There is described a method of manufacturing cask staves comprising the steps of providing a stave blank of required shape and size, and volumetrically heating said stave blank such that chemical changes brought about by the heating are uniform throughout the stave blank. There is also described an apparatus for the manufacture of cask staves comprising volumetric heating means for uniformly heating a stave blank of the required shape and size such that uniform chemical changes take place throughout said stave blank.