WSB, issues holding water...

Stang6990 · BBQ Fan Joined: 16 Jan 2010 Posts: 121

i finally picked up my wine barrel. i have one half holding water for the most part...

the other side (laying down) i have 2 spots where the water is coming out between the boards, directly opposite of each other. its enough water that i cant get above the holes very much.

what would you do? i have taken off the bands and adjusted them and it doesnt seem to make a difference... i was soaking the barrel yesterday for most of the day and started again this morning.

i think i might just make the side with the holes the top, even thou i dont want to b/c it doesnt look as good as the other side. but that would be best for fire control.

ideas?

day_trippr · Posted: Sun Mar 21 10 5:16 pm Post subject:

If it was ever successfully used, it probably just needs more soaking time. Could you use some plastic sheeting to build a pool for the barrel to sit in for a few days?

Cheers
_________________
Save the planet: it's the only one with beer!
FrankennBrinkmann ECB
Char-Broil Commercial Gasser

bbohanon · Posted: Sun Mar 21 10 5:52 pm Post subject:

I agree with day_trippr..needs more soak time. Mine was holding water about a half a day of constant water running into it. I just stuck a hose in the bung hole and left it on(I am on well water so if you pay for water, this might be an issue $$$ wise..lol)

I have also heard that some of the barrels if they are really dried out may never seal again..time will tell.
Just keep soaking it.
_________________
An AVID UDS Supporter/Builder.
UDS " Bertha" - My pride and joy.
http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35953
Jack Daniels WBS
http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37651
Weber 22 Grill - My burger/hotdog cooker.

SMOKESTACKS BBQ · BBQ Fan Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 293 Location: ozarks

i also think soaking longer will help. my barrels had at least 1/4 gaps between some of the staves. i soak them in a water pit completely covered with water for two weeks. now they hold water and are very tight.
_________________
IT'S BARBECUE WITH AN ATTITUDE!!

Stang6990 · BBQ Fan Joined: 16 Jan 2010 Posts: 121

SMOKESTACKS BBQ · BBQ Fan Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 293 Location: ozarks

good luck with the barrel, maybe you can find someone with a water tank for watering livestock or something similiar. so you can get a deeper soak. i can tell you this, mind was so dried out and to be honest i didnt think they would swell back up. i was amazed when they did. again good luck and let us know how they turn out.
_________________
IT'S BARBECUE WITH AN ATTITUDE!!

Fatboy Rider · Newbie Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 47

I agree with a longer soak. Just put the hose in and walk away, It should swell up Smile

Mine took 5 hours of constant water to fill and 2 hours more to seal.

(also on a well)

keep the faith. if it doesn't seal i think coopers pound strips of some kind of cloth into the leaking areas around the top and bottom.

Stang6990 · BBQ Fan Joined: 16 Jan 2010 Posts: 121

its coming around i think... soaked over night in the 3 inches of water and i had water stains about 3 inches above that this morning. filling with water ATM. see what happens.

Stang6990 · BBQ Fan Joined: 16 Jan 2010 Posts: 121

its full!!! no leaks. Twisted Evil

now i need to get a game plan for bands... go look at everyone elses on here.

day_trippr · Posted: Mon Mar 22 10 7:41 pm Post subject:

Stang6990 · BBQ Fan Joined: 16 Jan 2010 Posts: 121

day_trippr · Posted: Tue Mar 23 10 1:20 am Post subject:

I wouldn't use polyurethane on the exterior - I think it might be begging for future problems with the finish checking.

I would go with some kind of oiled finish. Tung oil, Danish - even boiled linseed oil...

Cheers
_________________
Save the planet: it's the only one with beer!
FrankennBrinkmann ECB
Char-Broil Commercial Gasser

SMOKESTACKS BBQ · BBQ Fan Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 293 Location: ozarks

day_trippr, what would the polyurethane do to the exterior?. just curious because thats what i had in mind with my barrels.thxs for the info.
_________________
IT'S BARBECUE WITH AN ATTITUDE!!

day_trippr · Posted: Tue Mar 23 10 1:50 am Post subject:

The problem with polyurethane on the outside of a barrel - especially a barrel that's sitting outside all its life - is the barrel interior is unsealed and exposed to changing humidity (and that's not even mentioning using it as a cooker!). Hence the wood is intrinsically unstable, and the staves will constantly be changing dimension. Poly can't keep up with all that movement and will start "checking" (developing cracks). Eventually it won't be very attractive, and worse, will have to be sanded off before refinishing.

Otoh, an oil finish doesn't dry to a hard inflexible state, so it won't be prone to cracking. It can look every bit as handsome as poly or spar finishes, can be applied directly over oil-based stains, and only requires periodic application to renew (as in yearly, depending on climate and exposure).

Cheers
_________________
Save the planet: it's the only one with beer!
FrankennBrinkmann ECB
Char-Broil Commercial Gasser

Stang6990 · BBQ Fan Joined: 16 Jan 2010 Posts: 121

interesting DT, i might go that way then instead. could also use the danish on other stuff.

kody · Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 3

have a jack daniels barel and was wondering how long people soaked them for between cooks.. the top of the barrel seems to have shrunk

k.a.m. · Posted: Sat Apr 21 12 11:29 am Post subject:

Stang6990, get you some shrink wrap and seal the barrel with it then add the water. That is how I got my son-in-laws to swell up.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Reverse Flow
Hybrid Cooker

kody · Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 3

did a smoke today and stayed about 250 for 8 hours.. the top doesn't even come close to fitting... how long does everyone soak these barrel's after a some.. one day? two days? a long weekend?