Brandy Barrel Imperial Stout

[Matt F]

Cool, will let you know if go the shims route.

[Steven P]

Also, you could steam the barrel. I did mine and the wax leaked out around the head and it sealed up nicely. No leaks 1.5 years later.

[Matt F]

Barrel sat in a hot water bath for a day. Then I filled to the brim with hot water. Still leaking out of same spot a day later. Going to take more than water for this one. Not sure steam will do much other than melting the wax which I could try. I am thinking about a bunch of wax on that end of the barrel to seal cracks.

[daryl]

I am not a coopersmith but what about this....

I do not think there would be much harm having the inside of the barrel under a low pressure vacuum through the bung hole....like from a vacuum sweeper or a small shop vac, but not too high (you don't want to break the other seals.

If you place your ear near the area of the crack, see if you can isolate the location of the leak. (You could accomplish the same thing, by pressuring the keg and looking for bubbles at the crack. Just don't overdo the pressure/vacuum psi).

Once you've isolated the area of the leak(s), I would hit the area with the leak with some starsan, just to sanitize the general area.

Melt some wax and have it at the ready....create the vacuum, and drizzle the hot wax over the area that is leaking. Hopefully the vacuum will draw some of the liquid wax into the leak.

You might pre-heat the leak area with a hair dryer, just to get the area warm so the wax will not want to set too quickly, and prior to seeping into the crack. But you don't want to dry the area out too much either.

Think about it, it might be worth a shot.

[Matt F]

It is all worth a shot. I will get this thing to hold beer if I have to seal a bunch of it in wax. For $180 I won't stop trying. Once it holds it will be all good. I am sure I will get it in service soon. I am not one to throw in the towel once money is on the table.

[karl]

Just to add a bit for safety, if you're going to pressurize or draw vacuum you'll want to fill as much volume of the barrel with a non compressing fluid ( like water). That way, if the thing explodes or implodes there will be little to no expansion of the contents and far less chance of injury or death.

We don't want you to end up like that poor fellow at Dogfishhead that was killed by an explosion while cleaning a keg.

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[Matt F]

I plan to avoid pressure. Gordon strong almost died while messing with barrels. I will figure something out.

[fargo41]

Hey if you haven't got it sealed up, just ran across this:

http://embracethefunk.com/2013/12/14/fo ... he-barrel/

[Matt F]

Thanks, read that article and also some info from Madison's Funk Factory Geuzeria. Two nights ago I sealed one end in paraffin wax. Was leaking the same at first when I filled the barrel with hot water. Seems to be holding now. If still sealed when I get home tonight, beer goes back in the barrel.

[Matt F]

Mother#@%$&*! Barrel still leaking in same spot. Sealed more area in wax last night. Water test again tonight.

[brianhall1024]

Boo. Did you call them again? I would call and raise holy hell

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[Matt F]

I have not. But probably will be if can't get it to hold.