How do you take the end off a Wine Barrel (without damaging it)?

Question

I'm making a compost tumbler out of an old wine barrel. I want to take one of the ends off, but I'm not sure how to do it without any harm to the end or the barrel.

Thanks

Answer 1

The bands are held in place with small nails.  You can drill through the nail heads and then use a flat non sharp object like a flat bar and hammer to tap the rings off one half of the barrel.  You should be able to spread the slats apart enough to remove the end cap.  when you replace the rings over the ribs, be sure to re-nail them and fill the barrel with water to make the wood swell up and reseal itself.  Leave it filled with water for one to two weeks.  Empty and use the barrel.

Just an afterthought, using your barrel for compost production will end up damaging your barrel.

Answer 2

The Top and Bottom are set into grooves cut into the barrel and then the metal rings are installed onto the slats. I don't see how you could cut either side out without it falling apart.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

You can't..

In the process of barrel making the side pieces are built around the end plate, the side pieces have a positioning grove...Then the metal ring is heated red hot and slid into place. As the ring cools it shrinks creating a water tight seal. They don't come apart well.

But,  I've seen barrels with one end plate cut out and a new end cap created.