Leaking Keg

[Boda Getta]

I always keep my kegs full of water when not charring/aging whiskey; in spite of this my newest 3 gal keg is leak pretty bad. When I noticed it leaking water I submerged the entire keg in a barrel of water for or about a week. I thought that solved the problem and drained the water and filled it with single malt rye and it still leaks at one of the heads. I tried snugging the end barrel band down but to no avail. I like to have my kegs on the side and rotate the keg 1/4 turn each week but are have to set this on its end. Anyone have any suggestions how to stop the leaking. I'm think about melting way and pouring in the junction of the head and starves.
Any thoughts?

BG

[bearriver]

This may not be helpful, but I checked YouTube after you posted this and found an awesome video of a cooper showing off his repair skills. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNh50-r6ris" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Boda Getta]

Interesting video, Bear. Mine is leaking at the head and I found another video who advised wax. I took the rye out and put in on glass; I was afraid the Angle share would steal all my rye. I will try the wax trick.

BG

[sltm1]

Fine sawdust will get pulled into the leak and swell it shut.

[skow69]

+1 sawdust

[Boda Getta]

Please explain the sawdust procedure; do you put in a dry key and add water, pour it in the keg filled with water or pour it in the keg filled with whiskey??
I would thing you would need to be careful about the type of sawdust used and would think white oak sawdust the best.

BG

[Truckinbutch]

Please explain the sawdust procedure; do you put in a dry key and add water, pour it in the keg filled with water or pour it in the keg filled with whiskey??
I would thing you would need to be careful about the type of sawdust used and would think white oak sawdust the best.

BG

My suggestion would be to use fine cut oak sawdust . Stand keg in the sun to heat as much as possible with sawdust on top . That will premoisten it . Parge the sawdust down into the rim and put the keg in a cooler place . As it cools , parge some more to force the dust down into the gap . Vaccuum should pull the dust into the gap and moisture from the keg should keep it in place . If that fails you need to do a major refit on your keg .

[robb]

I've had old water kegs that had been lined with wax but I don't think it would be good for a whiskey keg. Strong enough alcohol would dissolve the wax.

[skow69]

I just cut an oak stick up with a skill saw, swept up the dust, poured it into the leaking barrel, filled it most of the way with water, and shook it up once a day, keeping it turned so that the leaks were submerged. The water leaking out carries the sawdust with it until it gets stuck. Very effective. Finer sawdust would be best, no doubt.

[Boda Getta]

I poured melted paraffin canning wax around the head and refilled with water. Didn't leak or weep a drop overnight. Now the real question is what effect 128 proof whiskey will on the wax and vice versa.

BG

[sltm1]

Wax was used as a cap on vials of acid way back when. It's pretty much an inert substance so I don't think you have to worry about contamination. However it could flake off and cause a leak under the right conditions so that's why I recommended a permanent fix with sawdust, long as there's liquid it'll never dry out and move.