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hi, was wondering if anyone has tried a used charred oak barrel ??
i can get them for around $50.00 they are some kind of tennessee bourbon barrels but i forget the name, some still have bourbon sloshing around in them.. to use or not ??? thanks

I think they would work fine, if you get them before they dry out, warp and leak.

If you do get one that will not seal, you can always chop it up, toast those chips, and use them to also age product.

I do not produce enough to fill up a 50 (or is it 70) gallon barrel. However, I bought a used charred one, and have chopped it up. The strips of oak (I retoast them), age product VERY well, and when "spent", I use them in my smoker, and do ribs, salmon, brisket, and anything else that "smokes". Why waste that "good" flavored wood.

H.

Whats your source for the used barrles, $50 is a pretty good deal. Tthe coppers for jack sell old barrels for 75 dollars plus shipping.

they are slightly warped on the ends but they have ben sitting out in the weather, i could tell him to call me when he gets a new shipment..
i dunno where he gets his stuff but he's got all kinds of plastic, steel barrels and containers, i just picked up 3-12 (or so)gal fermentors with gasketed lid and metal strap lock down, to seal tightly...
these barrels look to be 50 gal. i doubt they are 70 gal. they are heavy..
he's on my way to camp in central Pa.
just wondered if they might work since they're already used ??
i got 12 acres of oak trees and buy a logtruck full of oak every fall so it's not like i need em to make toasted oak strips,..

people do use 2nd run barrels, but they tend to give up less flavor, better for storing for long periods then trying to get a quick oak treatment. thats one of the reasons they discard them,warped ends sounds like they will prob. leak.

I live in FL tring to find a local bussiness my self to save on shipping. I havent been able to fing any glass carboys either almost finished with still, so if I cant find a glass fermentot , i gonna have to get some plastic ones.

From what I have seen, these "2nds" (i.e. one end is pretty warped) is common. If the barrel was emptied, and then turned upright (placed on the ground on one of the flat ends), then the leavings in the barrel will keep the one end wet and unwarped, but the other end will dry out quickly and warp.

Most of the barrels I have seen (I live 800 miles away from where most whiskeys are aged in the US), have that characteristic (i.e. 1 end would be a leaker). Usually, the barrel itself, is pretty tight. The banding and ends keep the staves from being able to warp, and the end that stays wet is not warped.

I know tabasco gets ALL of there barrels from JD as used barrels. Also, they simply cut out the warped end, and when they fill it with pureed peppers, they simply cover the puree with salt, and then I think they put some cloth over the salt.

Now for use in spirits, you "might" have to remove the warped "end", and build a new straight one or else you will end up with a leaker. However, it might also be possible to store the barrel on its end, and then simply tape a sheet of plastic (such as a trash bag), over then end of the barrel that is warped, or possibly seal it with wax or something that keeps it from leaking too much angles share out. It would be hard to keep filling the barrel (to replace angels share), but it "could" be done this way, if you were to cut a bung hole in the end that is up, and make sure the side bung is WELL sealed.

Just a thought.

H.

thanks for your thoughts guys, maybe i'll pick one up, fill it with water and see how bad it leaks, if at all.
could rework the warped end and if i get pist i can cut it in half and use it for planters on the porch..

for anyone living in australia i can put you onto 2nd use J.D. and J.B.200 litre quercus alba kegs

the single malt distillery i ungracefully retired from has heaps, circa $aud120 for one and fiercely descending i'm sure by negotiation for more

my email is cadence22003@yahoo.com.au

and chipping and or shaving the little buggers is a very feasable idea been doing that for yonks AND as someone this thread wisely said then smoke something with them

the deep thinking and ingenuity of people on these newsgroups astounds me , i spent 43 years as a pro distiller and when i look back i see how incredibly narrow visioned we often were in the commercial world

the talent within members postings is absolutly remarkable along with nicolle kidman visiting me everyday i am a very happy old man

many regards to all ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, brian

nice to hear from you brian, i'm happy to see that this topic inspired you to make your first post.. i'm in the u.s.a. so it don't make sence for me to come to australia to pick up a barrell, but i'm sure your post might benefeit someone over there..
also nice to hear about your meetings with nicole, she's pretty hot... i'd also say smart, but after she married tom cruize ya gotta wonder >???
ok, she got smart, she divorced em...
gudday.......
p.s. i'd like to add... it was a very sad day in the u.s. when steve erwin died....that guy was truely someone special...

thanks for your reply showguy

yes i originally joined about 1998 the year,, not the time ,,but commercial fine print in contracts often caused me to be very quiet

here is another gem of wisdom [take note because i only had two to start with and this is my second] =====CONTRARY to what commercial coopers tell you , you can shave and re-fire 1st use and 2nd use kegs

ideal economical concept for us hobbyists

one trick of the trade of course ,following along HUSKERS re-use line of thinking,, is in fact to re-fire with quercus alba or quercus robur chips / shavings / cut down staves

just stand keg on it's end with the heads removed ,, place something like a 25 litre metal drum inside and fire it up big time,,,,,,,voila ! as good as new

brian

I know I am resurrecting a long retired thread but....
I recently found a local (5 mins away) place that has used red wine barrels. For 100 bucks I can get a re-shaved and toasted interior barrel delivered! They have no charring capabilities but will give me one with the ends knocked off so I can char it myself. Is this worth it? Its full size but I am going to fill it and leave it to my son to be opened in 20-30 yrs...I may even be around to have a sip still then.
Any thoughts or tips?

forgot to add...this will be for rum