My version of the Badmotivators

[Rappell]

After checking out Badmotivators site I love what they’re doing and their product but def don’t want to pay that much. So as I am a woodworker of over 50 years I decided to make some myself. Extra thanks to Bad Motivator for the tutorial. I bought quarter sawn American white oak at our local wood store, $14 a board foot, the bane maries, bungs, and stainless taps on amazon. Total cost under $30. Made a pattern for the lid out of mdf. I rough cut the oak slightly bigger than the pattern and use a pattern bit in my router to trim it to exact dimensions. I drill the holes for the tap and bung, sand the outside then laser my emblem on and follow Bads directions for toasting and charging and sealing with beeswax when pressed into the bane Marie. These hold 1 gallon. Works great.

[MooseMan]

Oh man I wish we could get these in the UK.
Or any decently priced stainless pot to do the same job.

[amh71]

Moose, take a look here, several sizes available. Not the cheapest but quality seems good.

https://kitchway.co.uk/products/7-81ltr ... -marie-pot

[Biker24a69]

Very nice

[Bolverk]

These are nice, especially the size. I've recommended that Chris do badmos in 1 gal a few times but it's a big effort to increase his product line.

But I do think a 1 gal offering is perfect for hobbyists. That's a 10-12 gal ferment to fill 1 barrel.

[Rappell]

These are nice, especially the size. I've recommended that Chris do badmos in 1 gal a few times but it's a big effort to increase his product line.

But I do think a 1 gal offering is perfect for hobbyists. That's a 10-12 gal ferment to fill 1 barrel.

That’s another reason I decided to make them. My still is 10 gallons. 8 is all I can do at once to leave headspace so this is a good size for me.

[MooseMan]

Moose, take a look here, several sizes available. Not the cheapest but quality seems good.

https://kitchway.co.uk/products/7-81ltr ... -marie-pot

That's uncanny!
I stumbled on that site around Xmas time when I was looking for pots to set up a solera, and I did not see that size!
I disregarded them because of the size and the extra postage cost.
Thanks for the link I'll consider this again.

Nice work by the way Rappell, you've got some skills.

[higgins]

...
I bought quarter sawn American white oak at our local wood store
...

It is very probable that your wood is kiln dried and not 'seasoned'. It will work, but will give you a different result than properly seasoned wood. The stave material used to make whiskey barrels is stacked and aged outside for about 1-3 years to season it.

The bain-marie in that link is the Thunder Group SLBM006, 8.25 qt, 7.8 L. That is what Ben was using a few years back when I bought one, but I think he switched to another brand (Choice?). I'm not sure what Chris is using now.

I've made 6 using the SLBM006. They hold about 230 oz when using a 1" thick head recessed 1/8".
I've also made 4 each using the SLBM005 (6 qt, 5.7 l - holds 155 oz, 1.21 gal) and the SLBM004 (4.25 qt, 4 l - holds 106 oz, .83 gal).

[Rappell]

...
I bought quarter sawn American white oak at our local wood store
...

It is very probable that your wood is kiln dried and not 'seasoned'. It will work, but will give you a different result than properly seasoned wood. The stave material used to make whiskey barrels is stacked and aged outside for about 1-3 years to season it.

The bain-marie in that link is the Thunder Group SLBM006, 8.25 qt, 7.8 L. That is what Ben was using a few years back when I bought one, but I think he switched to another brand (Choice?). I'm not sure what Chris is using now.

I thought of the seasoning issue. Don’t know if it will make a difference but I soaked the rough cut blanks overnight then put them in my smoker at about 350 deg for 2 hours to toast them. So I hope it works out well. I have a single malt whiskey in one now and will be putting an agave spirit in the other next week. For the agave, I also added a couple of my aging staves I made from wine barrel staves. We’ll see what happens…. Thanks for the input…
I've made 6 using the SLBM006. They hold about 230 oz when using a 1" thick head recessed 1/8".
I've also made 4 each using the SLBM005 (6 qt, 5.7 l - holds 155 oz, 1.21 gal) and the SLBM004 (4.25 qt, 4 l - holds 106 oz, .83 gal).

