We have decided to try aging in an oak barrel after 9 years of using glass. The used 10 gallon oak barrel has been professionally refurbished. <?
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We drilled a hole in the bottom of a 750 ml wine bottle large enough to accept a rubber stopper and inserted plastic tube. The bottle was inverted and the other end of the plastic tube was inserted into a larger rubber stopper with a hole in that was in the barrel bunge hole. The bottle was then filled with water so that the water in the barrel is continuously replaced as it is absorbed into the wood.
There has been no visible evidence of water leakage from the barrel or the bottle, stopper, tube, etc. system for many months, however the bottle must be refilled with water in about a months time during this period which seems to be an excessive rate of replenishment.
Can anyone tell, me what the typical rate of liquid replenishment is for oak barrels? Assuming it is much smaller then 750 ml/month does anyone have any suggestions as to why our rate is so high?
The barrel has been stored in my garage where the temperature has been in the high 50 degree range and once again there has been no visible sign of water leakage.
Fred


We drilled a hole in the bottom of a 750 ml wine bottle large enough to accept a rubber stopper and inserted plastic tube. The bottle was inverted and the other end of the plastic tube was inserted into a larger rubber stopper with a hole in that was in the barrel bunge hole. The bottle was then filled with water so that the water in the barrel is continuously replaced as it is absorbed into the wood.
There has been no visible evidence of water leakage from the barrel or the bottle, stopper, tube, etc. system for many months, however the bottle must be refilled with water in about a months time during this period which seems to be an excessive rate of replenishment.
Can anyone tell, me what the typical rate of liquid replenishment is for oak barrels? Assuming it is much smaller then 750 ml/month does anyone have any suggestions as to why our rate is so high?
The barrel has been stored in my garage where the temperature has been in the high 50 degree range and once again there has been no visible sign of water leakage.
Fred