Bung removal
Moderator: Site Moderator
-
- Site Donor
- Posts: 494
- Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:04 am
Bung removal
Anyone have advice on the best way to remove wooden bungs from barrels? I have 2, 3 gallon white oak barrels that have been resting for about 2 years, one with rum and one with bourbon. Last week I went to remove the bungs, and it didn't go as planned. I tried pliers and only managed to chip off some of one of the bungs. I stopped from there, not wanting to damage them further. I put them in there pretty solidly, not wanting any leakage.
Any experience would be welcomed. Thanks.
~bd~
Any experience would be welcomed. Thanks.
~bd~
"If it weren't for the alcohol, beer would be a healthfood."
-
- retired
- Posts: 3452
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:33 am
- Location: brigadoon
Re: Bung removal
The first thing to do is mark the barrel and bung so you know exactly how the bung was positioned in the hole. This will be important if you want to reuse the barrel, the wood warps and getting a good fit the second time around is difficult unless the bung is placed in it's original position.
I take a hammer and gently tap the sides until it frees up.
I take a hammer and gently tap the sides until it frees up.
Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen. John Steinbeck
-
- retired
- Posts: 3111
- Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 2:14 pm
- Location: If I told you, I'd have to Kill You.
Re: Bung removal
If you have a small automotive dent/seal puller (slide hammer with a screw on the end). Dont figger many people have one... I do, but im in the business. Thats what they use in the commercial world.
-Control Freak-
AKA MulekickerHDbrownNose
AKA MulekickerHDbrownNose
-
- retired
- Posts: 3452
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:33 am
- Location: brigadoon
Re: Bung removal
I've got one that's a great idea.MuleKicker wrote:If you have a small automotive dent/seal puller (slide hammer with a screw on the end). Dont figger many people have one... I do, but im in the business. Thats what they use in the commercial world.
Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen. John Steinbeck
-
- retired
- Posts: 3111
- Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 2:14 pm
- Location: If I told you, I'd have to Kill You.
Re: Bung removal
They come in handy for all sorts of things, legal and otherwise...
-Control Freak-
AKA MulekickerHDbrownNose
AKA MulekickerHDbrownNose
-
- Angel's Share
- Posts: 4545
- Joined: Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:55 pm
- Location: Bullamakanka, Oztrailya
Re: Bung removal
MuleKicker wrote:They come in handy for all sorts of things, legal and otherwise...
You're a devil, HDbrownie.
Simple potstiller. Slow, single run.
(50 litre, propane heated pot still. Coil in bucket condenser - No thermometer, No carbon)
The Reading Lounge AND the Rules We Live By should be compulsory reading
Cumudgeon and loving it.
(50 litre, propane heated pot still. Coil in bucket condenser - No thermometer, No carbon)
The Reading Lounge AND the Rules We Live By should be compulsory reading
Cumudgeon and loving it.
-
- retired
- Posts: 3111
- Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 2:14 pm
- Location: If I told you, I'd have to Kill You.
Re: Bung removal
Ya know blanik, the day I was cursed with that name it chapped my ass bad..... I gotta admit, its growing on me.blanikdog wrote:MuleKicker wrote:They come in handy for all sorts of things, legal and otherwise...
You're a devil, HDbrownie.
-Control Freak-
AKA MulekickerHDbrownNose
AKA MulekickerHDbrownNose
Re: Bung removal
hum,, thump each side of bung.on plank with a wood/dead blow hammer.
-
- Site Donor
- Posts: 494
- Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:04 am
Re: Bung removal
A little late on the reply, but I'll post this since it may help someone. I ended up asking the folks that make the barrels how they do it, and the lady simply said on the small bungs, twist a wood screw down through the bung, then use the claw on a claw hammer to pry it out.
It worked like a charm and didn't harm the barrel.
Cheers
~bd~
It worked like a charm and didn't harm the barrel.
Cheers
~bd~
"If it weren't for the alcohol, beer would be a healthfood."
-
- Rumrunner
- Posts: 547
- Joined: Thu Mar 14, 2013 1:09 pm
- Location: Home of the worlds most Annoying Fans
Re: Bung removal
That's how I was opening up wine bottles while I was moving into the new place, as well. Necessity is the mother of invention.
Only way to drink all day... is to start in the morning
-
- Master of Distillation
- Posts: 3086
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 11:40 am
- Location: Texas
Re: Bung removal
Thats the method I've used...
more importantly, how was the stuff in the barrel?
more importantly, how was the stuff in the barrel?
this is the internet
-
- Site Donor
- Posts: 494
- Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:04 am
Re: Bung removal
Well, I had feared from what I'd heard on the board about "over-oaking" that it would be ruined. But it wasn't, in fact it tastes great after several years in there.junkyard dawg wrote:more importantly, how was the stuff in the barrel?
~bd~
"If it weren't for the alcohol, beer would be a healthfood."