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Thread: Small oak keg

  1. #1
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    Default Small oak keg

    Not the right forum I know - but someone will know the answer.

    I have two 30 year old oak kegs - one is 4 litres and the other is 8 litres. Great for port and whiskey, but they haven't been used for 20 years and when I filled them with cheap Sherry to expand the oak they leaked like a sieve. Now I keep topping them up iwth water to expand the oak again. The metal rims are in good condition but you can see the cracks in the dried oak. Is it Okay to put both in the kitchen sink, fill it with water and let them swell or will that damage them?

    Any advice welcome-urgently.

    Thanks

    Greg
    Last edited by plantagenon; 29th January 2012 at 10:19 PM. Reason: spelling
    The Pen is mightier than the Sword

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  3. #2
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    Greg,
    If no one has the answer for you here, it may be worthwhile putting it on the Timber Forums section. The link is in the panel on the left.
    Dallas

  4. #3
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    Greg; I don't see a problem soaking them in the sink. Back in the old wooden boat days we would launch them in shallow water and let them soak and expand.

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    I remember reading somewhere or being told that water does not work, I can' recall the reason but maybe it will come to me next time I'm drinking port.

  6. #5
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    Let the kegs dry out again then paint all the joints and cracks with hot melted beeswax, making sure that the wax pentrates into them. Let it set then fill it up with water again.

    Rippa
    Thee who has not made a mistake, has not made anything ??

  7. #6
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    Thanks for your replies. I appreciate the advice. Jack, was it Golden Syrup or Bar's Radiator Anti-leak. Watch out for the taste of the port

    Rippa - I will follow your advice. One question - Where would I get the bees wax? Is it the natural stuff from a hive or a product from a hardware store??
    The Pen is mightier than the Sword

    www.artisanpens.com.au
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  8. #7
    3RU is offline Electron controller/Manufacturer of fine shavings
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    If it helps, mine is presently full of water in the hope it will expand and stop leaking. All this is due to low port throughput. Rem to self....

    Understand the issue with water is mould which will hopelfully be fixed using Sodium Metabxxxx (same stuff you use to clean bottles) providing it does not stand too long. If not its kindling.

    Keep it short and treat it well.

    Dave

  9. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by plantagenon View Post
    Thanks for your replies. I appreciate the advice. Jack, was it Golden Syrup or Bar's Radiator Anti-leak. Watch out for the taste of the port

    Rippa - I will follow your advice. One question - Where would I get the bees wax? Is it the natural stuff from a hive or a product from a hardware store??

    Do not follow that advice - please. Contact Roll out the barrel cooperage at Redcliffe. Roll Out The Barrel Cooperage You need to take the kegs apart carefully and replace the reed between the oak or they will do that for your for a small fee. If you leave water in a keg it will sour the timber. you then need to swell the timber with cheap sherry before adding port etc - please contact them and take their advice - they are the experts in kegs.

  10. #9
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    the instructions that came with my keg from a cooper in the barossa valley says to fill with warm water and allow it to swell up and keep doing that untill it is sealed...do not use beeswax etc to seal it. A properly made keg from a cooper will not have reeds as they are designed to work on swelling to take up the very small gaps. A a good idea for info is to email a cooper and get exact and correct info. Cheap kegs are sealed with wax or have a liner in them.
    Pete
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  11. #10
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    Thank you all for the replies. I filled the barrels with water a few days ago and they have sealed nicely. I change the water each day. Tomorrow the cheap sherry goes in. I checked the Lumberjocks website as well and the majority of replies were to soak the kegs in water in a sink to swell them but also to change the water each day. I didn't need to soak them in water but I hope the water I put in will not have tainted the barrels. Anyway, the sherry in for a month to re-season the barrels with kill off any mould, etc wit the alcohol content. Thanks again for the advice.
    The Pen is mightier than the Sword

    www.artisanpens.com.au
    www.facebook.com/artisanpens.penmakers

  12. #11
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    Default “Pickling” or Preparing a Wood Keg

    When “Pickling” of preparing a Wood Keg please consider the following:
    Compare the Process to a Computer. GIGO. Garbage In, Garbage Out.
    DO NOT USE THE CHEAPEST SHERRY YOU CAN FIND.
    YES, You are going to discard the Sherry after the “Pickling” Process.
    Please, DON’T DRINK IT! The Sherry removes Tanin and other Chemicals that are
    present in the Wood & other products that may have been introduced during the Manufacturing Process. Drink it & I will Guarantee you will be very Ill. You are going to put a good quality Port, Rum, Bourbon or other Spirit into the Cask. Why Would You Use Cheap Quality Sherry?
    Buy the BEST Quality Sherry you can afford. I Promise the Final Results will be worth it.
    If you are going to fill a One Litre Keg then purchase a 750 mm Bottle of Sherry, pour it all in, then rotate the Keg 25 mm every day. The “MINIMUM” Time to Pickle your Keg should be not less than 90 days! Don’t fill the keg with Water first. That is of No Benefit at all.
    The Sherry does the Work of Removing any impurities, unwanted toxins and other substances.
    Yes, it hurts to discard a quality Sweet Sherry but the final result will be worth it.
    I have over 50 Years of experience to call upon and still moan when I discard a Fine Sherry.
    Most of my Kegs contain Bourbon from many Distilleries. I have Travelled Globally and spoken to a lot of Coopers. They all give the same advice. Use the best you can afford.
    Like a Chef, use cheap low quality ingredients and the Meal will suffer from it.
    You use Different Sherries for different Spirits. I use Dry Sherry for Dark Rum.
    Put your best into the preparation of your Kegs and you will be rewarded with Superior Results. Best of Luck to you and I hope you have great results.








    Quote Originally Posted by plantagenon View Post
    Thank you all for the replies. I filled the barrels with water a few days ago and they have sealed nicely. I change the water each day. Tomorrow the cheap sherry goes in. I checked the Lumberjocks website as well and the majority of replies were to soak the kegs in water in a sink to swell them but also to change the water each day. I didn't need to soak them in water but I hope the water I put in will not have tainted the barrels. Anyway, the sherry in for a month to re-season the barrels with kill off any mould, etc wit the alcohol content. Thanks again for the advice.

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