We're just starting our aging program... but I'm already thinking about things down the line.
Anyone got any tips or tricks for emptying 53gal barrels?
I think our plan is to fashion some kind of rack they can roll on out of 2x4's and just empty them over a 350 gal stainless steel tank... i know thats gonna take forever though due to the exchange of liquid and air when emptying.
i know there are racking stems that wineries use... just curious if anyone else has a trick setup.
Cheers
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ive done it both ways, using a racking cane and dumping the barrel into a trough. my preference is to use the trough as you can get everything out of the barrel, but the racking method will work.
If using a racking can i recommend to put a coarse screen inline followed by a fine screen before the pump as all that char can be hard on a pump.
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You can also put a utube of sorts into the barrel to dump them faster. I have seen one before but don't know where to get them. You could piece one together from a racking cane and some tri-clamp parts. Just a thought.
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yeah i getcha. maybe i can fashion something together
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i saw these barrel breathers on the modern marvels jack Daniels show . . . anyone know where to buy em?
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Paul at ADI (aka @Southernhighlander ) should be able to make them for you. Just two 1/2" tubes welded together at the bottom with the turn at the top. It V's slightly outwards so that friction keeps the tubes in place while upside down.
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Have to say that I am more impressed with the bung remover. With ISC barrels, I pry and pry and pry...I think I would elevate the barrel dump trough slightly too, nothing like a little dirt into the whiskey after it has aged for years. At Heaven Hill they had a pretty sweet little automated system that lifted the barrel, moved it down a line while emptying it and it just looked better.
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We always use gravity to empty barrels in situ when possible. We bring the tanks up to the barrels on rack (assuming they're stacked high enough), slide in a long silicone hose, stick one end in the receiving tank, prime it, and drain the barrel using gravity. When we get to the dregs, the barrel is easier to handle and we can remove it from the rack, put it on forklift tines, and roll it back over the receiving tank. We then put a strainer over the bung hole and catch the coarse char as the last of the barrel empties.
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Finally got our snorkels from Mac manufacturing
https://www.mac-mfg.com/
Now all I need is to find a trough/screen combo.
Reply:On 4/19/2017 at 8:32 AM, Blackheart said:
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Theres another thread that has covered this to come length a while back
,
I made a barrel dumper knock off of specific's system using a western Square double barrel dumper. Made a cradle for the legs and a tank (just sheet metal welded together) welded dumper onto it and slid tank in the side. Made a top for tank with a course screen for large char, there is an inline basket before the pump we use to pull it with
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a few old threads.... first one shows a dump tank you can totally make yourself, the second one check out foreshots extractor and the third one
has some recommended barreling tools for you.
Cheers
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Much obliged