[Rappell]

Moose, take a look here, several sizes available. Not the cheapest but quality seems good.

https://kitchway.co.uk/products/7-81ltr ... -marie-pot

That's uncanny!
I stumbled on that site around Xmas time when I was looking for pots to set up a solera, and I did not see that size!
I disregarded them because of the size and the extra postage cost.
Thanks for the link I'll consider this again.

Nice work by the way Rappell, you've got some skills.

Thanks sir

[subbrew]

I try to mention this on any Badmo thread. To all aspiring makers, ensure that after you have the head installed you drill small holes and install SS nails at three or four points going into the side of the head to hold it in. I lost a batch of HBB on a hot day when the barrel built up enough pressure to push the head out. Trying to ensure no one else suffers a similar fate.

[amh71]

Moose, take a look here, several sizes available. Not the cheapest but quality seems good.

https://kitchway.co.uk/products/7-81ltr ... -marie-pot

That's uncanny!
I stumbled on that site around Xmas time when I was looking for pots to set up a solera, and I did not see that size!
I disregarded them because of the size and the extra postage cost.
Thanks for the link I'll consider this again.

Nice work by the way Rappell, you've got some skills.

They are fine looking barrels.

I use a lot of those pots, just not for booze, they are perfect for melting glass in, last way longer than ceramic pots...

SWMBO doesn't know it but I've got a little stash of different sizes put away to make barrels, figured it would be a good way to finally learn how to use that desktop cnc that's gathering dust.

[higgins]

I try to mention this on any Badmo thread. To all aspiring makers, ensure that after you have the head installed you drill small holes and install SS nails at three or four points going into the side of the head to hold it in. I lost a batch of HBB on a hot day when the barrel built up enough pressure to push the head out. Trying to ensure no one else suffers a similar fate.

OUCH!! That sucks!

I use 3 small SS screws thru predrilled holes once they seal properly.

In the video clip about Dettling Distillery in Alabama that Vlagavulvin posted

they show them wetting the barrels on the outside to seal them, saying they don't want to remove any character by filling them with water.
My next batch of BMOBs I'm going to try sealing the heads by just putting water on the outside.

[The Booze Pipe]

I know Ben would love this! Rest in peace. I would for sure start seasoning the oak before building more.

[Rappell]

I try to mention this on any Badmo thread. To all aspiring makers, ensure that after you have the head installed you drill small holes and install SS nails at three or four points going into the side of the head to hold it in. I lost a batch of HBB on a hot day when the barrel built up enough pressure to push the head out. Trying to ensure no one else suffers a similar fate.

I saw something on that somewhere. I haven’t done it yet. These are extremely tight. I needed to remove one of the heads with my air compressor. It took over 100 psi to get it to move. I would think the little bung would pop out first

[Rappell]

I know Ben would love this! Rest in peace. I would for sure start seasoning the oak before building more.

As seasoning takes at least a couple years it’ll be quite some time before I’ll have season wood and need to have a few more built soon. I’m going to put a couple chunks of wine barrel staves that I toasted into each one to help it along. Thoughts?

[subbrew]

As seasoning takes at least a couple years it’ll be quite some time before I’ll have season wood and need to have a few more built soon. I’m going to put a couple chunks of wine barrel staves that I toasted into each one to help it along. Thoughts?

How about using barrel staves to build the head? Sand or plane them down, join, cut and rechar.

[Rappell]

As seasoning takes at least a couple years it’ll be quite some time before I’ll have season wood and need to have a few more built soon. I’m going to put a couple chunks of wine barrel staves that I toasted into each one to help it along. Thoughts?

How about using barrel staves to build the head? Sand or plane them down, join, cut and rechar.

Problem is too much curve. By the time they’re flat they’re less than 1/2” thick. The best thing would be the barrel heads but I’m out of barrels at this point. I had 10. If I get more barrels for building furniture I’ll save some of the heads.

[subbrew]

It is true that staves do not look as nice and are not flat. But if you use them from the center of the barrel they are not that bad. True up the edges so two can butt together while lying flat and it will work. You end up with "ripples" for each stave going across the head but it seals.

[Beefer]

you can try hitting up a local cooperage for used barrel ends - One near me imports ex bourbon barrels and swaps out the heads for new oak. I picked up 4 for $20 each, I figure that's an easy 12 badmo heads with enough scraps to make a few more and also keeps me in dominos for years. No aging or treating required and already flat and joined.

