DIY Coopering and Leaky Barrel Fixes

[Wildcats]

This is also an interesting clip, just to be clear I have no affiliation with this or any other cooperage's or Coopers.

This video alone makes me want to buy a barrel from them. I loved watching how the barrel is made. The video also made me wish I worked there as well.

[Saltbush Bill]

Yeah I like it to Wild.
The fella is obviously promoting his barrels , but at the same time I think hes being pretty straight down the line about how he goes about it and why. He's not a "George" of the coopering world imo, and that why I chose to put that YT clip up.
Watch carefully and you can pick up a few handy hints about how to do things.
I particularly liked the way he joins the boards for his barrel heads, very little chance of leakage there I would think.

[Wildcats]

Yeah I like it to Wild.
The fella is obviously promoting his barrels , but at the same time I think hes being pretty straight down the line about how he goes about it and why. He's not a "George" of the coopering world imo, and that why I chose to put that YT clip up.
Watch carefully and you can pick up a few handy hints about how to do things.
I particularly liked the way he joins the boards for his barrel heads, very little chance of leakage there I would think.

Yes the way the he joined the heads is what stood out to me as well. Just the whole process is very interesting.

[Broken Jug]

Anyone one who has owned and used oak barrels long term will know that nothing beats them for aging spirits.
Anyone who's owned them long enough also knows that they can be a source of frustration and worry if they spring a leak.
I'm hoping that this thread can become a source of information and help for anyone who has a “problem barrel”.
I'll kick it off with a couple of leaks that I have successfully fixed in past times, nothing ground breaking, just ways that have worked for me , mostly info I picked up from watching Coopers at work on Youtube.
The methods I've used should be able to be utilized by almost anyone using everyday tools that most people will have or can make.

A couple of years ago I notice that one of my smaller Rum barrels was leaking. It seemed to be leaking from a very small pin hole which may have originally been a knot or other imperfection in the stave.

This repair has now been in place for quite a long time , at least two years , possibly more........no problems to date.
When I have time I will post up the method and pictures of another repair.

In the mean time anyone interested might like to watch the following Youtube Vid, this fella seems to know his stuff......I used one of his methods to fix my next problem barrel.

My next problem involved a stave leaking from its end .....he covers this problem and the fix for it between the 23min and 26min mark.
Note that the wooden spikes/ pegs used for these types of repairs are called "Spile's"

Great info Saltbush!

I've been fighting a leaky barrel for awhile. Like you, I watched some YouTube videos and I finally got it fixed, for now anyway.

Thanks again Saltbush.

[hawkwing]

I had a leaky barrel too. I swelled it with water. After I added the white Bourbon, it would leak only when it warmed up. Must’ve been under pressure. It only did it for the first 6 months to a year. Some came out the end grain on the staves like a straw. It all sealed up with barrel candy. A few dark runs down the end of the barrel. No more leaks now. I tried beeswax etc and it was all a waste of time.

One thing I was thinking though that would be simple for some of the issues here. Is why not just drive a small stainless steel screw or nail in?

[The Baker]

What is barrel candy?
I googled it and learned all about candy in little barrels...
Thanks,

Geoff

[Saltbush Bill]

why not just drive a small stainless steel screw or nail in?

If that idea worked well I would think that modern day coopers would be using the method.
I've not seen or heard of anyone doing it that way, possibly because stainless screws and nails don't swell once they are hammered into a damp or leaking part of a barrel, I assume that a dry oak spile does swell a little.