sdelli
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2013
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Got a 10 gallon American Oak wine barrel from the Barrel Mill couple weeks ago. Nice price for American Oak.... I have 3 Hungarian Oak barrels but my taste is leaning toward American Oak in my Cab. So the directions that came with it say it has been air tested prior to shipping..... Prep instructions say fill to the top with cold tap water and let it sit for 24-48 hours... Rinse and you are ready to go! I am thinking........ Really? So for grins I do a hot prep since I have always had real good luck with that procedure. Much more in depth and takes more effort but never had a leak. But here is the surprise I get when doing a hot prep on this barrel..... They waxed every seam and the heads are full of wax! I cannot describe how much wax the hot seal removed! My thoughts..... Way too much wax! But, anyways... Hot seal is done and it is now sitting with water in it for a few days to finish.... Dry as a bone! But I wonder why they put so much wax in the construction of it?