[Twisted Brick]

How about using barrel staves to build the head? Sand or plane them down, join, cut and rechar.

Problem is too much curve. By the time they’re flat they’re less than 1/2” thick.

I say go for it. The staves I ordered from Gibbs along with my barrel squared up great. Jointed and planed they are a tiny bit thinner than the oak I previously got from Ben but should work out fine.

Not sure what the term 'rippling' refers to though.

[Rappell]

It is true that staves do not look as nice and are not flat. But if you use them from the center of the barrel they are not that bad. True up the edges so two can butt together while lying flat and it will work. You end up with "ripples" for each stave going across the head but it seals.

I see, you’re just using the center piece of each stave………good call.

[Rappell]

How about using barrel staves to build the head? Sand or plane them down, join, cut and rechar.

Problem is too much curve. By the time they’re flat they’re less than 1/2” thick.

I say go for it. The staves I ordered from Gibbs along with my barrel squared up great. Jointed and planed they are a tiny bit thinner than the oak I previously got from Ben but should work out fine.

Not sure what the term 'rippling' refers to though.

Nice! Are you dowling them and sealing with beeswax?

[Rappell]

you can try hitting up a local cooperage for used barrel ends - One near me imports ex bourbon barrels and swaps out the heads for new oak. I picked up 4 for $20 each, I figure that's an easy 12 badmo heads with enough scraps to make a few more and also keeps me in dominos for years. No aging or treating required and already flat and joined.

I wish we had a local cooperage!

[subbrew]

Nice! Are you dowling them and sealing with beeswax?

Yes, I use dowls and plenty of beeswax.

Ripples I mentioned is that each stave has a slight curve remaining side to side. So if I use 4 staves there is a slight rise from the edge to a slight valley where the staves join and then another slight rise over the stave, etc.

Not having a laser for engraving, I made a branding iron and burn a brand into the ones I make. The uneven surface of the "ripple" can make getting a good brand a bit challenging as I have to roll the iron across the board.

I have done it both ways, scrape/sand the old char off and rechar as well as turning the boards over and charring what had been the outside of the barrel. Have not had product in the barrels long enough to tell if there is a difference.

[Rappell]

Nice! Are you dowling them and sealing with beeswax?

Yes, I use dowls and plenty of beeswax.

Ripples I mentioned is that each stave has a slight curve remaining side to side. So if I use 4 staves there is a slight rise from the edge to a slight valley where the staves join and then another slight rise over the stave, etc.

Not having a laser for engraving, I made a branding iron and burn a brand into the ones I make. The uneven surface of the "ripple" can make getting a good brand a bit challenging as I have to roll the iron across the board.


I have done it both ways, scrape/sand the old char off and rechar as well as turning the boards over and charring what had been the outside of the barrel. Have not had product in the barrels long enough to tell if there is a difference.

So, searching through my scrap pile I found most of a leftover wine barrel head I forgot about. As soon as I get my Forge swapped out for wooshop for the summer I’ll make a couple heads from that and see if there’s a difference…… If testing reveals there’s not a significant difference in results from barrel wood to regular quarter sawn white oak they could be made much cheaper. I understand the price of Badmotivators as getting the wood is much more expensive and ther is significantly more time required to dowl pices together.

[higgins]

I have built some using wide barrel staves. I got 5 shipped for $50 ($10 per head) from here.

I cut three 9" lengths from center of stave, like this:

Stave_cutting_pattern.png (5.01 KiB) Viewed 1328 times

Since the inner face is a compound curve, I lay them on my jointer bed with the inner face down to test flatness. If they rock a bit I'll take a hair off the corners until they sit flat. Using that inner face as a reference, I joint each edge, then drill for dowels.

After doweling I belt sand the outer face for appearance. The head is still about 7/8" thick and works fine. I scrape and rechar after final sizing.

[ChristopherC]

These are really impressive! Congratulations on your accomplishment. Ben would be happy to see these.

As others have suggested, you might want to get some wood outside to start weathering. The flavor profile changes considerably with age, mainly due to the reduction in tannin levels, which allows other beneficial flavors to come through. Keep up the great work!