the white oak, you will need to use epoxy glues, and a tight-fitting silicon stopper.
Dennis has added new elements to the canteens he has demonstrated in Michigan, Mississippi, and at the John Campbell Folk School in N.C., with laser-cut designs for stone inlay on the medallion portion of the canteen.
The canteens will be one of his demonstrations for the Utah Woodturning Symposium.