What do I have here

[Tess]

looks like oak but have no idea what it is or who made it. Stamp on the back says Mel something...Maybe knox. Not sure Holds about three US gallons. Was just going to swell it and use it for serving. Any idea's . Its new never been used I bought it the same place I got my wooden Indian. I worked at a place that sold this kinda stuff to stores for set ups and looks!!

 

[Tess]

I took a picture of the stamp and it is so much clearer in a photo then my naked eye. Its clearly says to me Made In south Africa Not Mel. I dont even get why its clearer in a photo but it is. So south African oak? Best for serving maybe? lol

 

[jamesngalveston]

white oak is what that barrel is

 

[Pumpkinman]

The stamp appears to read (the first word is Illegible) the last two words are South Africa.
If the barrel has been sitting a while in the shop or in your house, make sure that you can see the inside, at times mold will grow on the oak.

 

[jamesngalveston]

It looks like the wood has shrunk, i can see the light discoloration where the bands use to be.
take outside fill with water, if water is leaking dont worry bout it..fill again and again until it stops leaking.

 

[Rocky]

Tess, before you fill the barrel, stand it alternately on each end and tap the two mid hoops toward the center of the barrel. It appears that the barrel has dried significantly and the hoops have slipped. I have a tool for this but if you can find an old flat blade screw driver and a mallet or light hammer, that is all you need for this one barrel. Try to tap them down to the original position, i.e. where the color on the oak changes from light to dark. Wood normally darkens as it ages when exposed to light and that is what you are seeing on the side of the barrel. If the hoops are not close to the original position, you will have a hard time swelling it to stop leaking. Good luck.

 

[RegionRat]

By now you all know I like Youtube videos. Well, I found this one a few weeks ago. I just love the ' Old word' traditions.

Any way. check this out.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AairvkF_jHg[/ame]

RR

 

[rob]

Watching that Video makes me wonder why do oak barrels have to be round, could someone make a square oak barrel for aging? Seems to me it would be a lot easier to make!

 

[zalai]

Hi RR ,
If you are wondering this video is Hungarian , and so am I .
Thank you for posting it .

 

[Tess]

Well Im back on my phone because they sent me a bad AC adapter. Lol I hear ya'll I look at it like I never knew I had anything to start with . If I can serve some Dragons Blood in it at a party Im happy

 

[Tess]

The good news is...Im getting my email notafications

 

[cmason1957]

Watching that Video makes me wonder why do oak barrels have to be round, could someone make a square oak barrel for aging? Seems to me it would be a lot easier to make!

I vaguely remember that things are round for the radio of surface area (material cost) to volume being maximized.

 

[jamesngalveston]

I agree , seems like a square are rectangle would be a lot easier, and would suit the same purpose.
Maybe the round barrels were easier to move, because they could roll them around.
Like making wine....every one thinks that sorbate is a must in wine..

 

[Rocky]

Barrels are round so that they can be more easily moved. One person can move a barrel weighing hundreds of pounds by rolling it. If it were rectangular and containing the same volume, this would not be possible. For example, a 50 gallon barrel full of wine would weigh about 500 pounds (including the barrel). Barrels are shaped as they are (narrower at the ends and wider at the middle) for ease of directing them while they are being rolled. If they were cylindrical, this would be much more difficult.

 

[RegionRat]

I would lean towards strength. That is why there are no square eggs in nature.

Oh, and if I recall correctly. A cylinder that has a ratio of 1/2 diameter in relationship to the height gives max volume for the use of materials in the container.... What do you say Seth?

RR

 

[GreginND]

Cool video. So much work for a small barrel.

 

[Scott]

Barrels are round so that they can be more easily moved. One person can move a barrel weighing hundreds of pounds by rolling it. If it were rectangular and containing the same volume, this would not be possible. For example, a 50 gallon barrel full of wine would weigh about 500 pounds (including the barrel). Barrels are shaped as they are (narrower at the ends and wider at the middle) for ease of directing them while they are being rolled. If they were cylindrical, this would be much more difficult.

That and because of the song, ya can't roll out the barrell if it's square

Cool video, thanks for sharing.

 

[RegionRat]

Oh, Tess, I like your barrel!

RR

 

[rob]

Tess, sorry I kinda hijacked your thread, but Rocky I agree it would be hard to move, however why couldn't I make one that only holds 6 gallons

 

[rob]

I once used aquarium silicone to seal a crack in a crock, they say it is food grade, this could be used to seal the joints???