AZMDTed
Just a guy
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2015
- Messages
- 764
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I have a 23l Vadai that has a leak at the end of one of the staves. It's unusual, in that the stave is located about a third of way down the side from the bung hole, but it only leaks when I put in the last 1/2 cup of wine. The total leak is generally only about a teaspoonful which runs down the rest of the staves and collects against the barrel head at the bottom. It looks like it could either be a very tiny crack in that stave or capillary action from the grain. The leak itself is at the end of the stave, not where the stave comes out at the barrel head.
I can't find any good instructions on using wax to seal a leak like this, so please check my logic or give me other ideas. I'm thinking the way to fix this is to sand down the end of the stave with coarse sandpaper and then use a torch or iron to drip a few drops of beeswax or canning wax into that area followed by using the end of the iron or a heated metal probe or screw driver to press the wax into the wood.
Does that sound about right? Thanks.
I can't find any good instructions on using wax to seal a leak like this, so please check my logic or give me other ideas. I'm thinking the way to fix this is to sand down the end of the stave with coarse sandpaper and then use a torch or iron to drip a few drops of beeswax or canning wax into that area followed by using the end of the iron or a heated metal probe or screw driver to press the wax into the wood.
Does that sound about right? Thanks.