Found this thread cause I'm encountering a problem with my small barrel. The story goes like this:
I got a free 3 gallon oak barrel. Un-charred and really clean, never had anything in it. The only hoops it had were the ends, the two in the middle were missing and I suspected this would be an issue. I didn't worry too much about it and filled it with water to seal it up and just a few days later it was almost completely sealed except a tiny leak at the bottom where one of the staves was popping out pretty good.
I went to the store and picked up some galvanized hanging bands and bolts to make my own adjustable hoops. This worked too well as I squeezed the barrel too tight and one of the end bands popped off entirely! I have now frankensteined this thing back together and the only leak is the head where the band came off. I am still unable to get that end band on all the way and I suspect it will have to stay like that. I will have to post pictures later.
Anyway, I'm just trying to open up this thread again to see what anyone might recommend other than barrel pitch. I think I'm going to order some but how well is it at sealing bigger leaks? Can I apply it to the outside as well? I feel like if I just used the pitch both inside and out on the one end I will be good to go.
PS, I don't care how this thing looks, I got it for free and plan on putting in the basement for a while with beer in it so I have very little interest in buying another barrel at the moment. Eventually I want some 10 gallon barrels.