These barrels have been sitting with water in them for two weeks rehydrating/soaking even though they quit leaking after a couple of days.
Today I thought I would empty and rinse them out. Once empty I was looking in the bung with a flashlight, not quite sure what I was seeing and while the smell wasn't bad it wasn't great either.
After a little thought I decided it probably would not be that difficult to remove an end to check things out.
I tacked a board to the end so it could be removed in one piece.
Loosened and removed the hoops from one end and the end came right out.
Much of the wax had started to separate but at least there wasn't anything growing in there.
I decided as long as I was this far I'd just scrape the wax and a little wood from the inside.
Here is what it looked like when I was done
To Be Continued.....