Dismantling A Barrel

[pete1325]

How difficult is it to dismantle a barrel, clean the staves and put back together?

 

[Ajmassa]

There’s a great YouTube video going through the whole process to do this at home actually. He’s actually a member here too. Will try to find it.

 

[Ajmassa]

 

[Trevor7]

Watching this only gave me more questions... I get sanding the staves and then toasting them, but the video didn't show anything done to the heads. Were these just left alone? Reasoning behind this?

 

[Boatboy24]

IIRC nothing is done w/ the heads. But I could be wrong. This looks like a fun project, but seems like a LOT of work.

 

[stickman]

Traditionally barrel heads aren't toasted, though these days toasted heads are an option for a price.

 

[mainshipfred]

Just yesterday I was talking to my son about reconditioning a barrel. I personally think it would be fun even though I'm looking forward to having some neutral barrels.

 

[Boatboy24]

Just yesterday I was talking to my son about reconditioning a barrel. I personally think it would be fun even though I'm looking forward to having some neutral barrels.

Well I'm guessing you've got the tools for it.

 

[pete1325]

Do you have to toast the staves once you sand them all down?

 

[Ajmassa]

Do you have to toast the staves once you sand them all down?

Technically you don’t ‘have’ to. But I bet 100’s of yrs of trial n error has made it the standard for a good reason. And toasting adds so much more complexity than without.
But That open flame seems pretty easy to screw up doesn’t it? I always figured a plumbers torch could get the job done with some more control. Reconditioning an old barrel is definitely on my bucket list

 

[NorCal]

I’d like to do it too, but not sure I’m willing to risk 60 gallons of wine to determine if I did it correctly.

 

[mainshipfred]

I’d like to do it too, but not sure I’m willing to risk 60 gallons of wine to determine if I did it correctly.

I've seen your handy work and have no doubt you could do it.

 

[NorCal]

I've seen your handy work and have no doubt you could do it.

You only see the good ones. I don’t post the failures

 

[mainshipfred]

You only see the good ones. I don’t post the failures

Well you're not alone, I don't think anyone does.