Old Port Barrel

Hi everyone,

I have been given an old port barrel (I am guessing about 6L capacity). The engraving says it was a gift from 1984 so it is 34 years old and has not been used for perhaps 10 years. The tap is stuck and there are some small cracks but none seem to go all the way through. I have not filled it with water or anything so I don't know if it leaks or not.

I would love to restore it and set up my own port barrel but I have never done this before so have a few simple questions.

1) Is it too old to restore? (if yes then ignore my other questions!)

2) What sort of time/effort/price are we looking at to restore it? (I would do everything myself if possible)

3) How can I fix the handle?

4) How do I clean it?

5) Assuming I manage to fix it up, what port would I start with and would I add anything else?

6) Anything else I need to know?

Thanks in advance!Attachment 441218Attachment 441217Attachment 441216

Looks OK, you need to soak the whole thing in water so the wood swells a little and becomes watertight again. Other than that I know nothing but I've always wanted to do that...get my own port barrell.