Whiskey Barrel Kegerator

[CaptainRedbeard13]

In conjunction with another home DIY project I want to turn a whiskey barrel I have into a kegerator. I have found a thread here that show how someone did this, as well as on other websites:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=285887
http://imgur.com/a/3UXPR

Those should be more then enough to allow me to actually perform the build, however I do have a question about it that neither thread really answers. If your running a kegerator inside a whiskey barrel the compressor is going to extract moisture from the barrel. Since the shape and structural integrity of the barrel is based upon the wood holding water this can cause a problem. Namely the shrinking of the barrel which causes the bands to loosen and then the whole thing falls apart. I wanted to know if there was a way to maintain the barrels strength, form, etc. while running the kegerator? Does anyone have a good idea/way to prevent a whisket barrel kegerator from only being good for a few months, and let it last for many years?

 

[user 125772]

I'd be inclined to use a wine barrel (not charred on the inside) and then polyurethane it inside and out a couple coats, I would imagine that would protect the wood from drying out. You can also use screws through the bands into the staves for security.
I saw how the guy in the imgur blog inserted a metal cylinder in there to have an inner shell, that would serve to prevent the refrigeration from drying the wood.
Something you want to avoid is sealing the compressor in a cavity (especially under the cooler cavity) . the condenser and compressor should both be mounted in open air so they can dump heat.