Buying used oak barrels? Think its safe?

[CanadianBacon]

Found a 59 gallon oak barrel used on kijiji for 100$. I was wondering if there is safety issues to buying used barrels? Possibility of it holding something before what was nasty. Its on kijiji from a seller that has no other brewing stuff for sale and I wouldn't want to just take someones word that it didn't possibly hold anything nasty.

[S-Cackalacky]

I think, unless I knew what had been in it, I would pass on it. What did you intend to do with a 59 gallon barrell? Seems a bit big for anything other than maybe fermenting. For fermenting a big Brute trashcan would be a lot cheaper.

[CanadianBacon]

I think, unless I knew what had been in it, I would pass on it. What did you intend to do with a 59 gallon barrell? Seems a bit big for anything other than maybe fermenting. For fermenting a big Brute trashcan would be a lot cheaper.

I could use it for wine, Possibly even a place to hold a worm if I upgrade one day. For 100$ I figure i could use it for decoration to if all else fails. It has a logo on top I cant make out and numbers stamped? Dosent look like something you pick up at a HB store.

[RBL]

I have bought, sold and make things out of used whiskey barrels. If it is whiskey, the barrel will be 53 gallons. Wine would be 59 gallons. all the ones I have had were used to age beer after the whiskey distillers were done with them. if I were to want to use them for aging, I would scrape the char out of the inside and re-char it.

[CanadianBacon]

I have bought, sold and make things out of used whiskey barrels. If it is whiskey, the barrel will be 53 gallons. Wine would be 59 gallons. all the ones I have had were used to age beer after the whiskey distillers were done with them. if I were to want to use them for aging, I would scrape the char out of the inside and re-char it.

I wonder if I sanded the insides if it would restore the oak and i could age in it, Possible distill my apple wine and throw it in there.. I couldn't see the penetration of the wood that far in... But even if that don't work it Might make a nice smoker too. I was looking at prices and they were up to 800$ new of 350 used for a barrel. 100$ seems like a steal unless I missed a cheaper place, Its in like new condition.

[RBL]

It will be easier to scrape first, then you can sand until you are happy with it. Not sure about how available they are in your area but $100 isn't bad. that is around what I sell them for. I have seen most between $125 up to $200 regularly. I had a source I was getting them at $65 but they have not had any available lately. I have scraped and sanded then re-charred pieces leftover from projects. they make great ships to add in jars for aging. even better than the white oak fire wood I had been using.