Thanks...
One question...If I find the leak what do I fill it with?

Shawn

"Tom S" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> "infernot" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Well, I filled up the barrel with wine... However, I am a bit
> > concerned...Yesterday when I got home from work the barrel wasn't
> > leaking any more...It was a little damp around the head but no leaks...
> > So I emptied the water and filled it up with wine... Everything looked
> > good until this morning...The barrel isn't leaking, but it looks like
> > there is some wine seeping through the head at one location and the
> > barrel looks damp on those staves right to the second band. Besides
> > this spot the barrel looks dry...My concern is MOLD! Do you think it
> > will stop seeping? I spray wet spot with a little 10% SO2, good or bad
> > idea?
>
> Good idea. That'll keep mold at bay. The barrel will probably continue
to
> swell and seal itself up (assuming the hoops were tight to start with).
If
> not, you may have a leaking sieve tube. Blot the area dry with a paper
> towel and see if you can tell _exactly_ where the leak is. If it's coming
> from the end of a stave you'll need to plug it. If it's coming from
between
> the head boards it's likely that the hoops weren't tight enough to begin
> with - but that may resolve itself.
>
> It's possible that it'll be OK by tomorrow. Or not. If worst comes you
> could empty the barrel, tighten the hoops (using a drift punch and a small
> sledge) and check it with water again. That's not that bad with a 5
gallon
> barrel, but a PIA if it's a 60 - especially if it's in the middle of a
> stack!
>
> Tom S
>
>