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Cleaning barrels

PostPosted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 1:36 pm
by j0sh2008
Hey all,

Has anyone cleaned out old barrels ? I was talking to Sam the other day about how he recondition his barrels. But I was wondering if anyone has tried steaming them?

I ended up buying 5 oak barrels for $120 on gumtree, but I want to give them a good clean out.

Re: Cleaning barrels

PostPosted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 3:24 pm
by bluc
I wouldnt steam them. DO them like sam remove the head and give them a good blast with a blowtorch. Maybe even use a plane to reveal som fresh oak before re charring. I dont reakon steaming wood would do much. Or if its just to sterilise make a cheap wash tpw? and add that let stand for a couple weeks drain and add the spirit you want. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: Cleaning barrels

PostPosted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 4:30 pm
by j0sh2008
Yeah I saw somewhere that steaming gets deep into the pores and releases the tannins.

I was going to give sams method ago and see how hard it is to pull apart a barrel. But I’m not as handy as Sam :angry-banghead:

Re: Cleaning barrels

PostPosted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 4:57 pm
by bluc
Then personally I would opt for option 2 put cheap spirit in to kill anything that may or may not be in it.. but I am by no means an expert perhaps steaming would work..all cooper vids I have seen the shave the stave toast char and re assemble..

Re: Cleaning barrels

PostPosted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 5:42 pm
by db1979
j0sh2008 wrote:I was going to give sams method ago and see how hard it is to pull apart a barrel.

Pulling it apart is easy, getting it back together is another story :?

Re: Cleaning barrels

PostPosted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 6:07 pm
by Robbers Dog
There are great tutorials on You Tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgKD6hA-_5c
What size barrels did you buy?

Re: Cleaning barrels

PostPosted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 6:38 pm
by Birdman85
What sort of barrels are they? 120 is a deal

Re: Cleaning barrels

PostPosted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 9:06 pm
by Sam.
Robbers Dog wrote:There are great tutorials on You Tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgKD6hA-_5c
What size barrels did you buy?


Well that bloke knows just enough to be dangerous.

1. all he puts in it sugar wash :wtf:

2. He want's it varnished?

3. He has no idea of what the terms for a barrel are (heads, hoops, croze etc)

And why bother sanitsing a barrel of your going to put 63% spirit in it??

Only reason you might throw a kettle load of boiling water in it is to find leaks.

Re: Cleaning barrels

PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 5:47 pm
by j0sh2008
Yeah think I will just give it a go at taking it apart and trying to get it back together