Bung removal

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bronzdragon
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Bung removal

Post by bronzdragon »

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~
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Re: Bung removal

Post by rubber duck »

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.
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MuleKicker
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Re: Bung removal

Post by MuleKicker »

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.
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Re: Bung removal

Post by rubber duck »

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.
I've got one that's a great idea.
Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen. John Steinbeck
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Re: Bung removal

Post by MuleKicker »

They come in handy for all sorts of things, legal and otherwise... :twisted:
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Re: Bung removal

Post by blanikdog »

MuleKicker wrote:They come in handy for all sorts of things, legal and otherwise... :twisted:

You're a devil, HDbrownie. :)
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Re: Bung removal

Post by MuleKicker »

blanikdog wrote:
MuleKicker wrote:They come in handy for all sorts of things, legal and otherwise... :twisted:

You're a devil, HDbrownie. :)
Ya know blanik, the day I was cursed with that name it chapped my ass bad..... I gotta admit, its growing on me. :lol:
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Re: Bung removal

Post by Dnderhead »

hum,, thump each side of bung.on plank with a wood/dead blow hammer.
bronzdragon
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Re: Bung removal

Post by bronzdragon »

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~
"If it weren't for the alcohol, beer would be a healthfood."
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Re: Bung removal

Post by Black Eye »

:thumbup: :thumbup:

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.
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Re: Bung removal

Post by junkyard dawg »

Thats the method I've used...

more importantly, how was the stuff in the barrel?
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bronzdragon
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Re: Bung removal

Post by bronzdragon »

junkyard dawg wrote:more importantly, how was the stuff in the barrel?
:thumbup:
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.

~bd~
"If it weren't for the alcohol, beer would be a healthfood."
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